SNOW FALL IN BRITISH LINE

Southland Times, Issue 24027, 18 January 1940, Page 7

SNOW FALL IN BRITISH LINE

Sudden Offensive Not Possible

PATROLS MEET IN NO MAN’S LAND

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received January 17, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 16.

The British Expeditionary Force headquarters in France state that a heavy snow fall in the British sector is preventing a surprise offensive. The last few days have been a period of lively anticipation and the cancellation of leave has been one of a number of precautions. The tension has eased, although troops continue to stand by. The troops are awaiting developments calmly.

A British patrol from the Maginot sector engaged a German patrol in no man’s land last night. At least one German was killed and the body was brought back to the British lines. The British suffered no casualties. British patrols are now operating every night. , , i Three German detachments attacked a French patrol lying in ambush for prisoners. The French repulsed the attack and retired without loss. It is so cold on the Western Front that British soldiers manning outposts within rifle range of the German lines are robbed of sleep. Their only shelter is shallow dug-outs and log huts. Fires are forbidden as the smoke would guide enemy patrols and attract artillery fire. Physical exercises and stamping of the feet are not permitted because the impact of heavy boots on frozen earth echoes like a shot. Dress discipline in the forward areas is relaxed and the men wear scarves and balaclavas and use straw-filled sandbags as footwarmers. Sentries at night must pull back their balaclavas and strain their ears in the bitter wind, as a result of which they suffer from the cold acutely. Those in the advance posts are relieved after short periods and sent back to the base town to rest. The static nature of the war has produced a number of personalities on both sides in no man’s land. One is "George,” a German sniper, who carries his tea to a breastwork every morning and does exercises 900 yards from the nearest British outpost. Efforts to snipe him have failed.