FRENCH TACTICS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 11 September 1939, Page 5

FRENCH TACTICS

RELIEVING PRESSURE KEEPING INITIATIVE ECONOMISING IN MEN WAR OF MOVEMENT (Reed. Sept. 11, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 9. The Paris correspondent of the New York Times says that the French forces continued to carry out strategic tactical objectives to relieve the Geiv man pressure on Poland, by preventing the sending of reinforcements for the expected decisive battle, and to retain the initiative which was also achieved.

The French troops are understood to have advanced five or six kilometres between the Rhine and Moselle Rivers for the purpose of gaining manoeuvring space directly before the Maginot Line and occupying new jumping-off points.

In view of the nature of the g ound and the existence of German field fortifications, the progress is considered to be most satisfactory. The French command is economising in men. Therefore, frontal attacks are barred. Each obstacle is tackled methodically by artillery or-flanking movements, the advance being con-' tinued when the obstacle is reduced Soon the West Wall will be faced since the distance from the frontier of this sector does not ox cced 10 kilometres. Then the nature of the operations may change Hitherto, there has been an innova tion in warfare, namely, a war of movement between the two lines of fortifications.

When the West Wall is attacked other novelties can be expected. They are at present the secret of the French General Staff but will soon be re vealed.

Meanwhile, it is significant that the Germans are evacuating civilians from all Saar towns.

The Paris correspondent of the United Press' of America, says it is understood that the French troops, including Moroccans, pushed beyond Saarbrucken to within striking distance of the-. West Wall fortifications.