French Big Guns Hammer Siegfried Line

Evening Star, Issue 23381, 26 September 1939, Page 7

French Big Guns Hammer Siegfried Line

May Be Prelude To General Offensive Nazis Massing Plane* Near Swiss Border Zqtpdin Works Successfully Bombed Frau Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 25. '(Received September 26, at 11.65 a.m.) The Paris correspondent of the Associated Press says French artillery, supporting infantry attacks on the German flank, fired high-oalibre shells against the Siegfried line from Karlesruhe to the Swiss frontier. The cannonades reached the intensity of the great bombardments of the last war. Hundreds of big guns are massed on both sides of the front. A Nazi mechanised detachment made a surprise encroachment in French territory in a quiet part of the Vosges sector. French shock troops took the offensive in the Saar and Palatinate regions, and claim to have annihilated several German groups. ’ The French consider the German armies not as powerful as in 1914 in numbers and fighting ability, although they have no lack of equipment. Military observers believe that to-day’s big gun action may prelude a general offensive. French troops, driving towards Saarbruoken, suddenly swung north in the direction of Blieskastel, where the main Siegfried line begins. The French, however, appear on the defensive against German pressure at Wissembourg. The Germans are massing planes at strategic points near the Swiss border, indicating intensified aerial operations. They are also erecting aerodromes. ! Senegalese troops are effectively participating in the French operations. A message from Paris states that air battles yesterday have given full proof of the quality of the French machines, which are superior in speed and skill to the German fighters. For the first time since the war the stretch along the Rhine between Strasbourg and Basle was the scene of prolonged and violent cannonades. The reception given counter-attacks elsewhere appears to have discouraged the Nazis. The earlier reference to the improvement in the French position on the western front relates to rectification of the lilies in the region of Blies and the Hardt Forest. The actual advance was several hundred metres. AIR RAID ON FRIEDRICHSHAFEN. The American Associated Press correspondent at Romanshorn (Switzerland) reported that an air raid, either by the British or French, put out of action the Friedrichshafen Zeppelin Works, which were recently converted into an aeroplane motor factory, The explosion could be beard at Romanshora. Listeners judged that 80 bombs were dropped, and say that tracer bullets were fired from anti-aircraft guns. The Swiss authorities are inquiring whether their territory was violated. It is not known what damage was inflicted or whether any planes were shot down. A Berne message say a Swiss General Staff communique announces that an air attack Was apparently delivered on the evening of September 24 on the Zeppelin base at Friedrichshafen. Bomb explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard. An unknown plane flew up the German side of the Rhine and crossed into Switzerland near Scbaffhausen, encountering Swiss anti-aircraft fire. The Berlin radio announced that eight French planes were shot down at Friedrichshafen, and that the raiders were routed and dropped no bombs.