ALLIED DRIVE ON WESTERN FRONT

Evening Star, Issue 23373, 16 September 1939, Page 11

ALLIED DRIVE ON WESTERN FRONT

British and French Troops Moving

Into Position

Germans Massing Behind Siegfried Line

Open Fighting Reported On New Sector

t Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, September 14.

A message from Paris states that the guns on the Siegfried Line are hammering towns, highways, and positions behind the French lines around Saarbrucken in anticipation of a bigscale Allied offensive, according to a semi-official despatch published in ‘Petit Parisien.’ British and French troops sloshed through mud, moving into positions for a major drive against the Siegfried Line, behind which nearly 2,000,000 Germans are reported to he massing.

• The Paris correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that the Nazis are reported to be retreating from advance positions in front of Saarbrucken, with motorised French advance guards close on their heels taking prisoners as they are advancing. , '

It has been stated in Brussels that French troops launched an offensive near Perl, in the Moselle district, on the extreme west of the Franco-German frontier, and occupied the German villages of Apach and Maimuhlen. Watchers in Luxemburg saw French tanks move into action, eight being clearly seen advancing on the German lines, compelling the Nazis to withdraw.

From Basle it is reported that an action occurred in a new sector involving Mundat Forest, north of Wissembourg, where French patrols engaged a large German force in open fighting under shell fire from both sides. The French were compelled to withdraw.

CONTRABAND MEASURES , JHE NAZI LISTS LONDON, September 15. The Rotterdam correspondent of 1 The Times ’ says the Nazi contraband list is divided into two sections. The first, described as “ unconditional,” covers all sorts of war materials, while the second, which is conditional, includes foodstuffs, luxuries, textiles, and raw materials. The Nazi Press is —'irking full blast to convince the G< n people of the wickedness'Of the Hi. i.sb blockade and the justice of the Nazi defence measures. It is stated that Britain aims at starving women and children and dictating to neutrals what they should buy. AUSTRALIAN WAR-CABINET PERSONNEL ANNOUNCED CANBERRA, September 15. During a broadcast to-night, Mr Menzies announced the War Cabinet, comprising himself and the following:— Mr W. M. Hughes, Attorney-Gene-ral. Mr R. G. Casey, Minister of Supply and Development. Brigadier-General A. G. Street, Minister of Defence. Sir Henry G.ullett, Minister of External Affairs. Mr G. M'Leay, Minister of Commerce. * The War Cabinet will conduct day to day administration, and will report to the full Cabinet at intervals. It will make decisions without reference to the full Cabinet. DR SCHUSCHNIGG SHOT REFUSED TO SIGN MANIFESTO PARIS. September 15. . *Le Journal ’ reports that Dr Schuschnigg, former Austrian Chancellor, was shot by Nazis because he ref used to sign a manifesto urging Austrians to fight for the German cause. CONTROL OF SEAS BRITISH NAVY'S TASK . LONDON. September 15. The Ministry of Information, outlining the task of protecting British trade routes, states that a daily average of 1.545 British merchantmen of 3,000 tons and upwards is at sea on every ocean throughout the world. In addition, a further 705 are in harbour throughout the navigable globe. The Navy has 85.000 miles of sea routes to protect and the British people would be brought to the verge of starvation in a few weeks if thev were left to their own resources.; There can be no such thing as command of the seaa in modern naval warfare. The expression Is better interpreted as "control of the seas.” British sea control is a]ways exercised - in accordance with the international principles of humanity, and the safety of the crews of enemy merchantmen is invariably considered. It is believed that no German cruisers are at sea in the broad oceans. It may still be possible for enemy raiders disguised as merchantmen to _ slip to sea. .as the notorious Wolf did from 1916 to 1918. hut improvements in wireless communications and the use of aircraft would make the task of isolated raiders hazardous. •

EVACUATION PROBLEMS DISCUSSION IN HOUSE LONDON, September 15. Evacuated women and children compelled to sleep on straw-filled sacks and with old gaol bedding, verminous children, mothers who spent their evacuation allowances on a mixture of cheap wine and methylated spirits, and despairing women were described in the debate in the House of Commons on the evacuation of British cities. The Minister of Health (Mr W. E. Elliot) promised that local authorities would help in dealing with the problem. MEAT SHORTAGE IN GERMANY WEEKLY RATION ANNOUNCED LONDON, September 15. A Paris report says that the weekly meat ration per person throughout Germany has been fixed at 17 ounces. COUNTER BLOCKADE INSTRUCTIONS TO U-BOATS BERLIN, September 14. U-boats have been instructed to begin an immediate counter blockade, BALKAN PEACE ‘ REPORTED NEGOTIATIONS LONDON, September 14. Italy, Yugoslavia, and Greece are reported to be negotiating for an agreement which will guarantee Balkan peace. IRON ORE FROM SWEDEN GERMAN IMPORTS HALVED LONDON, September 15. The Stockholm correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says that, despite a desire to keep up normal trade relations. Sweden cannot send Germany more than half the usual 10,000,000 tons of iron ore annually now that the British blockade bars the outlet, as in the Great War. AMERICAN EXPORT LICENSES EFFECT OF ARMS EMBARGOES WASHINGTON, September 14.. The State Department to-day issued the export figures for August, revealing the extent that Britain and France have suffered by the imposition of the arms embargoes. Prance obtained licenses since January totalling 72,363.000. the actual exports amounting to 15,661.000,000d01. Britain obtained licenses for 14,709,000,OOOdol, the actual exports totalling 21.157.000, OOOdoI, but virtually all Britain’s exports were licensed last year. The August licenses were as follows:—France, 1.152,OOOdoI; Britain •321 .OOOcIol; Canada, 132,OOOdoI; Australia, 190,000d01.

POLISH CAMPAIGN

fl GERMAN ADMISSION "NOT A WALKOVER" POSITION AT END OF SECOND WEEK BERLIN, September 14. A German wireless commentator stated: “It would be a mistake to think that the German army has an easy task in Poland. The war is not a walk-over. The Germans are fighting a bravo, resolute enemy. The German victories are the result of leadership and strategy of the forces employed by the German army.” Authoritative military headquarters declare that Nazi troops are advancing beyond the Lnblin-Lemberg road. They captured Jablonna, north-west of Warsaw, and approached Praga, an eastern suburb of Warsaw. Eighteen Polish divisions were trapped north of Dstrow and Mazowiska, near the Narew River, and laid down their arms yesterday. Five Polish divisions and two cavalry brigades are still holding out around Kutno, in the toughest and longest battle throughout the war. At present they are cut off completely and cannot be expected to resist much longer. Thus, at the close of the second week of the war, Germany has completed the first stage of the campaign, and it is estimated that between 20 and 25 Polish divisions have either been captured or destroyed, while an unbroken German line has been established across Poland from Lithuania to Karpato, in Ukrania. It is in the marshes beyond Brest Litovsk and Lemberg that Poland has the best chance of making a last stand. The fierceness and determination of the Palish resistance were proved at Gdynia and Kutno. The very speed of Germany’s advances, if repeated in the east, might give Poland a chance to isolate Nazi troops in swamps, whore the Poles have been trained to fight. NAZI OPERATIONS UNEXPECTED OBSTACLES IN POLAND ROME, September 14. According to the Vatican newspaper, the ‘ Osservatore Romano,’ the Nazi operations in Poland are meeting with unexpected obstacles, including the fact that the roads have become almost impassable for motorised units. The defence of Warsaw is described as ono of the finest features of the struggle, being marked by courage and military strategy of a high order. Polish sources state that the air bombardment of open towns is being continued and has assumed the character of the destruction of built-up areas without connection with military operations. A wireless station, apparently German though using the Warsaw wavelength, is calling on the Polish troops to surrender. RUSSIA’S INTENTIONS MILITARY ACTION AGAINST POLAND ? NO BASIS FOR SUGGESTION NEW YORK, September 14. The Berlin correspondent of the United Press of America says some Nazis predict that Russia will take military action against Poland within a few days as a reprisal for Polish violations of the frontier, but there appears to be no responsible basis for this prediction. MR TE WATER’S POLICY WILL JOIN GENERAL HERTZOG LONDON, September 15. (Received September 16, at 8 a.m.) ‘ The Times ’ correspondent at Pretoria says Mi- Te Water’s resignation was at his own request. Mr S. F. Waterson, South African Minister in Paris, will succeed him. Mr Te Water is expected to enter politics on the side of General Hertzog. AUSTRALIAN WAR TAXATION GOLD MINING AFFECTED CANBERRA, September 15. (Received September 16, at 8 a.m.) The Assistant Treasurer, detailing the Commonwealth supplementary taxation, announced a increase in the company tax, bringing it to two shillings in the pound, and a wartime gold mining profit tax of 75 per cent, on the price of gold over £9 (Australian currency, fine ounce). The company and gold mining taxes will together yield £2,500,000 for the remainder of 1939-40. SPECIAL VOLUNTEER FORCE FEDERAL CABINET'S DECISION CANBERRA, September 15. The Federal Cabinet to-day decided to raise immediately a special volunteer force of at least 20.000 men for service at home or abroad. The enlistment and training of this force will not interfere with the present plans for intensified training of the militia, which was hitherto recruited. The Cabinet also decided to increase the defence expenditure from £33.000,000 to £45,000,000 ' for this year. MAY BECOME GRIM REALITY AIR RAIDS OVER BRITAIN LONDON, September 15. (Received September 16, at 8 a.m.) Earl de la Warr, broadcasting, appealed to mothers not to return their children to the cities, as “ the time may come when air raids are a grim reality.

PRISONER OF WAR NEW ZEALAND PILOT'S EXPERIENCES SHOT DOWN IN WILHELMSHAVEN RAID NEW YORK, September 15. Pilot-officer L. H. Edwards, of New Zealand, who was captured on September 4 when lie was shot down in a Royal Air Force raid on Wilhelmshaven, has three worries. The first is when he will got his pay, so that he can buy cigarettes. The second is whether ho can engage in sports while he is a prisoner, and the third is how long it will take him to learn German. This was revealed by a commentator of the National Broadcasting Company, broadcasting to America from Berlin. The commentator said he had talked to Pilot-officer Edwards and his fellow-prisoners, Sergeant Booth and Aircraftsman Slattery. Pilot-officer Edwards seemed dazed and afraid to speak for fear of giving away something that the British Air Ministry did not want known. All said that they were well treated and were getting the best medical care for the injuries received when their plane crashed into the sea. The three seemed surprised at the friendly treatment, wliile the Germans expressed surprise that they expected any other treatment. Pilot-officer Edwards is suffering from face burns, Sdkgeant Booth from'ha broken foot, and Aircraftsman Slattery from a dislocated jaw.