ABLAZE WITH GUNFIRE

Evening Star, Issue 23383, 28 September 1939, Page 11

ABLAZE WITH GUNFIRE

WHOLE OF WESTERN FRONT FRENCH BLAST HDLE IN SIEGFRIED LIME GERMANS CONCENTRATING ON EASTERN FLANK LONDON, September 27. (Received September 28, at 10 a.m.) The Paris correspondent of the Associated Press says French artillery is reported to have blasted a hole in the Siegfried Line between Merzig and Saarbrucken. Despatches from the front say there is heavy German counter-fire against the French advance positions in the Saar and Palatinate regions, designed to protect the feverish attempts to rebuild the shattered blockhouses behind the German lines. The morning despatches report that the French annihilated important positions between Merzig and Saarbrucken in an area where there are between 20 and 40 pillboxes to the square mile. The despatches confirm that the French are subjecting the Siegfried Line to a terrific onslaught. With the whole front from Luxembourg to the Swiss frontier ablaze with gunfire, it is stated that the Germans hqve concentrated their latest attack on the extreme eastern wing under the cover of guns near Wissembourg. This is apparently designed to reach the flank of the French forces in Vosges Forest, west of Wissembourg, where the old German forest is reported to be cut off from the main fortifications ■protecting the Pirmasens-Landau road. The French are steadily consolidating their positions elsewhere. The official French communique merely states: ‘‘The night was quiet. There was enemy artillery fire on the rear of our lines in the region south of Wissembourg.” FRENCH REAR LINES POUNDED ALL-DAY STRAFE BY NAZI BATTERIES PARIS, September 27. (Received September 28, at 11.5 a.m.) * It is officially stated that German long-range guns pounded the French rear lines methbdically to-day. Villages and road communication on a 60mile front between Saarbrucken and Wissembourg were swept by Nazi batteries 20 miles distant. COMPELLED ID EVACUATE GERMANS IN SAARBRUCKEN PARIS. September 27. (Received September 28. at 1 p in.) French artillery and machine-gun fire compelled the Germans to evacuate Saarbrucken,

U-BOAT CAMPAIGN SOME COMMANDERS CONSIDERATE ONE SENDS MESSAGE TO MR CHURCHILL SUBSEOUENTLY A PRISONER OF WAR (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 27. (Received September 28, at 10 a.m.) Mr Churchill prefaced his account in the House of Commons of the many cruel and ruthless acts of U-boat campaign by a word in recognition of those U-boat commanders who had tried to behave with; humanity. Some had given good warning and some had endeavoured to help crews to find their way to port, and he recounted a story of one U-boat captain who " signalled me personally the position of a British ship which he had just sunk, and urged that a rescue party should be sent. I was in doubt at the time,” the First Lord observed, “ as to the address to which I should direct my answer,” adding, after a slight pause and amidst laughter, " however, ho is now in our hands —and is being treated with all consideration.” In contrast to the hard and bitter U-boat warfare,' Mr Churchill was able to tell the House " in all the far-reach-ing control which we have been exercising upon contraband no neutral ship has ever been put in danger, and no law recognised amongst civilised nations has ever been contravened. Even when German ships have deliberately sunk themselves to avoid the formalities of a prize court we have so far succeeded in rescuing their crews.” An interesting detail contained in Hr Churchill’s statement was the fact that against 60,000 tons of oil lost by submarine action in the,first fortnight,of the war must be put the 50,000 tons seized , in transit to Germany, apart from the enormous additional stores brought to the British Isles without mishap. , . SOVIET FREIGHTER SUNK UNIDENTIFIED SUBMARINE MOSCOW, September 27. ; (Received September 28, at 11.30 a.m.)~ The Soviet radio announced that an unidentified submarine sank the Soviet freighter Mettalist near Narva Bay, off -Estonia. Nineteen of the crew were saved, and five are missing. CONTRABAND CONTROL SEVENTY THOUSAND TONS OF GOODS DETAINED LONDON, September 27. (Received September 28, at 1 p.m.) A Ministry of Information communique says the Contraband Control detained 70,000 tons of goods during the week ending September 26. The Ministry of Information states that these figures include 23,150 tons of iron ore, 14,200 tons of petroleum products, 7,200 tons of manganese ore, 7,600 tons of oil seeds, 6,000 tons of fibres, 1,300 tons of oils and fats, 1,000 tons of cereals, 590 tons of rubber, and a number of consignments of chemicals, cotton, wool, gums, resins, timber, hides, skins, and fertilisers. These goods were detained on the ground that there was, evidence, that they were contraband consigned to Germany. THE BREMEN BELIEVED TO BE IN RUSSIAN PORT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 27. (Received September 28, at 1.30 p.m.) Mr Winston Churchill, in the House of Commons, said the German steamer Bremen was believed to be in a northern Russian port. I MORE CRUDE PROPAGANDA GERMAN STATEMENT REFUTED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 27. (Received September 28, at 11 a.m.) A Ministry of Information bulletin states that the German wireless broadcast a statement that the British Government intends to cut off supplies of paper for Latin American countries unless their newspapers agree to adopt a pro-British attitude. It seem hardly necessary to point out that the British detention of contraband goods applies only to goods going to Germany, our enemy, and not to those goods destined for South America, or any other countries. SWISS RATIONING PLANS BERNE, September 27. (Received September 28. at 1.45 p.m.) Switzerland is rationing sugar, wheat, rice, and fat from November 1.