THE WESTERN FRONT

Evening Star, Issue 23384, 29 September 1939, Page 7

THE WESTERN FRONT

FIGHTING NEAR WIBBEMBURG SETBACK FOR GERMANS LONDON, September 28. (Received September 20, at 11 a.m.) The Paris correspondent of the Associated Press reports that German attacks east of Wissembnrg were blocked by a French counter-attack last night, which enveloped the Germans on three sides and threw them hack on Lauter Creek. Although the numbers engaged were reported to be comparatively small, this represents an important German setback. The Germans earlier, supported by heavy artillery fire, succeeded in forcing their way through the French advanced positions, gaining control of’ an important railway junction. Had the French not succeeded in repelling the Germans they would have been able to control the network of highways behind Wissembnrg.

THE SIEGFRIED LINE REPORTS OF VISITING JOURNALISTS LONDON, September 28. (Received September 29, at 11 a.m.) A British United Press Association correspondent from a neutral country, who was one of a party of neutral journalists invited to the Siegfried Line, says: “The French are within I,3ooyds of Saarbrucken, which, like Zweibruokon, is completely deserted by civilians. There is little military activity, No bridges or factories behind these towns were injured. The countryside is peaceful. Thereafter I motored 200 miles along the Siegfried Line. Everything was camouflaged, There appear to be 1,000,000 Germans on the west front, half of whom, are facing the Belgian and Luxemburg borders. I saw

nearly 100 emplacements. Vineyards near Treves and petrol stations have been converted to machine gun nests, with mqesive walls of steel and concrete from 6ft to 12ft thick.” The special correspondent of the Associated Press who accompanied the party says; “Neither Saarbmcken nor Zweibrucken was hit during our visit. A German guide stated that 200 goods wagons filled with materials and machinery leave Saarbrudken daily without interference from the French. German artillery from the heights commanding the French positions five miles away returned a desultory fire.” FRENCH OPERATIONS SEVERAL ENEMY PLANES BROUGHT DOWN PARIS, September 28. (Received September 29, at 11 a.m.) A communique says: “ The night generally is quiet. An enemy attack failed west of Saarbruoken. Commercial navigation is again functioning regularly, thanks to the organisation of convoys and naval and air patrols. Our air force, co-operating with the British air force, brought down several enemy fighter planes on the afternoon of Wednesday. There was activity by our reconnaissance planes last night. LULL IN HOSTILITIES FRENCH RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS LONDON, September 28. (Receved September 29, at 1 p.m.) The actual fighting on the western front appears to have slowed to a standstill, but French planes, flying deep into German territory, are bringing back information of troop movements.

Some heavy artillery firing was heard north-east of Perl this afternoon. Her von Papon’s castle near Scarlouis was under fire.