Stubborn Allied Defence In Flanders Battle

Northern Advocate, 28 May 1940, Page 5

Stubborn Allied Defence In Flanders Battle

Germans Make Little Gain Despite Colossal Loss Of Life Big Scale Night Fighting ( Receive;! noon.) LONDON, Mav 27. THE FRENCH MILITARY SPOKESMAN SAID THE ' BATTLE IN FLANDERS IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE A BIG DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE OF EXTREME STUBBORNNESS. The Herman General Staff is adopting' tactics vised at Verdun in the last war. when men and materia] were hurled forward in ever increasing masses.

Infantry are making ceaseless attacks from the widest fronts with tremendous tank, artillery and aerial support. In Argonne the French recaptured ground lost on Saturday. The aeroplanes on both sides arc attacking back areas, the Allies concentrating on roads, troop columns and bridges, and the Germans fiercely bombing ports. Main German Attack The main Herman attack was the sector held by the Belgians on the river bys, and was directed towards Me.nin and Courtrai. bespite colossal loss of life the Gormans made only feeble territorial gains. Fighting’ lasted all yesterday and last night and was the first night fighting cn a big scale since the outbreak. The French slopped all Herman attacks in Valenciennes sector. The French withdrawal from Valenciennes was due to troops being too far forward in relation to the general Allied lines in the north. The spokesman further states that the Allies are lighting a great defensive battle, of which the outcome is still uncertain. . The Allied offensive has nol vet started.