ENEMY RAID FAILS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21558, 22 January 1940, Page 6

ENEMY RAID FAILS

Sharp Engagement on

West Front

(Received January 21, 7.30 p.m.) PARIS, January 21.

A communique stated that an enemy raid west of the Vosges completely failed. For the first time in the war French fighters brought down a German ’plane near the British coast.

A patrol was cruising at a high altitude between Calais and Belgium when it spotted a German machine heading for England. It crossed the Channel in pursuit, swooped down from a height of 27,000 feet, punctured the German’s oil tank and stopped one engine. Eventually the enemy ’plane crashed on the seashore after it had turned back towards France. Severe weather has not checked the movement of reinforcements, which continue to arrive at the Western Front from Britain.

The morning communique states: “There was a sharp engagement between reconnaissance units on German territory in the region of Blies. A fighter was brought down within our lines.”

A French official communique on Friday states: “There is nothing to report.” In spite of the cold, the Allies have resumed full patrol and reconnaissance activity, states a communique issued by the British Expeditionary Force Headquarters in Fiance.

No aeroplanes have operated, except a lone German machine which reconnoitred Eastern France and the Saar. Artillery action commenced when the Germans suddenly began shelling the French front lines. The French took up the challenge and threw back an equal measure of shells. The Germans then lengthened their range, and the resultant counter-battery action lasted for four hours.

A German war communique states: “A number of prisoners were captured in a patrol engagement between the Moselle and the Palatinate Forest. The air force reconnoitred over Britain and France. Air battles occurred over the French front. One German ’plane was lost. Solo enemy ’planes flew over the Netherlands territory to Germany at night.”