ENEMY PREPARATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 October 1939, Page 7

ENEMY PREPARATIONS

WESTERN PUSH EXPECTED Reinforcements For Front Line? [by CABLE—PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, October 16. : Paris reports show that the Germans are making great preparations along the whole of the Western front. A German offensive appears to be imminent. Troops are now being brought to the front line. The noise of engines drawing the trains has been heard all night, long, but the German artillery has been silent, so as to avoid disclosing the positions taken up. < , • ? ; The French artillery has reacted violently to the enemy activity. Motor headlamps could be observed on the roads to the front, as far back as ten miles, indicating active troop movements. The frequent flashing of torches along the German front lines suggested that new troops were being conducted to their positiqns.' The roar of engines was either from those of troop-laden motor-lorries or massed tanks, or both.; ' . The French are perfectly forewarned, and' have taken all measures to meet an attack.-

RECIPROCAL ARTILLERY ACTIONS (Received October 17, 12.40 p.m.) j LONDON, October 16. The Paris correspondent of- the Associated Press of America states that the artillery on the . whole of the, French left flank laid down a barrage' on the Germans massing from Moselle' to the Hardt Forest, bombarding communication lines ahd rearguard con-' centration points. The German strength in the Rhineland is estimated at nearly 800,000 in the area opposing the vital sectoi* <of the Maginot Line. The Germans reciprocally shelled the French rear, which customarily precedes an infantry drive, besides giving attention to the French advance posts. R.A.F. RECONNAISSANCE. RUGBY, October 16. The Air Ministry announced that, despite bad weather, the R.A.F. carried out a successful reconnaissance over Northern and Central Germany last night. TWO PLANES SHOT DOWN. (Received October 17, 12.10 p.m.) BERLIN, October 16. The High Command announced the shooting down of a British bombing plane south-east of Gross Gerau, between Darmstadt and Frankfort, killing one and taking prisoners three of the occupants;, also the shooting down of a French scouting plane at Germercheim, near Landau, killing one and taking prisoners two of the occupants.

ENEMY ATTACK REPULSED. (Received October 17, 2.20 p.m.) PARIS, October 16. The- French are completing all pre-' parations to resist a large-scale attack on a 60-miles front between the Moselle and the Hardt Forest, but the only development, according to an official war communique,-was the launching of a. German assault on a fourmiles front, east of the Moselle, supported by artillery fire. The Germans occupied Schneeberg Height, on which the French had a light line-of observation posts, supported by land mines. The enemy attack was caught under the French fire, halted, and withdrew to the north of Apach Village, which they had momentarily penetrated. A Berlin High Command communique does not mention the above operation, but merely' announces slight fighting, and harrassing French fire. It adds that aerial activity is slight. HITLER HOLDS CONFERENCE. BERLIN, October 16. Herr Hitler presided at a military conference, attended by key men in the defences forces. RHINE STILL RISING. LONDON, October 16. , A German High Command communique records slight activity on the Western front. It claims that the French were forced to evacuate an armoured fort, owing to the rising waters of the Rhine. 1