SIGNS ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20076, 24 October 1939, Page 5

SIGNS ON THE WESTERN FRONT

MAY YET INVOLVE MILLIONS

DAWN PATROL AGAIN OVER GERMANY

CAREFULLY-PREPARED ALLIED LINES

STRENGTH TO MEET GERMAN PUSH

(Eloe. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct, 24,11,40 a.m.) LONDON, Oct, 23. A special correspondent of the British United Press, “Somewhere in France,” travelling through the British area writes: “It becomes increasingly obvious that the original British Expeditionary Force is only the framework of a huge army. Thousands of British are still pouring into France, bringing an immense amount of supplies and munitions.

“As far as can be judged, the British authorities have abandoned the thesis held by some military experts a few years ago that Britain would not be required to .send a big land army to France in the event of another war. If conditions here are any criterion, Britain is determined to send forces running into millions if necessary. “Conversations with the officers reveal that none expects a short war, or an early political or economic collapse of Clermany. Nor are they under the delusion that victory will be simple.” Successes on Home Front. The British United Press representative with the Air Force writes: “With tails up because of the week-end successes of the Royal Air Force on the Home front, the British dawn patrol itew over the Western Fr.ont this morning, seeking fresh triumphs. Planes from an advance aerodrome behind the Maginot Line penetrated a long distance over Germany and returned to report all quiet, expressing disappointment that they had not met some of the latest German machines. The week-end successes were received jubilantly among 'the personnel of the Royal Air Force in France and many toasts were honoured.”

Reports from French sources show that Germany’s Richthofen squadron is now operating on the Western Front. Two planes shot down by the French bore, in addition to the usual identity marks, the red and white check pattern which Richtliofen made famous in the last war.

The Paris correspondent of The Times says that, with the exception of one or two points near the side of the Warndt Forest, the French positions are almost everywhere inside French territory along a earefully-preparecl line, which is still well in front of the main Maginot defensive system. The correspondent adds that, owing the activity of the screen for the French: outposts during and after their retirement, the German command is completely ignorant of what is going on. The ground now occupied by the German troops since the French withdrawal is little better than a swamp. Stronger Strategic Position. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail emphasises that the French forces have now.placed themselves in a far stronger strategic position because, if a big German offensive comes, they will be able to give battle on territory they themselves have chosen and not at a series of points where they had penetrated German soil.

A French Army communique states that the night was quiet on the front as a whole.

Further Paris messages state that the cold weather is increasing on the Western Front. German prisoners taken during the last 48 hours appear to be suffering greatly from this. They say they have no blankets and only one hot meal daily. They state that the food received from the French was much superior to the German.