PARIS PREPARING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1940, Page 5

PARIS PREPARING

MILITARY TAKE CHARGE ALL HIGHWAYS BARRICADED. MASSES OF GERMAN PLANES OVER CITY. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received This Day. 9.45 a.m.) PARIS. June 11. The military authorities have taken over control of the capital. All highways leading to the city are barricaded and preparations have been made to defend Paris street by street. Meanwhile, the great exodus of civilians proceds. American correspondents in Paris have reported that masses of German bombers are flying over Paris. Part of the city is in flames. Overnight Tours became the seat of Government.

MAGINOT LINE GUNS GERMANS VIOLENTLY SHELLED. FOUR TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENTS. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) BASLE, June 11. Maginot line guns again violently, shelled Germans in four terrific bombardments, interspersed with machine gune fire. Two fires were observed in Germany, one very large. EVACUATION OF PARIS RUSH REACHES LARGE PROPORTIONS. ' PARIS, June 11. A large number of deputies and senators have arrived at Tours. The rush of people to leave the city has reached large proportions at the railway stations, but the streets are almost normal except for small bodies of troops and refugee cars. Unemployed are being-rounded up to assist in the preparation of the Paris defences. Commercial and newspaper offices in Paris have been evacuated. GERMAN TACTICS LONDON, June 10. “The Times” correspondent with the French forces says that the Germans are employing waves of their poorest troops, including Sudetens, in order to find weak points, after which picked troops invest the position. STRATEGIC RETREAT FRENCH OCCUPY NEW POSITIONS. DRIVE IN CHAMPAGNE SLACKENS. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) PARIS, June 11. A military spokesman said the German drive in the Champagne had slackened. On the other wing of the German offensive, all German -attempts to advance on the Lower Seine had been held. The wording of the communique indicates another strategic retreat in the centre, whereby the French have occupied new positions which have not yet been challenged. GERMAN REPORT (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) BERLIN, June 11.

The High Command states that a big battle between the Channel and the Meuse is in full swing. On the right wing and centre, the pursuit of the defeated French Army continues without interruption. Bitter but successful fighting continues between Rheims and Argonne. Strong enemy forces were scattered and surrounded at many points. Resistance is diminishing. Fighters and dive bombers again attacked Le Havre, destroying locks and sank and damaged more ships with bombs, including one destroyer and two transports. The air force bombed retreating transport concentrations and batteries party destroyed several bridges over the Marne and lower Oise. One cruiser and four transports in the North Sea were so severely damaged that most of them burned out. The enemy yesterday lost twenty-nine planes. Eight of ours are missing.”

SECOND VERDUN HOPES OF ENEMY THRUST DIMINISHING. EVERY INCH OF GROUND TO BE CONTESTED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY. June 11. Authoritative military circles in London are deeply impressed with the unsurpassed spirit and vigour with which the French are fighting a second Verdun battle on an enormous scale. Confidence is expressed that within the next three or four days the main force of the enemy attack will have spent itself. It is already noted that his attempt to outflank the Maginot Line by a drive in the Champagne district has slackened while on his right wing attempts to advance over the lower Seine have been held. The strategic retreat in the centre enabled the French to occupy new positions not. yet challenged. The British are affording all possible help to stem the German tide. Paris reports state that behind the battlefront every village and town has been transformed into a stronghold and every inch of the advance to Paris will be stoutly contested.

DIPLOMATIC CORPS REACH DESTINATION SAFELY. SMOKE OVER PARIS MAY BE A SCREEN. (Received This Day. 10.50 a.m.) PARIS, June 11. Members of the diplomatic corps leaving Paris reached their destination safely, after a bombing attack during the journey. The smoke cloud over Paris began to clear this afternoon. Il it unofficially suggested that the authorities laid the smokescreen in order to hamper enemy air observation, and to protect the evacuation.