INTENSE GUNFIRE

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 239, 27 September 1939, Page 3

INTENSE GUNFIRE

WESTERN FRONT BARRAGES BOTH SIDES ACTIVE FRENCH AERIAL SUPERIORITY BOLTS’ G AIM NT RES IST'A N-Url LONDON, Sept. 2-3. Paris reports state that the French artillery to-day began the iliiect bombardment of the main forilieations ol the Siogfriodl Line in an attempt to blast the Germans from the it positions. The Germans an* replying but are failing to niakp direct- hits on the advanced French positions. The cannonades reached the intensity of great bombardments of the last war. Hundreds of big guns are massed on both sides of the front.

A Nazi . mechanised detachment made a surprise encroachment on French'territory in a quiet part of the Vosges sector. Fiem-li shock trepps took tlii* offensive in the Saar and Palatinate regions and claim to, have annihilated several •German groups. The French eoiisidler the German armies not so powerful as in Iffl-I in numbers and lighting ability although then* is no.lack of equipment. The air battles yesterday gave preoi of the quality of French machines which are superior in speed and skill to the German fighters. Km* the .first time -since the war started, tin* stretch along the Rhine between Strasbourg and Basle was the scene ol prolonged, violent cannonades. The reception given to counter-attacks elsewhere appears to have discouraged the Nazis. Forestalling German Offensive. The earlier reference to an improvement in the French positions on the Western Flout relates to the rectification of tin* lines in the region of tinBlii's River an-,I the Harilt Forest, the actual advance being several hundred metres. The Baiis correspondent el the- Associated: Bress of Great Britain says that Flench artillery supporting infant rv attacks on flu* German flank filed plentifully high-calibre shells against the Siegfried Line from Kailsi uhe to" fhe Swiss frontier in order to forestall an expected 'German offensive. Militaiy observers believe that to-day’s big gnu action may be a prelude to a general offensive. The French troops driving towards Saarbrueken suddenly swung north in the direction of Blieskastel. where the main Siegfried Line begins. The French, however, appear to In* cm the defensive -against the German pressure at Wisfe.mbourg. 'l'lie Germans are massing planes at strategic points near the Swiss holder, thus indicating intensjfiod aerial operations. r l lie Germans an* also erecting aerodromes. Senegalese* troops are effectively participating in the French operations.

AI. Alilleraml, who was; the French War AI mister in 11)14, says he is completely coiiiidcnt, as France stood alone in 191-1. whereas to-day Britain is (|uite ready. Ribbentrcp Believed Impsftien’i. The Palis Soil* stated that a long eculorence was held to-day by Herr Hitler. Field-Marshal Goediig and Herr Von Bibbentrop. It was reported that German planes in the eastern centres needed repairs and overhaul. It: is said that Herr Yon Bibbentrop is most impatient andi favours an otfensive through Belgium or Holland. The official German news agency in Berlin, however, says the suggestions that Germany is planning to advance through Belgium or Holland are a flagrant falsification and are humid to give rise to suspicion that sin h intentions exist in. tin 1 Allies’ camp, a pretext being merely sought to carry them out.

Warsaw states that the heroic defence of the Afodlin fortress, which the Germans have cut off- Iron) Warsaw, continues, despite attacks from every side. Polish nocturnal sorties along tlio left bank of the Vistula resulted in the capture of prisoners. The Budapest correspondent of The Times states that- 'Polish former employees at; the natural gasworks ill Galicia repert that the Germans blew* it]) pipe-lines, pumping stations and refineries supplying fuel to the Lwow industries in ordyr to prevent them

falling into Russian'hands. FIGHTING ON WESTERN FRONT - ' ■' ZEPPELIN WORKS RAIDED BRITISH PLANKS OYER ' GERA! ANY EON DON, Sept. 25. •'An official communique issued in Paris states that tlier.o was a local improvement in the French positions. The enemy artillery was active southeast of Zweibrueken. 'The German High Command states that small .skirmishes have utken place on the Western Front. The British Ailinistry of Information announced that Royal Air JLforce aircraft carried out .successful daylight reconnaissance flights yesterday over Western Germany. East- night reconnaissance flights took place over Western Germany and north-west Germany in the course of which leaflets were dropped. All of our aircraft leturned safely and no sciious opposition was encountered. , A military observer attached to the field force fn Franco sums up the impression made by the British troops as fellows: “We have an army lacking nothing of the fighting spirit of those described in earlier day's as •‘contemptible.’ It. is impossible to encounter them without feeling pride and confidence that the army will acquit itself with honour.