WESTERN FRONT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20132, 29 December 1939, Page 7

WESTERN FRONT

WINTER'S GRIP ANOTHER 60 DAYS POSSIBLE OFFENSIVES BIG BIDS BY NAZIS ALLIES PREPARING (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.i (Reed. Dec. 29, Noon.) LONDON. Dec. 28. The Christmas lull on the Western Front has ended. The fog lifted and both sides yesterday sent out reconnaissance parties, particularly between the Luxembourg frontier and the Saar River, with the object of discovering whether the lull had been employed to make important or to reinforce outposts. Contact with the enemy involving sustained fighting was reduced to a minimum. Paris to-day stated there had been nothing to report during the night. A Berlin High Command communique states there is nothing of importance to report on the Western Front. It is pointed out that another GO days at the most remain before the winter conditions in the military sense cease to exist. -The Allies must be prepared for an enemy offensive, in February at the latest. The Luxembourg correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that the greatest uneasiness had been caused as a result of German activities along the frontier. Until the end of November the Germans were busy constructing pillboxes and erecting barbed-wire barriers along the Moselle from Wasserbillig to Remich. This brought in the Siegfried Line a region which hitherto was without permanent defences, but the defensive nature of the constructions allayed fears of an invasion. However, since December 1 the inhabitants of Luxembourg have seen thousands enlarging and improving German roads to the frontier. A new strategic road at right angles to the Moselle reaches the river six miles from Remich, but beyond the range of the French guns. The Germans have sounded the entire length of the rivers Ourthe, Aauer and Moselle, apparently seeking fords.

German staff officers also have closely inspected all 21 bridges along the 60 miles of frontier, blowing up two. The remainder were mined at the German end.