AGAINST BARBARISM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 164, 11 June 1940, Page 7

AGAINST BARBARISM

SIGNIFICANCE OF STRIFE. HEROIC STRUGGLE. (British Official Wireless.) Received June 11. 10.35 a.m. RUGBY, June 10. As an English newspaper has said, “It-is better that British civilians be killed than Allied soldiers.” Sueli is the spirit of the British people. They have unshakeable confidence in the military genius of the French High ComVnand and in the traditional heroism of the French soldier. The great battle now proceeding in France is being followed with close and sympathetic attention by the British public. Everyone realises that the land of Britain itself may appropriately he described as the “back area” of the fighting front. Not only is it the “battle of Paris,” but the “battle of London” as well, and it is realised that the fate not only of Britain and France, but of the whole world, depends on the result of this heroic struggle, waged by the French Armies against Hitler’s barbarous hordes. Despite the imminent danger of a German invasion of Britain, the British Government and the British nation are unanimously of the opinion that all the available forces should he directed without* delay to the scene of the battle. Important contingents of new troops have already disembarked in France to reinforce the British forces which are fighting at the side of their Allies. The R.A.F. in France has been increased in strength. The Fleet is shelling German troops on the coast. BOMBS ON BRITAIN. During the last few days hundreds of German aeroplanes- have dropped bombs on Britain in the hope of immobilising fighters. This measure has completely failed. The thought in British minds is to sustain the battle front, and the British people are proud to endure attacks which would otherwise he directed against the Allied Armies. Every enemy aeroplane crossing the British coast and every bomb falling on Britain diminishes by so much the German effort at the Front.

- NAZIS REACH SEINE. THREE MAIN THRUSTS. MAGINOT FORTS IN ACTION. LONDON, June 10. The French day communique is very brief. It states: “The battle from the sea to the Argonne continues to be more and more violent.” . . It is authoritatively stated in Lon-don-that the situation is obviously one of increasing difficulty. Onr troops in some of the heaviest fighting tire playing their full part on the left of the French forces. The Germans are making three main thrusts, the first above Roue.i, the second south from Soissons and the third the new attack on both sides of Rethel in the Argonne. The first thrust is the most serious and has made the most progress, reaching the Seine.

Armoured German units, which were] part of a force which pressed on from j Forges-les-Eaux, to Rouen and Pont de l’Arehe, were reported last night to have reached Gisors, which is east of Rouen and 35 miles from Paris. The Germans’ most violent attack has been in the Champagne sector, but the French lines there are still holding. The Germans also launched fierce onslaughts in the region southward of Aumale. At Montdidier, which is the centre of -he front, there was a series of extremely severe attacks. Counterattacks developed in the region ol Soissons. South of Amiens the enemy yesterday had advanced 20 miles. Germans crossed the River Aisne 60 miles froyi Paris at a point 20 miles south-east of Soissons. In the east, where the Germans attacked in the heavily-wooded and hilly Argonne district south of Sedan, parachute troops were dropped along' the whole sector, but these have been completely surrounded. HEAVY BOMBARDMENT. A message from Basle says the French artillery at 2 a.m. and again at 3 a.m. opened one of the heaviest bombardments of the war against the German positions at the Swiss end of the Maginot Line. Huge columns of smoke were seen from the vicinity of Basle, where windows rattled from the gunfire. Each' bombardment lasted twenty mi mites. Everyone in thm city was awakened and watched the flashesfrom the Maginot forts. Fresh German divisions are reported to be moving into the Black Forest, where the. forces are now estiihated at 20 divisions. * While no precise information is available, it is reasonable to assume that the explanation of the French bombardment from the Maginot Line is due to the concentration of German troops. A Paris message says - antiaircraft batteries went into action at intervals all night long . and were especially - violent at 1.45 and again at .7 o’clock. -