French Artillery Pounds West Wall

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21448, 12 September 1939, Page 7

French Artillery Pounds West Wall

Important Western Front Gams

Counter-attack Halts Advance

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 11, 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 10. rpHE Paris correspondent of the “New York Times” says * that important French gains can be gauged by the fact that first-line troops at several points are at the advanced West Wall works, which are the ultimate objective. It is noteworthy that a German communique mentions the advanced works, claiming that the French are far behind them, which undoubtedly they are at some points, for the front is not straight. The attackers’ aim is to secure vital points to escape flanking fire and organise the conquered positions to facilitate the advance. The French command portions of the Laute River and the Saar River, the importance of which lies in the fact that crossroads and rail junctions cross the Saar between Wolklingen and Wadgassen. During a methodical advance French heavy artillery is pounding the West Wall to test its solidity, while aeroplanes constantly fly over to take photographs.

A message from Paris states that the Germans are reported to-night to be striking into a triangle formed by the junction of the Moselle and Saar rivers on the extreme northern flank of the | Western Front where the French have advanced furthest into the Saarland 50 miles to the south east. The French are advancing on a 20 miles front between the Saar river and the foothill of the Vosges. Between these sectors German counter attacks from the shelter of a maze of coalmine galleries apparently halted the French advance A communique describing the German counter attacks in the region of the north-east of Sierk suggests that they are attacking close to the French frontier apparently following French tactics of using the Luxembourg frontier to cover the right flank. Strength of Siegfried Line The London correspondent of the “New York Times” says that misapprehensions concerning the Siegfried Line are being dissipated. It is not a line in the Maginot sense but rather a series of military positions of great | depth, the general theory of which is the delaying of action by outposts and stronger resistance in successive defence lines of the terrain between, which is chequered with small forts and machine-gun nests. The theory provides for heavy counter-attacks by reserve mobile divisions before the enemy is able to consolidate amid the ruins of captured ground. There are sections of the Siegfried Line at least 15 miles deep. Travellers in Germany during the September crisis were surprised by the comparatively few troops near the frontier. There were thousands 15 miles behind. These were machinised and mobile for counterattacks. The Siegfried Line defences can be breached, the correspondent adds, but a whole campaign and not single action is likely to be required. It is logical that any German coun-ter-offensive, as distinct from counterattack. will come in the west, where it is rumoured that the West Wall may be the weakest. Forced back on the left and c litre, the Germans might hope to relieve the pressure by attacking on the right. A French communique implies that reconnoitring pianes signalled tro< concentrations near the base of the loselle-Saar triangle. The general staff is conducting the operations with the maximum of; efficiency and the minimum of loss, i Light and heavy motorised units are | clearing the way for the infantry. 1 The Paris correspondent of the British United Press says that the ( Germans are reported to be using I machine-guns operated electrically by remote control. Close To Main Line 'rhe Basle <Switzerland) correspond- 1 ent of the Associated Press of America [ says that the French forces in the , Saar are reported to have resumed the attack shortly after daybreak. They have pushed within range of the automatic arms of the main Siegfried forts, ; under three miles separating them i from the forts at some points. It is also reported that the French I are moving into action in the Vosges I

foothills. The French occupy the towns of Lauterbahh, Bistcn, and Berus, the villages of Carlsbrunn, St. Nikolaus, and Überherrn, with the German salient between Rosel and Bist creeks, west and south from Saarbrucken, wiped out. The line at present appears to run parallel with the Saar River, northwest from the Forbach area, turning west near Merzig and joining the old frontier near Apach. Dent Made In Line An official French communique states: “A series of methodic actions I has enabled advances between the Saar and the Vosges.” ‘‘Le Temps” semi-officially states that a French division dented one point in the Siegfried Line. The Germans. marching through underground galleries and collcries, counterattacked the French in the Saar Basin, after emerging with machine-guns and automatic rifles. A semi-official review of the situation states that the French spent the night of September 9 in the area conquered on September 7, strengthening their positions and establishing liaison with their starting points. Their advance guards, in captured German block-houses, fought off night raiders. Fresh troops have joined the isolated forward positions, converting them into a continuous line. A German wireless broadcast from Berlin announces that French armoured cars entered German territory for the first time. Many French were killed and an officer was captured. General Hering, aged sixty-five, the former Governor of Strasbourg, has succeeded as Military Governor of Paris General Billotte, aged sixtyfour, who has gone to the front. Troops and ’Planes Leave Poland An intercepted Moscow broadcast stated that many German warplanes are flying over Berlin on their way to the western front. Many troops are moving from Poland towards France. It is noted that when the ■ Russian language was used i the tones of the broadcast favoured England and ■ France, but the broadcast in I German favoured Germany. I German shock troops are carrying 1 out night raids on the French posi- | tions in Saarland with varying success. A German offensive, striking from I Merzig on the Saar river, apparently !Is designed to relieve the pressure ’ eastward and protect Tried. The French declare that the offensive failed to modify the advanced positions. The French are driving close to Zweibrucken, Blieskastel and Tem- ; rasse. It is said that a direct assault i on the Siegfried Line can be expected at any time. The German resistance I north of Bitche is strong. The Germans I are retreating stubbornly.