GERMANS ATTACK

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1940, Page 7

GERMANS ATTACK

AT THREE POINTS Heaviest Fights Yet FRENCH GUNS PREVAIL. [Aus. & N.Z Cable Assn.] PARIS, March 18. The Germans suffered severe losses in the largest attack on the Western Front since the outbreak of the war. Three engagements occurred. Firstly, the French at dawn found Germans installed in their advance i posts, which are not normally manj ned at night. French patrols attacked, and forced the Germans back. I Secondly, the Germans launched 300 men against a patrol in the Vos- I ges t after which the French repulsed waves of Nazi troops attempting to' capture an advanced position. The attackers left many dead. Two Frenchmen are reported missing. | Thirdly, a filtering attempt east of the Moselle encountered severe crossfire, after which the French retook all the positions. The official agency in Berlin says that the French lost five killed and , eight taken prisoners, in this encounter. The French batteries, participating in intensified strafing, were dealt with. A commentator reports a lively engagement west of the Vosges, in which 300 Germans were engaged. Heavy French machine-gun fire and artillery fire forced them to retreat in disorder, with heavy casualties and many dead. PARIS, March 18. A day communique says: Our infantry and artillery fire frustrated an enemy attempt to creep through to the east of the Moselle. BRITISH LEAVE RESUMED. RUGBY, March 18. The War Office announced that the British Expeditionary Force leave has! been resumed. I Miss Leonee Smith, leaves this! morning by plane for Wellington. I Lieutenant General Sir Hunter Weston, who fell from a 50 ft. turret, where he climbed daily for exercise, has died, states a London cablegram. Mr. H. Patterson, who has been supervisor of the telegraph branch in Palmerston. North, has been transferred to Foxton as postmaster. He was formerly stationed at Greymouth.

Passengers by yesterday’s express to Christchurch included: —Mr. A. H. Hooper, Mr. W. Flaherty (to Welligton),’ Leading Aircraftsman P. E. Rundle (to Hobsonville), Mr. and Mrs. G. Batty (for North Island), Mrs. Shearing (to Dunedin), Mr. C. F. Hartland, Mr. D. Gunn Mr. R. W. Yates, Miss E. Gilmore, Miss R. Mantann (to Christchurch).