PARIS AS FORTRESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1940, Page 7

PARIS AS FORTRESS

PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENCE

MOST CIVILIANS DEPART

British Ministers In France

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] - J *

LONDON, June 12.

News from Paris is very sparse. The last messages, sent early last evening, said the city was three-quarters deserted. All the stations were closed and no trains were running. The sound ,of bombs to the south-east merged with the rumble of guns to the north as a vast caravan of civilians leaving the city continued southward. The latest request from the Military Governor, for all unmobilised Frenchmen over 17 years of age to depart, gave a further impetus to the evacuation. Paris is rapidly and steadily be‘ing transformed into a fortress. Every village between it and the enemy has become a stronghold. The banks have removed from Paris and are operating normally elsewhere. Civilian Parisians who remain were reported during the day to be going about their business calmly. Shops are open and even ’jewellery is still being displayed l in the windows. It is not a panic flight, but an orderly evacuation of those not having key positions.

“Le Matin’s” last issue struck an inspiring note.' It said: “Two thousand years ago bridges were blown up and the suburbs set on fire in order to halt the enemy. So it is seen again that there is nothing new under the sun. Paris remains unsubdued. Paris never submits.” The Government has settled in its new quarters, as also have members of the South African and Australian Legations. The American Ambassador (Mr. William Bullitt) and the members of the American Embassy have decided not to leave the capital. TOWNS AND FORESTS ABLAZE PARIS ENCIRCLED BY FIRES (Recd. June 13, 12.40 p.m.) PARIS, June 12. Total darkness all night grips Paris, whose centre is deathly silent, but from the north-western fringes, the gunfire is growing louder, and gun flashes burn across the sky, as the German legions thrust desperately forward to the very gates of the city, which is covered with a vast blanket of heavy smoke drifting from the battlefields and burning towns and forerts which have been set on fire by bombs and shells. Great fires are raging in countless towns, villages, and hamlets, which have become a funeral pyre for many thousands of Germans and Frenchmen who died amid the ruins.

From the tops of buildings in Champs d’Elysee, a circle of fires is visible. It is impossible to sleep. Antiaircraft guns keep up a continuous hammering. The houses are shuttered and deserted. The restaurants are closed. Paris life is dead. German bombers dropped deadly cargoes far behind Paris. There is the roar and flash of explosions throughout the night. Through this curtain of terror, long columns of refugees struggle on. The Germans day and night are attacking the roads and and railways.

The R.A.F. has been considerably reinforced, and is in co-operation with the French, roaring ceaselessly to attack, and taking terrific toll, but still the bombers come below them. The French army is making a glorious stand.

THRUST AT RHEIMS.

LONDON, June 12

The French morning communique states “The battle for Paris is continuing. The situation is without any important change on the entire front.

“It is confirmed that an enemy thrust in the direction of Rheims is being made with powerful means, including two armoured divisions.” Pressure by the Germans is reported to be specially severe on a sevenmile front between La Ferte-Milon and Fere-en-Tardenois, north-west of Rheims.

MAGINOT LINE GUNS.

LONDON, June 12

A Paris message states: “The Maginot Line guns, are stated to be firing in an attempt to impede German regiments reported to be moving towards the Swiss frontier.”

NO DECISIVE VICTORY.

FRENCH HOLD RHEIMS.

(Recd. June 13, 9.45 a.m.) TOURS, June 12. The French military spokesman said: French counter-attacks destroyed German elements which crossed the Seine. The Germans are using training tanks. They scored successes at some points in the general battlefront, where the French were outnumbered, but no decisive victory has been gained. The French are holding Rheims, although the enemy is advancing from both west and north. The French are fighting off violent enemy attacks in the regions of Senlis. The Germans are also applying terrific pressure at Soissons. With 100 divisions and every available tank, Hitler is making a mostformidable effort to reach a rapid decision. The battle is likely to last for several days.

The spokesman said that the Germans were attacking practically everywhere between the lower Seine and the Argonne, but the vital' French defence has nowhere been pierced. German troops from the Soissons region advanced across the plateau south of the Aisne. There had been bitter fighting near Milon and Fere-en-Tardenois., The French line ivas then withdrawn to the Marne. The active fighting front now extends from the lower Seine near Rouen across the lower Oise to Meaux, thence along the course of the Marne towards Rheims. The Germans are thrusting east towards) Rheims, on the High Tardenois plateau, with four or five divisions,

two whereof are armoured. Fighting is continuing on the hills in the Rheims area. This thrust is part of a pincer movement aimed at Rheims itself, but the French are holding up the Germans engaged in the other arm of the pincers. ENEMY’S FURTHER PROGRESS. LONDON, June 12. The French night communique says: The battle continues with the same violence on the whole .front. Between the sea and the Oise, the enemy accentuated his efforts on the Seine, from Rouen to Vernon, attempting to extend' the bridgehead. He succeeded in establishing himself southward of the river. He is seeking to push on to Evereux, also Pacyaureujre, but we are vigorously holding him. / The enemy also launched reconnaissance detachments on the north bank of the Seine, in the direction of Caudebec, which is between Rouen and Le Havre.'

On the lower Oise, the enemy made contact with our forces in the region of Persane-Beaumont.

The enemy advance guards began violent attacks in the regions of Crepy-en-Valois and Betz. On the Marne, in the neighbourhood of Chateau Thierry, enemy masses advancing from the north snucceeded in throwing some troops to the south bank.

In the region of Rheims, new enemy tank and motorised forces are engaged in the battle. An entire mechanised corps, comprising three to four armoured divisions, has now entered the struggle. After bitter fighting, our divisions here withdrew step by step, to the mountain of Rheims.

PRISONERS’ DISCLOSURES.

RUGBY, June 12

A French communique states: Information obtained from many prisoners north-east of Rheims indicates that the enemy sustained very heavy lossess from counter-attacks by our mechanised units and Air Force’s repeated bombardments. Certain of our squadrons returned five times to' give battle during the day. The enemy did not renew the attacks between the Aisne and the Meuse.

MR CHURCHILL’S VISIT.

RUGBY, June 12.

Mr Churchill, accompanied by Mr Eden and General Dill, had meetings in France yesterday and to-day with M. Reynaud, M. Petain, and General Weygand. Complete agreement was reached as to the measures which should be taken to meet the developments in the war situation. •

“DIFFICULT SITUATION”

LONDON, June 12

It is authoritatively stated that apparently there is no slackening of the German attack. The situation is as difficult as could be, and everything depends on the French ability to hold off the attacks of the superior numbers of the Germans.

FIGHTING AGAINST ODDS

LONDON, June 1-2.

The French military writer, M. Andre Maurois, addressing a London Press conference, said: “The French Army is fighting as never before against heavy odds, sometimes as high as threfe to one. The French everywhere are holding their ground. We hope if help comes it will come soon, but help must come. It is a matter of days, not months. GERMAN CLAIM BERLIN, June 12. The Official News Agency claims that German patrols reached points 37J miles north-westward and northeastward of Paris. These forces are cutting approaches to Paris. Between Rheims and the Argonne Forest, bitter fighting continues. NEAR APPROACH TO PARIS. (Received June 13, 11 a.m.) BERLIN, June 12., A High Command communique states: The new operation begun on June 5f between the English Channel and south of Laon, has been completely successful. The Weygand zone, south of the Somme, has been captured. We broke returning wave? of enemy forces at many points, and threw back the rest over the lower Seine, with heavy losses. Rouen has been in German hands for several days. Our troops have already crossed the Seine at many points below Paris. We surrounded an isolated enemy group near Saint Valery. Our divisions took up positions 121 miles north-west of Paris, and in front of the defence positions of Paris, on both sides of Senlis. Compeigne and Villers Cotterets are in our possession. The Marne has been reached with strong forces, on the broad front of

Ourcq. ' By a fresh attack launched on June 19, between the Oise-Aisne Canal and ’ j the Meuse, our forces have 'beaten the I Allies in heavy fighting, and com!ipelled them to retreat. Rheims has been captured, and the I Suitte crossed. In Champagne, the J French did not succeed yesterday in ! ! their attempt to bring to a standstill J'-our advance. Despite many countejrI attacks by armoured units, the Allies ■ lost a great number of prisoners, arms* ’tand.war material. < ,! Our air force contributed to the J army’s great success. It again successfully attacked the harbour and - equipment at Le Havre, and. Allied 3 transports on the west coast of the , English Channel.