WESTERN FRONT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23486, 25 October 1939, Page 9

WESTERN FRONT

OPEN GROUND WATER-LOGGED STRENUOUS CONDITIONS BRITISH TROOPS IN GOOD HEALTH By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ! (Received October 25, 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 24 A French communique last night reported activity on the Front by all contacting elements, particularly west of the Saar, during the day. It was stated this morning, however, that Sere was no activ/ty of any note during last night. The British United Press correspondent with the British Expeditionary Force in France, Mr. Webb Miller, says torrential rain is again *deluging the Western Front, and prospects of a big German offensive in the autumn are receding further, as the countryside is already waterlogged. Exposed trenches are half-filled with water, and rivers are flooded, and modern motorised war machines attempting to operate the Western Front at present would be hopelessly bogged. The Petit Parisien representative, M. Charles Morice, emphasises that the French do not intend to launch a big offensive against the Siegfried line. f The press emphasises that the Allied Navies are well able to fcupe- with intensive air and naval offensives against Britain's blockade. , Flying conditions on the Western Front yesterday were the Best since the war started. The health of the British troops js good. A senior medical officer is stated to have said that ' the boys are going through a hard time, but are standing up to it remarkably'well. There are no complaints and all are determined not to let their officers down." "It becomes increasingly obvious that the original British Expeditionary Force is only the framework of a huge army," vitites the British United Press special correspondent in France, after travelling through the British area. "Thousands of British tioops are still pouring into France, bringing an immense amount oli supplies and munitions. . "As far as can be judged, the British authorities have abandoned the theory held by some military experts a few years ago that Britain would not be required to send a big land army to France in the fevent of another war," says the correspondent "If conditions here are any criterion, Britain is determined to send forces running into "millions if necessary. ; "Conversations with officers reveal that none expect a short war, or an early political or economic collapse in Germany, nor ftie they under any delusion that victory will be simple." It is reported from Berlin that the district leaders have returned home after their secret talks with Hitler, whom, it is supposed, they infomed of local opinion in Germany regarding the War.