ARMIES OF GERMANY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20044, 16 September 1939, Page 5

ARMIES OF GERMANY

Steady Advance By Allies TRIUMPH OVER NAZI AIR FLEET Troops Move In Mud To Battle Array BERLIN ADMITS OUTPOSTS REACHED (Elee. Tel. Copyright.—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 16, 11.15 a.ra.) LONDON, Sept. 15. A Paris communique states: “The operations of the past few days have enabled us to assure possession of ground in the region north-east of Sierck which has been contested since 'the German offensive was announced in September 10. We, moreover, have advanced beyond this ground. During the night we effected a local improvement on our. front line, despite strong enemy reaction, especially by artillery.” The Paris correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that unofficial reports announce . that the Germans arc retreating slowly from advance positions in the Moselle Valley and all along the northern flank of the Western Front. The French High Command announced that a German air fleet was defeated in a battle over the front lines on the Western Front. The Paris correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that the Germans are reported to be retreating from advanced positions in front of Saarbruckcn with motorised French advance guards close on their heels takingprisoners as they are advancing.

It is stated in Brussels that the French, troops launched an offensive near Perl in the Moselle district on the extreme west of the Franco-German frontier and occupied the German villages of Apaeh and Maimuhlcn. Watchers in Luxemburg saw French tanks move into action, eight being clearly seen advancing on the German lines compelling the Germans to withdraw. A Luxemburg message states that the Germans blew up a bridge connecting Perl and Schengen. Observers in southern Luxemburg said that the Germans were evacuating areas in proximity to the Belgian border. Paris reported last night that the guns of the Siegfried Line were hammering towns, highways and positions behind the French lines around Saarbruckcn in anticipation of a bigseale Allied offensive. According to a semi-official dispatch published in the Petit Parisien, the British and French troops sloshed through mud, moving into positions for a major drive against the Siegfried Line behind which nparly 2,000,000 Germans are reported to be massing.

A German Army communique admits that German territory east of Saarbrucken to Pirmasens was shelled. It is claimed that the French were driven back. A German short-wave station, however, broadcast: “On the Western Front a strong French force reached the outposts of the Siegfried Line.”

A Basle message states that action is reported in a new sector involving the Mundat Forest north of Wissembourg, where French patrols engaged a large German force in open fighting and under shell fire from both sides. The French were compelled to withdraw.