DEFENCES HOLD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 166, 13 June 1940, Page 7

DEFENCES HOLD

NAZIS’ GENERAL ATTACK. V • BITTER CONFLICT. Received June 13, 10.25 a.m. TOURS, June 12. The military spokesman 6aid the Germans were attacking practically everywhere between, the Lower Seine and the Argonne, but the vital French defences had been nowhere pierced. German troops from the Soissons region had advanced across the plateau south of the Aisne and there had been bitter fighting near Milon and Tardenois. , . , . The French line Had then withdrawn to the Marne. The active fighting front now, extends from the Lower Seine near Rouen across the Lowei Oise to’ Meaux, thence along the course of the Marne towards Rheims. The Germans are thrusting cast towards Rheims on the high Tardenois Plateau with 4 or 5 divisions, two ot which are armoured.' Fighting is continuing on the hills in the Rheims area. This thrust is part of the pincer movement aimed at Rheims itself, but the French are holding up the Germans engaged on the other arm ot the piricer. GERMAN CLAIMS.

A German High Command communique states that the new operation begun on June 5 between the English Channel and the south or Laon has been completely successful. “The Weygand Zone, south of the Somme, was captured. We broke returning waves .of enemy ' forces at nupy points and threw back the rest over the Lower Seine, with heavy losses. “Rouen has been in German hands for several days, Our troops have already crossed the Seine at many points below Paris. We surrounded and isolated an enemy group near St. Valery. Our divisions took up their positions 12J miles north-west of Paris and in front of the defence positions of Paris. Compiegne and Villens Cotterets are in our possession. The Marne has been reached with strong forces on the broad front of the Ourcq. By a fresh attack launched on June 9 between the Oise-Aisne Canal and the Meuse,our forces have beaten the Allies in heavy fighting and have compelled them to retreat. Rheims has been captured and the Suitte crossed in Champagne. The French did not succeed yesterday in their attempt to bring to a standstill our advance in Champagne, despite many counter-attacks by aimouicd units. The Allies lost a great number of prisoners, arms, and war ma“Tlie Air Force has contributed to the Army’s great success and again successfully attacked harbour equipment at Le Havre and Allied transports on the West Coast of the English Channel.”