THE WESTERN FRONT

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22896, 18 December 1939, Page 10

THE WESTERN FRONT

Artillery Battle

Reported

BIG GUNS HAMMER DEFENCES

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPTB-'GHT.)

(Received December 17, 8.30 p.m.)

LONDON, December 16

The Paris correspondent of the British United Press states that the first big action has occurred on the Rhine Front. An artillery battle was fought by big guns- of the Maginot and Siegfried Lines, which hammered each other for several hours. A French evening communique states: “At 6.15 a.m. the enemy launched a raid on one of our posts to the east of the Moselle. The raid was carried out by a detachment which was the equivalent of a company, after preparation by artillery and trench mortars and under the protection of a box barrage laid down by artillery and heavy machine-gun, fire. Thousands of troops lined vantage points as the. Prime Minister of Britain (Mr Chamberlain) continued his inspection of war positions on the coldest day the British have experienced during the war. Mr Chamberlain toured 100 miles. He inspected a war foundry, pillboxes, camouflaged gun positions and tank traps. He inspected English, Scottish and' Irish troops and called at a Royal Air Force aerodrome, where he talked to fighter pilots. Before leaving, Mr Chamberlain asked that the following message might be conveyed from him to members of the forces: “I am veryglad to see you all, and will tell them at home in what good spirits I found you. I wish you all the best of luck and a happy Christmas.” Christmas preparations are being completed. All the British forces, including the front-line troops and the lonely outpost forces, will get eight ounces of turkey, and six ounces of Christmas pudding as well as soup, sprouts, mince pies, nuts, fruit and beer. The French woods will provide repdy-made Christmas trees and mistletoe. Many members of the Royal Air Force are providing Christmas trees for children in the villages in which they are billeted. “The post attacked energetically defended, itself. The enemy succeeded in taking two prisoners, who managed to escape, profiting by the effect of defensive fire, and rejoined our line.”

“WORLD FREEDOM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE”

WAR AIMS OF BRITISH LABOUR PARTY

(bkitisb ojtfxciax wireless.)

(Received December , 17, 9 p.m.)

RUGBY, December 16.

The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr C. R. Attlee), speaking at the party conference at Durham to-day, emphasised the need for world social justice after the war. Declaring it was essential that enduring peace should follow, Mr Attlee said: “We stand in defence of principles. We want to secure world freedom and social justice. No good trade unionist can be an isolationist, and we must stand or fall together . with _ other peoples. That is my answer "to those people who ask why we meddle in Continental affairs.”

BRITISH AND FRENCH

TRADE UNIONS

COMPLETE UNITY DECLARED BY JOINT COUNCIL

(BRITISH OFFICIAL. WIRELESS.)

RUGBY, December 15.

After a session in Paris lasting two days the British-French Trade Union Council, in a statement issued on Friday, declared that complete unity of views and action existed between the British and French union organisations.

During its session the council considered working conditions in the two countries and discussed the control of prices. It expressed the opinion that trade union rights must be protected and maintained, and that collaboration between the Governments and. the trade unions must be developed in a way consistent with the independence of the trade union movement. The statement concludes with an indictment of “all open or insidious mendacious intrigues carried out by propaganda against the unity of the French and British workers.”

EGGS FOR WOUNDED IN BRITAIN

HELP BY ARGENTINE COMMUNITY

(BBITI3B OFFICIAL WIEBLESS.)

RUGBY, December 15,

Remarkable as a demonstration of loyalty to the British cause is the fund of £ 100,000 raised by the British community in the , Argentine. But it is not the only form of help which Britons in the Argentine are giving. They are also sending home thousands of eggs for sick and wounded British soldiers, sailors, and airmen.

Already nearly 100,000 eggs have been dispatched. The scheme is being organised by Mr H. P. M. Merness, of Buenos Aires, who in the last war initiated a similar fund. Between 1916 and the end of the war more than 250,000 eggs were collected and sent to the United Kingdom for the benefit of the wounded. In April this year Mr Merness volunteered to reopen the fund in the event of war, and his offer was promptly and gratefully accepted by the British Government.