FRENCH AIR RECONNAISSANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20084, 2 November 1939, Page 7

FRENCH AIR RECONNAISSANCE

BRITISH FIGHTERS MEET NAZI BOMBERS BELATED SCOUTING STORY IN BERLIN GERMAN ESTIMATES OF CASUALTIES (Blcc. Tel. Copyright.—Unit eel Prosa Assn.) (Rood. Nov. 1. '■> p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 31. A eommumque issued in Pans stales 1 hove was marked activity between the Moselle and the Saa raids and ambushes by patrols. "During many flights yesterday \u brought down a German reconnaissance machine over our lines/' added the communique. Two enemy observation planes fell in the German Hoes on the Saar iront. All the French planes returned to their bases." An earlier communique issued in Paris stated that brisk land engagements occurred in the Moselle \alley near Luxembourg, near Saarhrueken and round the Hhes Kivcr. Paris reports that anti-aircraft gunners shot down at least one German plane 100 miles within France. Aerial reconnaissance units were active on both sides. Seven hreneli flights were made over enemy territory. The machines returned safely with valuable information. The British Air Ministry announces: "Yesterday British fighters had their first opportunity to engage German bombers over French territory. Two enemy machines were observed flying high and were attacked by our fighters. One of the raiders, a Dornier, was shot down. The other made off in the clouds." Deserted Villages. The Berlin correspondent oC the British United Press states it was to-day announced that German reconnaissance units crossed the French frontier bringing back "as much war material as they could carry." The communique stated further: "German scouts before the Magino.t Line found sections of the French second line of defence completely abandoned, including an uncompleted trench line five-eighths of a mile from the first French village whose houses were deserted and in disorder. A second village was also abandoned. .Machinegun nests sheltered between the villages were deserted. The scouts returned by another route and found all the positions evacuated. Munitions, steel helmets and equipment were strewn about," A later communique admitted that the reports of the scouts were "belated descriptions of events of sonic time ago, the precise date being unknown." Tlic German Supreme Command states that the total losses due to enemy activity on the Western Front from September 3 to October 17, since when they have not been materially altered, were 196 dead, 356 wounded, and 114 missing. Eleven aeroplanes were lost.