STILL MORE MEN AND MACHINES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23661, 21 May 1940, Page 7

STILL MORE MEN AND MACHINES

I —_____ MASSED TANKS ROLLING ON allied success in maubeuge region

# By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 20, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 20 The British front is being held successfully in the face of enemy pressure, stated a communique issued yesterday by the British general headquarters. The Germans threw the whole weight available of heavy and jight tanks and armoured cars, strongly supported by aeroplanes, into the attack yesterday. French " seventy-fives," firing over open sights, had a powerful effect on the armoured columns and infantry. The bodies of German dead at one point of the line were piled five feet high, and over them reinforcements of tanks advanced. , Despatches say the fighting was of unimaginable violence and the German losses were exceptionally heavy as the " seventyfives " swept the invaders with frontal and flank fire. ■ Germans Driven Back Across Aisne The position yesterday was that the Germans had driven a wedge into France on an 80-mile base from Maubeuge to Montmedy, extending south-west to La Fere and just taking in St. Quentin. French military quarters to-day admitted that the Germans have captured St. Quentin. The French communique this morning says: " Our troops are fighting vigorously in the region northward of St. Quentin in order, to check the enemy push. In the neighbourhood of Rethel we threw back during the night enemy elements which had crossed the Aisne. Intense German attacks were renewed in the region of Montmedy, but were repulsed. During the night our bombers ferociously pursued the plan for disorganising enemy supplies." A French Army spokesman said this morning that the situation was still serious and even grave at several points. There had been no great change in the past 24 hours. Enemy Push Toward Cambrai There has been further pressure on the northern side of the enemy salient, but in other parts the Germans have been repulsed. The enemy is still trying to widen his base. The heaviest fighting is north and south of St. Quentin, where roads and canals meet. , < The enemy push west toward Cambrai, 25 miles north of St. Quentin, is being continued. The French are making a fierce resistance against German attacks east of Cambrai. The French War Ministry spokesman said last night that the position at Landrecies was uncertain. There was considerable fighting around there.

The situation on the other fronts was unchanged, said the spokesman. French counter-attacks in the Maubeuge region had resulted in the recapture of a number of positions.