SAAR BASIN PUSH

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 231, 8 September 1939, Page 3

SAAR BASIN PUSH

> ART I LLERY COVERING ’ TROOPS ELIMINATING BLOCKHOUSES 31ASSIVK* FORCES P.IU)CKFi)JNG GATH CONTACTS ! LONDON, Sept. Paris reports. state that the French attacks last night concentrated on the north-east Iron tier near the Saar •J’asin.- The Paris newspaper, .Midi, states tliat Allied aeroplanes heavily honthed t/te Rhineland industrial centres inainly around Aix la thapelio, that a despatch from Brussels states that the • Hsohwoillor. near Aix la C hapoilc, siill'erod heavily’ from raids, further unofficial despatches report that a ..French tank advance is lining made towards Saarhrucken and that raids were Jiiadd by 000 Allied aeroplanes in the Rhineland. To-day's .communique in .Paris, the first to claim gains, contrasted with pn vious r(’ports of mere local successes which are interpreted to mean that the infantry, covered by artillery, had eliminated outlying blockhouses at several' points. While there was no indication of a large-scale offensive it wa.s apparent that the French wore gradually increasing tli.o pressure. There was evidence of increased activity Fuomy aircraft were seen at various sectors. Le Havre Jiatl two alarms in daylight, ‘being the farthest west pcnotiation hy German scouting planes.

The Paris correspondent of the Associated Press of Anicrica says that the left wing of the French army has increased the pressure on the German northern flank along a front ol 1.00 miles. A French army communique states; “Our troops aVe in-con-tact between the Rhine and Moselle Rivers.” It is recalled that the permanent fortification of the border oi the Rhine “is here and there.” ‘The main attack was southward at the “Burgundy Gate” where the artillery barrage was concentrated. The Paris correspondent of the New York 'l'iines states t-liat the surmise, which is fully warranted, is that the long and relatively narrow track lietween the Maginot Line and the west wall has already become a sort ol No Alan’s Land, pounded with shells of nil calibres from both sides. It is believed that the Germans are meeting with such resistance in "Poland that tl-.ev would be compelled lienee forth to act methodically. - The main armies on both fronts .are not likely to come to grips for some time.