GERMAN TROOPS ENTER PARIS

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 5

GERMAN TROOPS ENTER PARIS

French Army Evacuates City

ALLIED FORCES WITHDRAW TO NEW DEFENCE LINES

(United Press Association. —Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 15, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. German troops are reported to have entered Paris. The first information to this effect was contained in a report to his State Department by Mr William C. Bullitt, United States Ambassador in Paris. He advised that The Germans were entering at the north-east of the city. The French forces have withdrawn behind Paris, leaving the way to the city open to the Germans. During the morning the German High Command claimed that German troops were entering the outskirts of Paris and were about five miles from the centre of the city. The news of the withdrawal of the French forces was contained in this morning’s French communique. The withdrawal was ordered to avoid devastation of the city, which would inevitably have followed if the inhabitants had endeavoured to hold out. It is emphasized that the capture of Paris by the Germans is no great strategic gain. Enemy pressure on the Western Front is still strong and German units are reported to be pushing on south and west of Rouen and on both sides of Rheims. There is heavy fighting in the Champagne area and the enemy is believed to have made some progress. A message from the French High Command states that the Germans are battering at the Allied line from the sea to the Meuse and that they are using more than 2,000,000 men in their offensive. A German claim to have broken the French line is refuted. The French forces continue to fight in complete order.