CHECKED BY FRENCH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 161, 7 June 1940, Page 8

CHECKED BY FRENCH

FURIOUS NAZI ONSLAUGHT TANKS, BOMBERS, ARTILLERY (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, June 5. The fury of the new German onslaught was unabated to-night. Indeed, the 'French night communique mentions the intensification of the battle: in the regions of Amiens, Peronne,’ and .'the Ailette Canal. It adds that the enemy are using important forces, especially tanks and ’planes, but. generally the German attacks have been checked. “Our troops are resisting energetically, even when passed by tanks, and are maintaining their positions,” says the communique.

ACTIVITY OF TANKS. ' The German High Command claims s that German troops have crossed the Somme between its mouth and Ham (south of St. Quentin), and also have crossed the Aisne-Oise Canal, breaking the Weygand Line at various points. The activity of German tanks in the afternoon represents a new element in this offensive. The French military spokesman declared the Germans had .sent in their tank forces after, dive-bombers and heavy artillery had pounded the defence lines. MAIN ALLIED LINES INTACT. The French spokesman said,: “The general situation is favourable for the French. German tanks have filtered through tlie French Mines aud attempted to execute a similar operation, spreading out in the form of a lan, out the main Allied lines in the hills and woods are intact: “The German attacks are directed against five or six points, but the main drives are maintained in, the Amiens-Laon sectors with another strong assault against the Peronne bridgehead. “The Germans, for the first time, are coming up against the new French anti-tank defences consisting of successive points of support solidly held and deeply spaced. It was possible for the tanks to penetrate between these points, but the penetration is of little .advantage unless German infantry and supplies lor the tanks are able to follow.” FRENCH AIR ATTACKS. ,4; The French evening communique, after dealing with the situation at the front, states: “There has been great activity by our Air Force in the _ past 24 hours. Our bomber aircraft attacked during ’.he night important factories in Munich and Ludwigschafen as well as the railway station at Mannheim. Big fires were observed during these operations. Several other railway stations and aerodromes were also attacked. Exploiting information supplied by our reconnaissances, J our bombers and fighters have given liowerful support to our land force since the beginning of the afternoon/” A French Air Ministry communique issued to-night states: “The activity of our Air Force has been particularly intensive to-day. Ocr bombers attacked military objectives at Mannheim, (Jim, Ludwigsehafen, and Munich. The Badesch aniline lactory was set on fire. The flames, uhich attained a great height, were clearly visible from the French frontier. Once again the Bavarian aero engine factory in the vicinity of Munich was bombed. Our aircraft took off in two waves and despite nests of searchlights installed in the Black Forest attained their allotted objectives arter having located the towns of Sigiraringen and Augsberg. “On the return flight anti-aircraft and artillery fire was intense in the neighbourhood of Saarbrucken and Saargamines. Our night bombers also violently attacked objectives of.great importance in the region of St. Quentin, Peronne. and Cambrai. A railway station and several convoys were wiped out, roads wer? cut, and .communications completely destroyed.” NO RESPITE FOR ENEMY. ' The communique adds: “Our crews have successfully attacked with bombs numerous enemy troop concentrations around St. Quentin. Enemy columns were harassed and bombed without respite in the same region. M.ore than six tons of explosives were dropped. ‘ ‘From dawn to-day the German attack was launched from the sea. to the Laon-Soissons road. A formidable aerial battle developed in which out fighters and attack ’planes lent massive and magnificent support to the land forces, w'ith whom constant contact was maintained. All the French infantry and tank attacks were accompanied by air force formations. Moreover, our light bomber aircraft displayed an ardent and offensive spirit. “A certain number of ’planes sent to attack rOads and points in tlie Peronne‘region succeeded, despite particularly violent fighter activities, _in penetrating the barrage and dropping 2o tons of bombs pn allotted points. Apart from cutting communications, the attackers put out of action an anti-aircraft battery and inflicted heavy losses on a motorised column. 'Great outbursts of fire were observed air over the battlefield. A very large number of enemy ’planes were brought down, but it is yet impossible to give the number.” R.A.F. TAKES A HAND. While German ’planes were attacking Le Havre night heavy R.A.F. bombers, penetrating deep into Germany, raided military objectives over a wide area, setting fire to oil storage plants and wrecking railway communications from Dortmund to Mannheim. Bombs were also /, dropped in the Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Cologne, and Essen areas. Relays of bombers attacked the oil depots at Frankfurt, ' dropping 400 high explosive and incendiary bombs. The flames enveloping 'the tahks lit up the country for miles. An attack was also launched on important oil storages between Dusseldorf and Cologne. Pilots observed the greater parts of the plants / ablaze. OIL STOCKS DESTROYED. Direct hits w’ere scored on an extern sive oil depot near Mannheim, -where waves of ’planes destroyed the plant. Other valuable oil stocks near Dortmund and Dusseldorf were destroyed and important- railway marshalling yards near Essen, Dusseldorf, and Wesel were heavily attacked. About 70 high-explosive bombs burst over the greater part of a railway yard at Cologne crowded * with loaded goods wagons. The bombers also damaged the buildings of one aerodrome.' ;; <■- ■■