FINAL NAZI ASSAULT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 158, 4 June 1940, Page 7

FINAL NAZI ASSAULT.

ALLIED LINE HOLDS. * LONDON, June 3. _ The Germans are concentrating 15 divisions for a final assault on the Dunkirk area, where the last of the British Forces are still fighting sternly. French troops are standing shoulder to shoulder witfi them, sharing the final - desperate hours as the Battle of Flanders draws to its end. Reports from French military circles say that the line is still held, but that the Germans are making furious efforts to storm the fortified zone. Allied ’planes continue, their ceaseless combats overhead, and they are also dropping food and water to troopS l . bivouacked along the Dunkirk sand dunes. The embarkation continues in orderly fashion from the beach, which is’ constantly under fire from German heavy artillery. The German News Agency claims that a British transport fleet off Dunkirk was scattered or destroyed and several divisions were drowned in the Channel. ~ _ . ’ A Paris message says the Premier (M Reynaud), the Vice-Premier (Marshal Petain) and the Minister of Armaments (M. Dautry) visited the Somme front, after which M. Reynaud announced that the morale of the Army was never higher. He congratulated the High Command on the energy and rapidity with which, the defence had been organised, and also on a ■ remarkable adaptation to the conditions of the present war - The front from the Somme to the Rhine is calm, except for local exchanges of automatic arms along the Aisne and some artillery action: east of the Moselle. , , , The French Press are debating whether the next enem> offensive will be of a fiiilitary or diplomatic nature. GREAT ENEMY LOSSES. . The Havas News, Agency gives a vivid description, ot the appalling losses during vain assaults against the French lines in the region ot Kethei on the Aisne front. < , The French commanding general, who had a tremendous task to re-es-tablish the Frencu front after the initial German penetration, retreated reassembled his forces, and then counter-attacked. It was then the Germans’ turn to be surprised, as they thought the battle was already won. They realised the solidity of the French too late. French pursuit and assault ’planes harassed the Germans, and the artillery battered them. An entire German division was annihilated at one point, affording the terrible spectacle of thousands of inert bodies lying in the brilliant; sunshine. The German Command paid no heed to the losses and poured in new waves of troops, which in turn were destroyed. Then the foremost French unit made ■ contact with a, German, line of veritable fanatics who ■■ shouted the name of the Fuehrer from one fo another in encouragement, but the magnificent spirit of all ranks enabled the French' to take important: positions and re-establish the situation.