ON WESTERN FRONT

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1939, Page 8

ON WESTERN FRONT

ARTILLERY ACTIVITY.

[By CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, December 10.

The French official communique reports infantry and artillery activity at various points of the front.

4 German communique states. “Somewhat more lively artillery activity occurred at some points on the Western front. S/iock troops between the Moselle and the Rhine blew up two French dug-outs and put two others out of action on French soil, south from Merfeig. “The German Air Force continued reqQnn.aissance on a large scale, chiefly in. the West and Central France. Although attacked by pursuit aeroplanes and opposed by gunfire, all our machines returned.”

"NOTHING TO REPORT.”

RUGBY, December 10

The French official morning communique states: "There is nothing of importance to report.”

KING RETURNS FROM FRANCE.

LONDON, December 10.

The King crossed the Channel from France, in a destroyer, and landed at a south coast port. There was little ceremonial. He then motored to Buckingham Palace, where he immediately began to overtake arrears of State papers. Throughout his absence, the King wrote to the Queen daily, despatching his letters by King’s Messenger.

A French official communique, mentioning the presence of British troops in the front line, was published on Sunday evening. On the second day, General Gamelin conducted the King round a sector of the Maginot Line, where the French troops presented arms. The King examined tbe fortifications, and, in the course of his tour, inspected units of the Royal Air Force and British troops who are now in contact with the enemy in a sector of the Maginot Line. His Majesty decorated General Gamelin and General Georges, and also presented British decorations to a French officer, two French soldiers, and a French airman, for acts of gallantry in the field. The King saw at the Royal Air Force headquarters a wonderful series of photographs of the Western front and the Siegfried Line, taken by British and French airmbn.

COLLISION IN WAR-ZONE

PARIS, December 10.

Six were killed and eight injured, all Britons, when a goods train hit an army lorry, during the black-out, at a level crossing in the war-zone.