FURIOUS4 THRUSTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 163, 10 June 1940, Page 7

FURIOUS 4 THRUSTS

SPEARHEAD OF TANKS. FRENCH AIRCRAFT CHECK. Received June 10, 11.5 a.m. PARIS, June 9. The military spokesman said the position of the battle this miming is that a German attack more violent than any hitherto had started in the region south of Amiens in a southerly direction and yesterday had progressed as far as the region of Breteuil. on the River Noye, about 20 miles from Beauvais. Two attacks were launched farther eastward to the south of Peronne in the direction of Noyon and Montbidier. The , gains acquired following these two attacks were slight. It is estimated the Germans flung about 40 divisions in this sector between the River Bresle and Noyon. At the start of the offensive on the line of the Somme the Germans- hadfirst thrown about 27 divisions into the front line, where their losses were so heavy during the first-day’s battle that yesterday .they were forced to withdraw a certain number of these troops and throw a second formation of 20 divisions into the line. The surviving divisions of the first line, together with the fresh divisions of the second line, form a mass of 40 divisions in the region between Aumale and Noyon, with also a certain number of armoured divisions. East of the Oise ten German divisions accompanied by armoured units crossed the Aisne yesterday and advanced across the plateau south ot the river. German infantry advanced from ten to 15 kilometres in this region. In the morning the Germans recommenced the offensive at all these points with the same violence, and also attacked on a 20-mile front on the Upper Aisne / betwcen Chateau P°r«en and the village of Le Chesne The Germans launched a fierce bombard meut in the Chateau Poreien , sector and the German infantry advanced in mass formation. An armoured column which reached Forge les Eaux suffer-, ed considerably from the ) rl ° lent J\ tacks of French ’planes, which attacked the tanks with cannon. »om groups of this column progressed with difficulty south-westwards to the Lower Seine. The Germans have used 3500 tanks and other armoured units as the spearhead of the shock forces in breach the French lines. it is the greatest use of mechanised units since the start of the blitzkrieg. The French spokeman earlier stated ;Te«e°LU“»J e ttr. , tr«l S l.ten,out the line following the German/somme on the two wings— west of f in Bresle and east from Ailette (mm way between Laon and Soissons) to the A Referring to anti-tank defence tonight’s French communique states that fn the course of the latest engagements a group of artillery under Major Pouyat destroyed 38 German tank . Oner battery commanded by Captain Vandelle destroyed 19 and anothei group commanded by Major Jun ■which was attacked from a distance ot 100 metres, destroyed 17.