ON WESTERN FRONT

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 October 1939, Page 7

ON WESTERN FRONT

FRENCH IN STRONG POSITION (• AFTER STRATEGIC WITHDRAWAL (BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, October 23, The Paris correspondent of “The Times’’ says that with the exception of one or two points near the Warndt ores , e a positions are almost everywhere inside Fr ® nc J l . iXirino/de carefully-prepared line still well in front of the mam Maginot de adds that because of the activity of ttu, French outposts during and after the retirement, t h e G erman High Command is completely ignorant of what has been going is now occupied by the German troops since the French withdrawal is little better than a swamp.

The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Mail” emphasises that the French have now placed themselves in a far stronger strategic position because, if a big German offensive comes they will be able to give battle on territory which they themselves have chosen, and not at a series of points where they had penetrated into German soil. Commenting on the German attack on the French positions last week, a military observer says that an assault was expected to be developed against the Maginot Line. This did not i prove to be the case, and was followed by the German High Command announcement that the first phase of the war on the West Front was closed. What, asked the observer, did this announcement means? Was it intended to cover the massing of German troops, or did- it indicate a change in Herr Hitler’s attitude towards the war? The observer suggested that Germany might, for the meantime, concentrate activities on the North Sea. French communiques state that there has been no considerable activity on the Western Front. Both the preceding night and day were moderately quiet. The French made ambushes at several points and patrols wgi*g active. The French lines are said to run almost their whole length in French territory. The wisdom of the French withdrawal has been shown in the last few days, for heavy rains have flooded the positions which the French would have had to defend and the Germans have had to reinforce their lines in the"" most difficult conditions. The Paris correspondent of the British United Press states that abundant rain continues further swelling the Moselle, Rhine and tributaries, which are threatening the Siegfried Line, while the Saar and Blies have submerged three bridges. An official commentator states that if the French had not retreated in accordance with their plan they would now be fighting with a flooded river at their backs.

GERMAN INACTIVITY FOUR REASONS SUGGESTED NEW YORK, October 21. The Paris correspondent of the “New. York Times,” Mr. G. H. Archambault, states: “Four hypotheses are advanced in dealing with the failure of the Germans to continue the operation begun on October 16 — “(1) Another peace offensive is being prepared, directed at separating Britain and France. This view is based on Berlin’s diplomatic action and the phraseology of the German communique, reviewing military operations. It is rumoured that Herr Hitler, as the author, regards it as a proclamation to the French nation. The references to the campaign’s modest proportions and the fact that the Germans have not crossed the frontier are interpreted as implying that a sort of truce exists, which could be more clearly defined through conversations. “(2) The attack on October 16 was a diversion while preparations were being made elsewhere. The activity , in the Moselle sector and the evacuation of villages on the Luxemburg border are quoted in this connection. “(3) German realisation of the strength of the French line of resistance. “(4) Bad weather.”

“A QUEER WAR” LONDON, October 22. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain states that, emphasising what the German public feel is a “queer war,” the Nazi High Command issued a communique stating that there were no special developments on the Western Front except minor artillery activity, scouting and patrolling. Millions of Germans ask daily when the Allies are going to strike. They are beginning to believe that Britain and France will not attack and never intended to do so. The News Exchange’s military expert on the Western front, summing up the position, explains that Marshal Gamelin did not wish to fight a battle in the advanced positions which were established after the offensive at the beginning of September. Therefore, he had withdrawn his forces to positions close to the French frontier to avoid meeting an attack which the Gei mans for diplomatic reasons, would launch against troops in their territory. _

COLD WEATHER INCREASING.

i , SUFFERINGS OF GERMANS. (Received October 24, 11.30 a.m.) PARIS, October 23. Cold weather is increasing on the Western front. German prisoners taken during the last 48 hours appear to be suffering greatly from this. They say they have no blankets, and received only one hot meal daily. They state that the food received from the French is much superior to the German. BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE FRAMEWORK OF HUGE ARMY (Recd. Oct. 24, 10.15 a.m.). LONDON, October 23. The British United Press special correspondent, “somewhere in France,” travelling through the British area, writes: It becomes increasingly obvious that the original British expeditionary force is only the framework of a huge army. Thousands of British are still pouring into France, bringing an immense amount of supplies and munitions. So far as can be judged, the British authorities have abandoned the thesis held by some military experts a few years ago, that Britain would not be required to send a big land army to France, in the event of another war. If conditions here are any criterion, Britain is determined to send forces running into millions, if necessary. Conversations with officers reveal that none expects a short war, or an early political or economic collapse in Germany, nor are they under the delusion that victory will be simple.

QUIET NIGHT REPORTED. (Recd. October 24, 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY, October 23. A French communique states: The night was quiet on the front, as a whole. R.A.F. “TAILS UP.” (Recd. Oct. 24, 10.15 a.m.). LONDON. October 23. The British United Press representative with the Air Force writes from France: With their tails up, because of the Royal Air Force’s week-end successes on the Home front, a British Air Force dawn patrol flew over the Western front, this morning, seeking fresh triumphs. Planes from an advance aerodrome behind the Maginot Line penetrated a long distance into Germany, and returned to report all quiet, expressing disappointment that they had not met some of the latest German machines; ' The week-'end successes were received jubilantly among • the personnel of the Royal Air Force in France. Many toasts were drunk.

RICHTOFEN SQUADRON. LONDON, October 23. Reports from French sources show that Germany’s Richtofen squadron is now operating on the Western front. Two, which were shot, down by the French, bore in addition to the usual identity marks the red and white check pattern which Richtofen made famous in the last war. NETHERLANDS MENACED . POSSIBLE GERMAN INVASION NEW YORK, October 21. In a despatch to the “New York Times” from London, “Augur” states. “The Netherlands before the end of the year may be the object of strong German pressure, and may be menaced by direct invasion. “The merciless Allied anti-submar-ine warfare campaign obliges Herr Hitler to think in terms of increased aerial warfare, but, faced with the prospect of Allied aerial predominance 12 months hence, he must find a swift solution.

“If the Germans were able to cross or to establish air fields in Holland, the problem of an anti-British aerial attack would be simplified. There would also be the dilemma for Britain which would either have to bomb innocent Dutch or allow the German bases immunity from military action. “An invasion of the Netherlands would be preferable to an invasion of Belgium, because France cannot cross neutral Belgium to help the Netherlands.”