THE WEST FRONT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1939, Page 5

THE WEST FRONT

OFFENSIVE OPENS

REPORTED FRENCH ADVANCE.

(United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright;.

PARIS, September 6.

Allied ’planes, in large numbers, have attacked the great German steel and munitions region in the Ruhr, centred round the city of Essen.

A communique to-day announced that the French forces are progressing beyond the German frontier. Other French sources state that they have penetrated the Sarr Basin. Simultaneously, French and British ’planes, supporting the land troops, battered munition plants in the North Saar region. It is reported that Strasbourg (in Alsace-Lorraine) and other cities, sucii as Erstein, have been evacuated. According' to Lexemburg reports, the maximum extent of the French advance towards Saurbrucken was a little over seven miles.

It is reported that the French used SCO tanks in one operation.

It is also reported that in an advance of 125 miles further north, 300 Allied ’planes attacked a German position.

it is announced British troops are arriving in France. Strasbourg (Alsace) is reported to have been' completely emptied of civilians before an artillery duel, which is expected shortly across the Rhine. The 1f5,0C0 inhabitants have moved to the interior.

France has closed the -Swiss border from Basle to Geneva. The Associated Press of America correspondent from Paris says: A French communique has been issued as follows: —There is marked activity on both sides of the front.

The French attacks iast night were concentrated on the north-east frontier near the Saar Basin.

A Polish radio broadcast intercepted at London, said that French forces were in the outskirts of Saarbruckcn, late to-day (Wednesday), and were advancing so rapidly that the Germans were unable to evacuate the police and municipal administrations iu the suburban centres. BRITISH TROOPS IN FRANCE. (i NEW YORK, September 6. The Paris correspondent of the “New York Times” says: British troops are' landing rapidly in France, according to tlie French official spokesman. He gave no figures. PARIS, September 6. The details of the landing place of the Tommies in France and also their numbers are not given. French Government sources have declared however, that the British Army will be able to give “infinitely stronger” support to the French troops than it did in 1914. English aviation is at present reinforcing the French squadrons in France.

A POLISH REPORT.

LONDON, September 6

A later Polish report on the French advance on. the Western Front, says: “The French are at Saarbrucken.” Some credence is given to the above Polish report by military experts, as a deep salient of French territory protrudes into the Reich (south of the Saar and south of Strasbourg). This section is regarded as one of the weak points in the German frontier. A broadcast in London, earlier this evening, reported that there is heavy firing “east of Luxembourg.’' Saarbrucken is under fifty miles south-easi? of Luxembourg. '

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT.

BRUSSELS September 6

To-day’s French army communique, recording local advances against the Siegfried Line, and observations elsewhere, indicates activity on the Fran-co-German frontier. A later official statement says that the French have invaded German soil, hut are encountering resistance “at all points.” Newspaper .correspondents at Luxembourg and Basle report a heavy aitillerv duel between the Maginot Line and Siegfried fortifications. It was especially violent in the Moselle region, lasting all night. The reference to local gains in the French communique is interpreted to mean that'the French, after an artillery barrage, crossed the frontier at various points, capturing outlying concrete pillboxes. This activity is seen as a move to draw Germany from Poland.

CZECH LEGIONS IN FRANCE.

PARIS, September 7

The Czech Legation has notified that Czechs throughout France are remaining faithful to the Fatherland. They are to report for service on September 14. The Czech Minister (M. Osusky) said: “We are preparing the mobilisation of a national army.” PARISIANS CHEERFUL. PARIS, Sept. 7. Franco spent a restful night without any air alarms. The city is bright and cheerful. The business of war is proceeding briskly The people are not losing their senso of humour, despite the grim outlook. Evidence of this is seen in signs posted

on numerous closed shops. One which is typical states : “Gone hunting. Return at the end of the season. & FRENCH ADVANCE. (Received this day at 10.0 a.n.) PARTS, Sept. 7. The French have reached Bienwald Forest, northward of Lonterbourg. FRENCH ARTILLERY. HAMMERING SIEGFRIED LINE. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.). NEW YORK, Sept. 7.

The American Press’ Basle correspondent says that French heavy artil lery hammered the main force of b-r----njany’s Siegfried lane from Lautorbourg to the Saar frontier, Hundreds of thousands of French troops have moved into position under the protection of the Maginot Line.