THE BIG BATTLE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1940, Page 5

THE BIG BATTLE

GERMAN WEDGE INCREDIBLE VIOLENCE. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)..' LONDON, Hay ,19. Despatches from the front., say that the fighting is of unimaginable violence. The German losses have been exceptionally heavy, as the French 75 millimetre; guns have swept the,- invaders ' in both frontal fire and flank fire. The, French seventy-five’s, firing over open sights, are having a powerful effect pn the enemy armoured columns and infantry. Bodies of German dead, at one point in the line, v.ere piled five feet high, over which the Germans’ reinforcing tanks advanced. POSITION AT THE FRONT. LONDON, May 19. The French War Ministry spokesman on Sunday night said; The position at Landreeies is uncertain. There lias been. considerable fighting around there, and it is possible that German troop's have entered St. Quentin, but it is improbable that the Germans have occupied St. Quentin in force. There ,is an extraordinary degree of interlocking on both sides. The situation on the other fronts is unchanged. GERMAN CAFTURE OF MEN. LONDON, May 19. Authoritative French sources refer to the claim of the Germans that they itook 110,009 prisoners. The I French said that, in view of rthe great Allied retirements, 110,000 men is not an enormous figure for the totd Allied forces engaged'. They added that the Germans usually exaggerate the figures. POSITION RETAKEN. » LONDON, May 19. French counter-attacks in the Maubeuge region, on the Sambre River, on the Franco-Belgian frontier, hrve resulted in the recapture of a number of positions from the Germans. FRENCH ADMISSION. \ PARIS, May 20. The French military quarters have admitted that the Germans have captured St. Quentin. GERMANS’ NEXT THRUST. 1 PARIS, May 20. The French Spokesman stated that 24 hours would show if the Germans intend to make for the Channel ports o’ - for Piris. The main drive of the enemy meantime, is south and east of St. Quentin. The north of the German wedge in France lias been quiet. | On the north side of the wedge, apart from the advance at the head. German moves weie repulsed by the French. ' The Germans are near La Fere, 70 miles from Paris. In Belgium, a German column entered La Chateau, east of Cam-lirai. The German threat to the British forces in Belgium would:< he between Maubeuge ait dt the Belgian coast.