LATE WAR NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1939, Page 8

LATE WAR NEWS

ON WESTERN FRONT CLOSE FIGHTING REPORTED [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] PARIS, October 12. Official despatches indicate that the fighting on the Western front is emerging from the advance-guard stage into front-line action. No man’s land is rapidly turning into mud, torn with shell-holes. Some close fighting is occurring, as the Germans are attacking more strongly, but the French command the initiative. A night communique states: “There has been activity amongst our advance ppits, particularly. south from Sahrbrucken. Both sides set ambushes.” The. British United Press Paris correspondent states that the chief engagement occurred in the Moselle Corridor. Using automatic guns and hand-grenades, strong German detachments advanced right up to the French positions, but fell back in the face of withering fire. The Germans crawled through the darkness to the barbedwire defences. The French machinegunned, and attacked the enemy with hand-grenades from a distance of a few feet. The Germans came over in successive waves,, but retreated, leaving a considerable number of dead. “READY FOR ANYTHING” BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE. RUGBY, October 12. Following are a few impressions of a French observer, who paid a visit to the British troops in France: “After three days spent at the British General Headquarters, there is no doubt our allies have great qualities—their sense of discipline, their faith in the cause they are serving, their quiet resolution, and above all, the perfection of their morale. In no spirit of bravado, with no flourish of trumpets has this great British army come to our shores.

His Majesty’s soldiers, like their French comrades, wear an air of cold resolution. They are men who have come to accomplish a necessary task. No army has ever been better equipped, no army has ever taken the field witji such supplies of guns and ammunition.

“My general impression, after spending three days with the British army, is that pur Allies’ morale is ready foi’ anything. It is the morale of a united nation, which has put all its forces at the service of war in the cause of justice, freedom, and the peace of humanity.” MILITARY SERVICE. RUGBY, October 12. On October 21, the bulk of the 250,0(10 men who were made liable for military service by the calling up of the age groups, 20 to 22 years, will attend at the local labour exchanges, to register.