LONG POUNDING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20054, 28 September 1939, Page 5

LONG POUNDING

LIKELY TO CONTINUE WEST WALL TARGET CAUTIOUS TACTICS PIGS TO EXPLODE MINES (Reed. Sept. 28, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 26. The Paris correspondent of the New York Times says that gunners and aviators are most active on the Western Front. French heavy artillery in the Saarbruecken and, Zweibrueeken sectors continued to pound the first zone of the West Wall. The German artillery persisted in replying south-east of Zweibrueeken where they have been concentrating their fire lor several days. French reconnaissance planes correct the range of their guns and photograph ’the damage. German fighters strive to drive them back, whereupon French pursuit planes go into action. The pounding of the West Wall is likely to continue for a long time. Most of the Maginot Line is sunken and the West Wali is mostly superstructures. The West Wall, therefore, is a better target. The French guns are engaged in razing these superstructures, but it does not mean it will follow that when they are levelled, there will be a mass advance. Warning of Intentions It was learned in the Great War that intensity of artillery fire warned the enemy of the intention to advance, permitting them to bring up reserves behind the threatened sector. Both France and Britain have declared against rash offensives. It is generally agreed that the storming of the West Wall will now come within that definition. The continuation of the present cautious tactics, therefore, is likely. So far the artillery action has been to conquer the ground for the infantry to advance and occupy. After a lull for digging-in, Die process will be repeated. It is slow but sure, and above all, economical of troops. The Germans are striving to break that rhythm of progression by activity elsewhere, to-day extending heavy artillery fire to the region east oi the banks of the River Lauter.

A Swiss correspondent of the New York Times reports that in the past four days the French herded hundreds of pigs to a depth of two miles over the mined sections of German territory near the Luxemburg border, exploding the mines without endangering human lives, after which the infantry occupied the 'ground