ENEMY FORCES BEHIND MAGINOT LINE

Southland Times, Issue 24154, 17 June 1940, Page 5

ENEMY FORCES BEHIND MAGINOT LINE

(United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 16, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 16. This morning’s French communique shows that the position in France is most grave. The battle has reached its highest pitch of intensity as the Germans continue to throw more men and great quantities of material into the battle along the whole front. The Allied troops continue to resist valiantly in the face of greatly superior numbers of men and quantities of material.

The German drive behind the Maginot Line continues and the enemy seems to have penetrated for the full length behind the line. German troops in one sector advanced more than 100 miles in two days. The French Cabinet met this morning and adjourned until this afternoon, when it will meet to consider its next action in the light of the reply by the President of the United States (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt) to the final appeal by the Prime Minister (M. Paul Reynaud). M. Reynaud had an interview with the British Ambassador (Sir Ronald Campbell) before the meeting.

German mechanized units are reported to have penetrated 20 miles southward of Paris in the direction of Fontainbleu. Others are pushing towards 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 rumour that the French are contemplating making a separate peace is authoritatively denied. It seems clear that the story emanated from the German radio without any justification.