MAIN DRIVE

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

MAIN DRIVE

ST. QUENTIN REACHED GERMAN SPEARHEAD CONFIDENCE OF FRENCH (Received May 20, 0.30 p.m.) ; LONDON, May 20 The Germans again ' launched a furious attack with armoured columns; at dawn yesterday in the , main drive westward from the centre of the Sambre and Aisne sector, northward of Laon. There was heavy fighting along the Sambre and Oise Rivers all day. The situation last night was confused, but it appears that the spearhead of the German forces from • Guise and Landrecies reached St. Quentin and Le Cateau. The French War Ministry spokesman said that small German advance units had engaged French forces on the outskirts of St. Quentin. Vigorous Counter-attacks The French counter-attacked vigorously. One French report said that the German advance was checked. It is estimated that the Germans threw an entire army corps, comprising five motorised divisions, into this attack, but the regrouping of Allied forces enabled effective counter-at-tacks to be made at a number of points. The French High Command is confithat "the battle of the bulge" can eventually bo won. Saturday's Fighting The main battle on Saturday was localised in the area between Guise and Landrecies. Here the engagements were numerous, and the Germans teade violent attacks with tanks, supPorted by aeroplanes and artillery. South of Guise and north-west of . Laon fighting was less violent. The Germans fnade a push with. armoured columns and unsupported detachments. These advanced in the direction of the Sambre-Oise Canal, south-east of Guise, ®nd some jiO miles north-east of Paris. Claims by Germans The Go rmans are reported to have hegun to organise defensive positions the Sedan region. The German High Command claims that "after the occupation of Antwerp the troops are pushing back the enemy, *ho is fighting tenaciously on the Scheldt, which we crossed west of Antwerp. Th e Sambre and Oise Itivers * ere also crossed. Le Cateau and St. Quentin are in e rman/hands. North-west of.Monta strong fortified position, No. of the Maginot Line, was captured, anf l 110,000 prisoners -so far have been excluding Dutch." Authoritative French sources, reerring tp the German claim to have en 110,000 prisoners, said that, in a w the great retirements, it was i?., an enormous figure for the total th 1C p forces en K n S c d. It was added that I USua Uy exaggerated their