MAJOR BATTLE APPROACHES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21449, 13 September 1939, Page 7

MAJOR BATTLE APPROACHES

French Advance on Western Front HEAVY FIRE FROM MAGINOT LINE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 12, 7.30 p.m.) PARIS, September 11. FRENCH infantry following massed tanks are report- " ed to have driven two to four miles deeper over a 12| miles front eastward of the Saar River holding the salient close to Blieskastel and Pirmasens which is directly along the first fortifications of the West Wall and towards Zweibrucken. The latest news suggests that a major battle is approaching along a 100 mile sector of the Moselle to the Rhine. The French attack is at present concentrated against the heights between Zweibrucken and the Rhine. Germans thrusting forward along the Moselle Valley are reported to have been cut down by withering fire from the Maginot Line. A counter-offensive extended throughout Sunday night and halted early on Monday. The British United Press says that Saint Louis in the Rhine Valley has been evacuated of civilians. The whole area can be flooded if necessary. The Geneva correspondent of “The Times” reports the civilian evacuation of Baden on the right bank of the Rhine. The Ministry of Information acknowledges that British troops are in France but does not give details.

The action on the western front is now gaining in intensity. Thb new zone of attack is from the eastern edge of the line from the Bitsch Plateau to the German Palatinate between the Little Saar River and the Vosges Mountains. The German counterattacks are directed to the west' ri end of the line from the Saar Basin. A French communique states that despite the German resistance, the French attack continued to make important progress over a twenty kilometre front east ot the Saar. It is unofficially stated that the French have greatly consolidated their positions on German soil in the last twenty-four hours, causing heavy German casualties during the counteroffensive. Reports from Paris state that the French smashed the German counterattacks overnight in a battle on the Maginot frontier. Fierce hand to hand lighting occurred in open farmlands along the Slerck Saarbrurg road in German territory, in which the Germans were thrust back at the bayonet point. The French also held all their gains. "Le Petit Parisien” states that for more than twenty-four hours the Germans resisted energetically on the whole nc- ".-east front, especi lly by means of artillery, "which seems th indicate that our troops have bitten well into the Siegfried Line. Our artillery replied effectively, protecting a series of actions planned with the greatest prudence." "Le Petit Journal" says: “All our bases for future movements are assured in German territory.” "Le Malin" says: "All attacks will be brought about slowly with prudence and method. General’ Gamelin is anxious to save Fren-h blood and will not engage divisions in badlyprepared battles" French Methods of Attack The Paris correspondent of the "New York Times" says the German offensive yesterday is reported to have been entrusted to relatively important regular army troops, who advanced several hundred yards before being halted by a French counter-attack. The Germans will strive to delay tire retreat into the west wall. Once below ground the reaction to attacks is restricted to artillery fire for points from which sorties may be made under coi. tant fire. The experience of the World War shows it Is difficult to keep troops controlled when in what amounts to a prison pounded relentlessly by heavy guns, not knowing what is happening outside and knowing that barrages are being laid down to cut off a retreat and prevent reinforcements from arriving. British Beside French British troops are fighting beside the French on the Western Front. The Royal Air Force has arrived. The British press hailed the announcement that Tommies are on German soil after complaints of ultra censorship. Secrecy was maintained until the troops were landed in order to reduce the danger of submarine attack. Successful operations are reported by the Royal Air Force, which reconnoitred the West Wall in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. It i.*i reported that a German officer and 20 soldiers deserted at Hunniri-'e The office stated that if a po“ooh bridge was plated across the Rhin 1000 Germans would cross to Fran--. Th Petit Parfsle-" suggests thai the time is not for distant When th* Germans will have to fall back o:i the line of the Saar.

It has been established that the French advances have resulted in negligible casualties. Gas has not been used on either side in spite of rumours about its use. Raid on Island It is understood that British aeroplanes raided the Hinderburg Dam, connecting the Island of Sylt with the mainland, on Saturday. Two unidentified aeroplanes fell into the sea in the ensuing air battle. The Germans have evacuated the civil population from the island. It is officially stated in Paris that French aeroplanes heavily bombed German concentration points in the Saar Valley, behind the Siegfried Line. French artillery are reported to have fired on an evacuated aerodrome at Saarbrucken. The island of Sylt is the largest German island in the North Sea, 38 square miles in area and 23 miles long. It is very narrow, being generally about half a mile wide, except in the middle where it sends out a peninsula to the east seven miles across. It lies from seven to twelve miles off the

Schleswig coast and is the northernmost of the North Friesian group of islands. Early last year detailed reports of new defences which Germany was said to be building there were published in the Danish and Norvzegian press. It was stated that underground hangars with space for hundreds of aircraft had been built, and batteries of powerful guns, both coastal and anti-aircraft, mounted. In Britain these tales were accepted with reserve, and the move was seen as one to improve the defences of the German northern coastline, most of which were dismantled under the Treaty of Versailles. A beginning was made with Heligoland, after which Borkum, Norderney and Wangeroog also were fortified and thfe chain was apparently completed by ...e work done on Sylt,,.