ARTILLERY DUEL

Grey River Argus, 20 January 1940, Page 7

ARTILLERY DUEL

ON SAAR RIVER Lasts Several Hours LAust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, January 18, The British Expeditionary Force headquarters in France reports that despite the cold, the Alfies resumed full patrol reconnaissance activity. No planes operated except a lone German, which- reconnoitred Eastern France,

The Saar artillery action was caused when the Germans suddenly began Shelling the French front fines, ’(’he French tooK up the challenge, ana threw back., in equal measures, shells, whereupon the Germans .Lengthened the range. The resultant coun.erba.ttevy. action lasted lour hours. LACONIC FRENCH VERSION. RUGBY, J&nuary 18. A 'French official communxiue states: “A qyiet right on the whoie. There was fairly strong artillery action in the, .region west, ,of. the Saar.A night- communique, states, that an outpost repulsed an enemy ment an' the Vosges, anti caprurea several men.' . ..rr .. ; , ■ . , BERLIN, January 18. A. war communique states: Nothing unusual occurred .'...0n the Western Front CANADIAN OFFICERS RUGBY, January 18. Seventeen cities and towns are represented among twenty-five officers of the Army Co-operation, Squadron of the Royal. Civilian Air Force selected as an Air Force component of the First Canadian Division, Canadian Active Service Force. • It will be recalled that a squadron ol the Canadian Royal Air Force is already in training in Britain

Belgian Anxiety OVER GERMAN AIRMEN’S DOINGS. BRUSSELS, January 18. A Belgian Foreign Office . spokes.:-, man confirmed-that, the occupants of a German plane which made a forced landing in Belgium on January 14, had “important disquieting documents in their possession.” ‘ He refused to reveal the contents.

The police arrested a pro-Nazi Belgian inspecting the spot where the plane landed.

Low Countries Still Anxious (Received January 20, 1.30 a.m.) THE HAGUE, January 19. A special meeting of the Netherlands Cabinet has, been held. The reason is- not disclosed. . ; The inhabitants on _ both sides of the German-Netherlands frontier have been annoyed at the erection of the barbed-wire fence by the Germans, which cuts roads, isolates hamlets, and divides villages in two. BRUSSELS, January 19. A Concrete barricade has been installed in the Luxembourg part of the bridge apross the River Moselle at Remich. Other barricades are being built along the Moselle inland.

Danger in Pacific IF BRITAIN LOSES. HON. P. FRASER : S WARNING. AUCKLAND. January JfJ.‘ Explaining that it was necessary, if New Zealand was to contribute rnn maximum .war effort, that there should be efficiency in- industry, Fraser, addressing 1600 men at me Otahuhu workshops at lunch hour, today, to the position of Holland, in the event of its invasionfiy Germany. What, he asked, would happen the Netherlands East Indies? There would be no Dutch Government,. and a Pacific Power, not Germany, would step in.. . Such a Power -.was a potential enemy to-day, and not only wouip the Netherlands East. lndies be seized, but the same position wornd ap H .y to New Zealand, in the event of Britain going down in the war. Labour Conscription FOREIGNERS IN FRANCE. PARIS, January io. A decree has been, issued that ail foreigners, aged twenty to. forty-eig.ir„ enjoying the right of asylum in France are liable to service in the Labour Corps. Foreigners who have been resident in France for ten years will be permitted to join the French army. WAR ITEMS. . LONDON, January 18. Sixty-five Commoners are serving in the. Army,, ranging, frorp Second Lieutenants to Colonel. ; In connection with, the announcement that 65 members of Parliament are serving’ in the. Army,. apart frpm those holding honorary positions, naturally not a. few Members, of .the Upper House are also serving. It is, .remarked that, in yesterday’s. Lords, , debate; one Member of the Lords, attired in private’s battle-dress, enteneu and took his seat.

The King and Queen spent- the morning t inspecting, a, division in .lhe Aldershot Command. Among the various units visited was an antitank gun unit. By the end, of. life visit, the King had walked some eight miles, and the Queen aboyt half that distance.

SYDNEY, January 18. The Federal Cabinet has decided to spend 1500,000 more for the expans.on .of Australian resources, for the production of new-types of guns and explosives, which are secret.