NOW BEYOND PARIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24326, 17 June 1940, Page 7

NOW BEYOND PARIS

FRENCH FRONT POUNDED CRUSHING SUPERIORITY • ( MONTMEDY PIVOT HELD (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, June 10. (Received June 16, at 10.50 p.m.) A message from Tours states that it is estimated that 2.000,000 Germans are engaged from the sea to the Meuse, including a number of fresh divisions. The French retirement from Paris has further lengthened the line. The enemy also has a crushing superiority in v planes and tanks. No attempt is made in official quarters to hide the fact that the military situation is extremely dangerous, particularly threatening both the west and east wings from the sea to the Meuse. ■ German armoured units in the west sector are being followed by large, well-equipped motorised divisions. The situation in the eastern end is no less critical, but French troops have so far succeeded in defending Montmedy pivot, where the mobile French line joins the Maginot Line. The French are still fighting with all the . strength they have left. German mechanised units are reported to have penetrated 20 miles southward of Paris in the direction of Fontainebleau. Others are pushing toward Chartres.' The German advance is so rapid that they are overtaking refugees whose flight to the south is impeding the arrival, of French reinforcements. A French communique issued at Bordeaux states that the situation is unchanged in Normandy as well as south from Paris. Fighting in Normandy is proceeding to the west of Louviers and Evreux with undiminished violence. The Allied forces below Paris are carrying out all movements according to orders from the Allied Command. Thh s enemy has again accentuated pressure in the direction of Troyes and Saint Dizier, and violent fighting is going on. There have been violent bombardments on the front and the lines of communication. in . Lorraine and Alsace. Further east, the Germans have, crossed the Seine in the Romilly area, increased their pressure from Toyes.to Saint Dizier, and pushed advance guards towards Chaumont. '"' In Alsace; ■ the" Gefrrfahs attacked .in the Neubrisach region. More detachments crossed the Rhine without breaking the Allied position or resistance.

The official French communique yes- | terday stated! “ From the sea to the Argonne the battle continues along the whole front, but less violently at several points. Successful Withdrawal “ The withdrawals of our troops, especially from Paris, which began this morning, were executed according to plan. Our troops carried out several counter-attacks. Vigorous German attacks this morning against positions west of the Saar were reposed with heavy losses to the enemy. .Last night the fleet air force attacked oil stores in the area of Venice, and leaflets were dropped by our planes over Rome. Railway lines, industrial plant and troop concentrations were shelled on the' Italian coast by our warships.” >j\:i:lEhreat to Maginot Line An unofficial French military report states that the situation east of Rheims is more serious than that in the immediate vicinity of Paris. Unfortunately the nature of the ground on which the Germans are attempting to cut off the Maginot Line from General Weygand’s forces resembles a rolling plain which is suitable for tanks. The threat is grave unless the German armoured units-can be met by armour. The German High Command stated yesterday: “The Seine below Paris has been crossed on a wide front, and Le Havre has been taken. The enemy is in full retreat from Paris to Sedan. Our "armoured units at many points have overtaken and penetrated the retreating forces, which abandoned their entire equipment." The communiaue further slated: “We took Vitry-Francois, east .of the Marne, and have reached the southern edge of the Argonne Forest. We stormed.the. hill north-west of Verdun, and also took Montmedy. The U-boat which sank the Scotstoun also sank six Allied transports and damaged, three near Le Havre.” AMERICAN AMBASSADOR IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY? LONDON., June 14. Tbe Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press says it is reliably announced that the Germed military authorities have placed Mr William Bullitt, the American Ambassador, in protective custody in Paris. It was officially denied in Berlin that Mr Bullitt had been placed in protective custody In Washington. President Roosevelt, commenting on the report in a press interview, asked; “ Protection against what and against whom? ”