OPEN TRENCHES WATER-LOGGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20077, 25 October 1939, Page 7

OPEN TRENCHES WATER-LOGGED

BOGS FOR MECHANISED ARMY UNITS CHANCES OF BIG EFFORTS RECEDE SUCCESSFUL RAIDS BY FRENCH PARTIES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct. 25. 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, Oct, 24. The correspondent of the British United Press with .the British Expeditionary Force in France, Mr. Webb Miller, says that torrential rain is again deluging the Western Front and the prospects of a big German autumn offensive arc receding further as the countryside is already water-logged. Exposed trenches are half-filled with wafer and the rivers arc flooded and modern motorised war machines attempting to operate on the Western Front at present would he hopelessly hogged. The military correspondent of the Petit Parisien, Charles Morice, emphasises that the French do not intend a big’ offensive against the Siegfried Line. A French communique issued last evening reported activity on the Western Front by all contacting elements, particularly west of the Saar. This morning’s communique stated that no noteworthy activity had taken place during Ihe night. The French press emphasises that the Allied navies are well able to cope with intensive air and naval offensives against Britain’s blockade. Paris reports further that ceaseless rain and deepening mud has confined the activities along flic Siegfried Line and Maginot Line to local intensification of fighting. After a week-end lull the French carried out a successful raid in the east of the Moselle sector and took prisoners, and a new machine-gun which experts are examining. Germans were mainly active west of Forbad), where,they attacked with handgrenades. The French, were holding the German village, but recoiled under an artillery barrage. The French retain certain footholds on German soil where such arc militarily important.