FRENCH ARMY DRIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20037, 8 September 1939, Page 5

FRENCH ARMY DRIVE

Penetrating Saar Basin DEEP SALIENT INTO THE REICH USE OF TANKS AND MASSED PLANES Rapid Landing of British Troops on Continent

(Mice. Tel. Copyright.—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. S, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 7. To-day’s official war communique states: “There was activity by both sides on the front.” Paris reported that the French had reached the Bienwald forest, northward of Liiuterbourg. A French communique announces that the French forces are progressing beyond the German frontier. •Other French sources state ,t he French troops penetrated the Saar Basin. Simultaneously, French and British planes, supporting the laud troops battered the munition plants in North Saar. It is reported that Strasbourg and other cities such, as Erstein have been evacuated. A Polish report stated that the French troops were at Saarbrucken. Credence was given to this report by military experts as a deep salient of French territory protrudes into the Reich. This section is regarded as one of the weak points of the German frontier. A broadcast earlier in the evening, reported heavy firing- “east of Luxembourg.” Saarbrucken is under 50 miles south-east of Luxembourg. According- to Luxembourg reports, the maximum French advance towards Saarbrucken yesterday was a little over seven miles. It is reported that the French forces used 500 tanks in one operation and also in the advance 125 miles further north 300 Allied planes attacked .the German positions. Allied planes in large numbers also attacked the great steel and munitions region in the Ruhr centred round Esse#. The Paris correspondent of the New York Times stated yesterday that British troops were landing rapidly in France. The correspondent quoted an official spokesman as statingthis. He gave no figures. A Paris message says that although details of the landing place and the numbers of British troops are not given, French Government sources had declared that the British Army would be able to give “infinitely stronger” support to the French forces than it did in 1914. It was disclosed in Paris that the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, General Sir Edmund Ironside,., had been in France since Monday, conferring with Marshal Gamclin, and it was stated that accelerated British and French operations could be expected at any moment