CLASHES IN WEST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 96, 21 March 1940, Page 8

CLASHES IN WEST

FRENCH SHOCK TROOPS. BELGIUM’S STRONG DEFENCES. (United Press Association —By Electric Telcgra ph.—Copy r i gh t.) BERLIN, March 19. Both the German communique and the Official News Agency refer to the appearance of French shock troops on the Western Front. The communique reports: “There was patrol artillery and activity between the Moselle River and the Palatinate Forest. Wo repulsed two enemy shock troop actions.” The News Agency states that the German troops siglited enemy shock troop units during lively scouting activity in No Man’s Land. A French night communique states: “The day was calm on the whole Iront. German reconnaissance parties fell into one of our ambushes and suffered fairly serious losses west of the Saar.” It is officially stated in Brussels that a barrier of steel has been constructed around Belgium as part of the country’s defences against possible tank attacks. A considerable effort has boon made since September to make the country secure and neither rain nor snow has stopped the work. Soldiers who have been recalled to the colours are continuing to build up this formidable barrier across the fields and through the woods.