THE WEST FRONT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1940, Page 5

THE WEST FRONT

CHECK ON ENEMY : RECAPTURE OF ARRAS. (United Press Association —By ElectricTelegraph—Copyright). (Received this day at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 22- *| The Press Association’s military , cor-' respondent says the recapture of Arras, believedjy indicates that General Wey-.. gaud has begun an important countermove with the object of imperilling the Germans advanced mechanised units,' by a vigorous flank attack.* While it would be wrong to tako an over-optimistic view of this preliminary success, experts consider the recapture’ of Arras may prove the first step towards checking the Germans desperate thrust towards the coast. Heavy rain will help to relieve the pressure and give a brief respite from constant air bombing, and enable the Allies to mass tanks. Reuter’s military correspondent says only a limited number of troops resist- 1 ing the German thrust at Cambrai. The' remainder are prepared for a counterattack. Reuter’s Paris correspondent says the military spokesman said that combats between Allies and Germans are continuing near Cambrai. The battle is ebbing firstly one way and then another. A high military source states the French arc now entrenched on the south bank of tho Somme. All the bridges across the Somme have been blown up., Interest is now focussed on Picardy, into which small German detachments have infiltrated. French troops are reported to be near Amiens.- There have been no new attempts to cross the Aisne, and enemy attacks at Montmedy have ceased. 1 s FRENCH REPORT. (Received this day at 9.0 a.m). LONDON, May. 22. ?. The French Military’; spokesman, at Paris said .the British strongly smashred the German right . flahk"hear; Cam-' brai. This is the British-United Press version. *•'....*. -> ' --*• • ' Other agencies so far are'much more'.guarded and merely refer to spirited; fighting at Cambrai.. .. •-f : i GERMAN CLAIMS. (Received this day : at 9.Q> a.m)..-• - ; BERLIN, May 22.. y Tho last Liege fort hassurrendered.' The Allies are resisting hotly . in- the" north. French attacked near Valenciennes, and British were) repulsed. _ , CHASED OUT OF ABBEVILLE. J (Received this day at 9.45 a.m.) A , . , PARIS; May .22.,. Tho military spokesman stated, the , German advance guards were'.‘.‘chaseiL out” of Abbeville. , » FRENCH REPORT. (Received this day at 42 noon); -r LONDON. May 22. ; To-night’s French communique states in the course of the day, fighting continued in the north and Belgium. There was nothing of importance elsewhere,