VIOLENT COMBATS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20257, 27 May 1940, Page 11

VIOLENT COMBATS

FRENCH REPORTS LINES STILL BROKEN SUCCESSFUL COUNTERS SOME NAZIS ENCIRCLED HARASSED FROM AIR (Elec. Tel. Copyright-United Press Assn.) (Reed. May 25, 3 p.m.) LONDON, May 24. The French night communique states that violent combats which have been developing for several days in the north, notably in the regions of Arras and Cambrai, and which have extended to the region of St. Omer and Boulogne, have not yet permitted the re-establishment of the continuity of the French lines. South from Sedan, the Germans attacked this morning with strong forces. The French counter-attack was clearly successful. Very lively activity of French bomber planes, which continued to harass the enemy’s rear fighters, is continuing a covering action and attacked successfully German armoured and motorised elements. The French forces on the Somme front are reported to have encircled the German mechanised forces at Amiens. Basle reports state that the French have blown up scores of locks on the Rhine-Rhone canal between Strasbourg and Basle, flooding hundreds of square miles of the French Rhineland. A French military spokesman stated that the French hold Boulogne, despite the attacks of German armoured units, but this is not confirmed in London military circles which advise that the report should be treated with reserve. The spokesman added that there was no fighting in Calais. The British and Belgian forces withdrew to new positions in the north. The position from Valenciennes to Arras is unchanged. Military circles in Berlin claim that the Germans entered Calais and that strong contingents of motorised units reached Ardres.