SHELLS FAIL TO EXPLODE

Southland Times, Issue 23946, 12 October 1939, Page 5

SHELLS FAIL TO EXPLODE

Poihis’ Experience In Trenches TOTALLY UNSHAKEN BY FIGHTING NAZI PRISONERS APPEAR UNDER-NOURISHED f (British Official Wireless) (Received October 11, 10.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 11. Stories of the surprisingly poor markmanship of the German gunners and of the high proportion of shells which failed to explode were told to “Eye-witness,” attached to a Royal Air Force unit “somewhere in France,” by French soldiers on the way back to their base from a fortnight’s fighting in the Saar section.

“Dirty and unkempt after the trenches, the' little poilus seem totally unshaken by what they have experienced and their British colleagues have been much impressed by their spirit,” says “Eyewitness.”

The French soldiers say the fighting has been really heavy with terrific artillery barrages. On the other hand, they do not give high marks to the German gunnery markmanship. They say it is much below standard and a surprisingly high proportion of the shells are “duds.”

Prisoners they have taken have, in some cases, turned out to be very young and some have been Great War veterans. The French describe them as often under-nourished and apparently bewildered by shell fire.

BRITISH TROOPS IN FRENCH_VILLAGES WARM HOSPITALITY OF PEOPLE (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 10. Scenes typical of the many that have been occurring in French towns and villages during the last month on the arrival of British troops as the Expeditionary Force swells in size are described in a despatch from “Eye-wit-ness.” He writes that when the news came that the British troops were expected the sleepy life of the village sprang into feverish activity. Innkeepers hurried to get in big stocks of food and drink. Children _ manufactured Union Jacks. Air raid precautions were tightened up and the barns, schools, cinemas and cafes were prepared to billet the troops. Early in the afternoon children were on the look-out in trees along the roadside. He describes how, as the first British lorries arrived, everyone left work abruptly to welcome them. To the shrill cheering of the children a long column pf motorized transport was soon rumbling through the cobbled main streets. Officers stepped out of the camouflaged, cars and took charge and the local authorities appeared and offered their services. Soon all the arrangements made in advance were being put smoothly into action. The billeting officer installed himself in a little cafe in the main , square. The proprietor who had fought side by side with the British in the last war was pleased and proud to lodge them. Now the baggage lorries arrived, billets were distributed and people moved off to see what luck they had had. As evening drew on, the streets became filled with officers and men strolling up and down, meeting friends, comparing notes about their billets and making arrangements for mess. All the normal process of army life was meanwhile going on. Signallers moved about busy with their communications, motorized transport was being cunningly parked for the night, trenches were dug for A.R.P. purposes and field kitchens were set up. At dinner time all ranks mingled freely in the close quarters 'of the village. GERMAN ATTACKS ON BRITISH JSQUADRON ENEMY AIRCRAFT BEATEN OFF (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 10. A British Admiralty communique states that although despatches have not been received, a somewhat fuller story may now be given of the series of minor actions in the North Sea reported yesterday. An enemy squadron was reported and shadowed by our patrol on Sunday afternoon. Aware that its presence was known, it appears to have turned back and in the night to have eluded our forces which did not sight it. On Monday morning a British destroyer in a heavy sea sighted an enemy aircraft and turned stern on to the sea to fight it with her guns. A level bombing attack was made at 5000 feet and one bomb burst about 400 yards to starboard. A second and larger aircraft, making a similar attack, was probably hit by our guns. Three larger bombs were dropped but these also fell wide, about half a mile from the ship. The first attacker came hack and tried a dive bombing attack but was driven off by our fire. The aircraft may have been hit. Two bombs were dropped and missed by more than 200 yards. Hie same afternoon the British cruiser squadron was attacked by bombers and engaged them for over an hour. In returning towards her base a British destroyer developed a main, engine defect in no way connected with any enemy action. She reached port safely this morning. In none of these actions has any British ship been hit or damaged and there has been no British casualties.

. The enemy casualties sore still unknown, but reports from neutral countries indicate that several machines failed to return to Germany. The High Command of the German Army claims that “six specially hard hits were made on British cruisers” when the German bombers attacked them over the North Sea off the west coast of Nor- ay on October 9. Signs of success were an explosion and smoke aboard the cruisers. Two of the attacking bombers were forced to land in Denmark. The crews were unhurt.

The British Admiralty has already stated in reference to the German High Command’s claim that no British ship was damaged.