GREAT ARTILLERY DUEL IN WEST

Southland Times, Issue 23922, 14 September 1939, Page 5

GREAT ARTILLERY DUEL IN WEST

ALLIED ASSAULT ON LINE EXPECTED Steady French Advance Continues GERMANY ADMITS “SOME FIGHTING” (United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 13, 8.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 13. Reports indicate that one of the greatest artillery duels in history began during the night in the eastern Moselle valley, between the Maginot Line and the Siegfried Line, says the Basle correspondent of the Associated Press of America.

Swiss observers express the opinion that the British and French staffs are building up to an actual assault on the Siegfried Line in the near future.

Advancing during the day and consolidating their gains at night, while the artillery on both sides is very active all the time, the French continue to make progress along a 12-mile line east of the Saar river, says the Paris correspondent of The New York Times. Saarbrucken is distinctly threatened. Its capture would have a moral effect, but would not change the situation very materially, as the main objective must remain the West Wall.

Troops from Britain are arriving in France in a steady stream. There is perfect unity of thought between the British and French staffs.

For the first time, it is officially announced in Berlin that there is “some fighting” on the Western Front.