FRENCH IN THE SAAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 64, 13 September 1939, Page 10

FRENCH IN THE SAAR

ADVANCE ON 60-MILE FRONT

HEAVIER ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACKS

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright..! (Received September 13, 2 p.m.) LONDON, September 12. A steady advance on a 60-mile front in the approach to die German West Wall is reported in the Paris Press, which states that the French artilfery bombarded the outskirts of Saarbrucken. French troops, observed the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first battle of the Marne by slicing' off a German salient from the Saar to the Blies River in a twelvehour fight. It is officially announced by Berlin that there has been some fighting on the Western Front. French motorised units are reported to be driving into the suburbs of Saarbrucken. An official French night communique states: —"Progress has been continued on the same front as on September 11. There is a strong reaction from the enemy, especially by his artillery-" The laconic communique shows that the French are maintaining their local advances in the face of increasingly severe German counter-attacks. The operations have not yet developed into a major offensive.

Under cover of a barrage, French troops moved up on both sides of the Moselle River, clearing out-German advance posts. The French have widened their front in order to force Germany to further weaken her eastern front by reinforcing the Rhineland defences.

British troops are now landing in considerable numbers. The R.A.F. has been stationed "somewhere in France" for some time, and, with aircraft of the most modern types has now settled down to quarters. Base camps have been established near the ports, and dumps are springing up and' hospitals are being prepared.