POINTS ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20071, 18 October 1939, Page 5

POINTS ON THE WESTERN FRONT

GERMAN EFFORT ANTICIPATED WITHDRAWAL OF ADVANCED POSTS ASSAULT ON LINE OF TWENTY MILES ALLIES STILL HOLDING ENEMY SOIL (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct. 18, 11 a.m.) LONDON. Oct. 17. Paris messages state it is announced that the German casualties in the assault on a four-mile front east of the •Moselle yesterday numbered between 500 and 1000. I lie Germans also lost over 20 tanks. The correspondent of the British United Press says that in anticipation of the attack ,ttio French withdrew from theii advanced positions, leaving a large number of mines which exploded, killing scores of the advancing Germans. _ The French thereafter opened a heavy artillery tire, disorganising the enemy and forcing a retreat. The French are reoccupying all the advanced positions. This morning a French official communique stated: “Towards the end of yesterday afternoon .the Germans launched a second attack supported by heavy artillery tire in the region east of the Saar over a front of 30 kilometres (about 20 miles). Our light advance elements fell back fighting in accordance with the plan, but our tire held up the enemy on the prearranged line. French Army Preparation “In anticipation of a resumption of the offensive by the Germans the French command a fortnight ago decided to withdraw to other, positions the French divisions which had taken the offensive in German territory in order indirectly to assist the Polish armies. The whole of the necessary movements Avere completed by October 3. We left only the light line of observation posts and a few supports to keep in touch with the enemy.” Although the German High Command states that _ the French evacuated the greater part of the German territory occupied in front of the Siegfried Line and arc retreating over the* frontier, the French War Office declares that .the French troops remain on German soil almost the whole way from the Moselle to the Rhine. It is admitted that the Germans regained some of the farthest positions occupied by the French in the September advance.

It is'stated that the Germans have not resumed the attack this morning. It is noAV learned that one German division was engaged in yesterday’s attack in the Moselle sector and four or five divisions were engaged along the sector east of the Saar. It is stated that scores of Germans, wearing steel vests and visors and carrying machine-guns were killed. An early laconic, communique stating: ‘We obtained results north,-Avest ®£ Wissembourg,” meant that the French had captured prisoners from Avhom they obtained much information of the German plans.