Nazi Plan Fails

Northern Advocate, 18 September 1939, Page 6

Nazi Plan Fails

The German High Command at the outset' had brought up 100,000 picked troops in an endeavour to prevent the French from gaining a footing on the rugged plateau forming a triangle between the Ni'ed River and the Saar, from which the French guns could not only dominate the industrial town of Saarlouis, but could bring the main Siegfried Line within range. If is officially stated from Paris that French troops at several points are now fighting the defenders of the Siegfried Line itself.

The battle of the Saar River may be approaching a decisive phase, but much more must be achieved before the Siegfried Line is seriously imperilled.' The French were reported yesterday to have pushed beyond Perl in an effort to turn the German flank on the Moselle.,

Counier-Attack Repulsed

The enemy, fighting doggedly on the hilltops and in woods, blew up the railway running parallel with the Luxemburg border from Metz to Trier. An official communique says: ‘‘The,.might was active on numerous sectors," and. there was strong enemy artillery action south of Saarbrucken. “Our troops made some advances east of the Moselle River.

“A strong enemy counter-attack with artillery preparations was repulsed in the area adjoining the lower valley of the Nied.” Seize Many Villages.

The British United Press says the French have seized dozens of German villages, which they have consolidated as advance posts, in their slow but sure advance along the 40 miles of frontier from Luxemburg to the east of the river Blies.

The French pressure, especially around Saarbrucken, is apparently forcing the Germans to move

hack their artillery. Semi-official reports state that the German gunfire is beginning to fall short of some towns, notably Sarreguemines. Troops From Poland. It is estimated that over one-third of the 30 principal mines of the Saar are in French hands. A statement made by the French General Staff announces that two enemy attacks have been repulsed, one in the Moselle Valley and the other between the Saar and the Vosges Mountains. The enemy is bringing reinforcements, apparently troops transferred from Poland.

300,000 Men Engaged. It is reported from Paris that at least 15 German divisions and the same number or more of French divisions are engaged on the Western Front, making a total of 300,000 men. The British troops are fitting into the plan as they arrive, although it is believed that only the Air Force has been, in action so far. The “Daily Telegraph” says it is understood the French have cut off Saarbrucken and could announce the capture of the town, but are waiting until there is no possibility of a setback. Vast Areas Evacuated. The Paris newspaper, “Petit Parisien,” states the French infantry have entered the suburbs of Saarbrucken. Observers said that Germans were evacuating areas in proximity to the Belgian border. Already vast territories in West Germany have been evacuated and it is expected that 18,000,000 to 20,000,000 will eventually be moved to Central Germany. French Air Supremacy, The Royal Air Force yesterday took part in a series of major battles on the Western Front, says the Basle correspondent of the Associated Press. Paris newspapers assert that French aeroplanes are masters of the air on the Western Front. It is stated that each day finds the Germans more nervous. Evidences of this are the enemy’s incessant artillery barrage and fruitless infantry counter-attacks. German aeroplanes, flying low, try to bomb and machine-gun the French front lines, but are “chased from the sky.”