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AGAIN DRIVEN BACK

GERMAN PATROLS IN WEST LOSSES BY RAIDING PARTIES. PRELUDE TO BIG .BID SUSPECTED LONDON, Oct. 11. A French' Army eommunique issued in Paris states that eiieniy .patrols involving strong effectives were again repulsed during the night south of Saarhrucken and in the region of the Pirmasens. It is unofficially stated /that the German activity, despite the driving rain and mud, may ho a prelude to an effort to relieve the French pressure on Saarhrucken, A semi-official commentator elaborating on the French communique says that two German rakling parties of 150, each lost 60 killed and wounded without capturing a solitary Frenchman. They were repelled in hcr;e liancl-io-hand' fighting in which hand grenades were Used. A communique issued in Paris last night stated:— “Between the ’Moselle and the Saar, there is very great aettivitv by enemy reconitoitoring parties. In this region we repulsed several surprise attacks, several of which -were delivered in considerable strength. The Petit Pasisien says there is now no doubt of the quality of the troops which the Germans are employing. A cominunique issued in Berlin by the German High Command last evening stated that- minor patrol activities andi heavy gunfire had characterised the operations on the AA estern Front. The German High Command in a communique issued to-dav states that there was weak artillery during the day after a quiet night. BRITISH PART WESTERN FRONT TROOPS PREPARE TANKS OF 15 TONS MUCH NEAY EQUIPMENT LONDON, Oct. 11. •Speaking in the House of Omimons to-day, the Secretary of (State for AYar, Air. L>. Hore-Belisha. referred to the British military contribution to the Allied cause. He said that within five weeks of the outbreak ot war, Britian transported 158, COO men to France. Hitherto the convoys across the channel averaged three each night. r lbis was made possible by the willingly-obsoi \ - ed reticence of the press, but silence was now not needed and the first body of war correspondents had gone with the forces. A. small body of specially-selected officers with confidential clerks worked out the whole details of the transport ol the armv and the Royal Air Foieo details to France. There was not-a single casualty. Tlicv had tra-nsporied 2-3.000 vehicles. including tanks, some of 15 tons apiece • Special shins were rcquiied to carry the in. Tim men wen* tiansported in small groups and landed at scattered poits in France. Infantrymen constituted 60 per cent of the forces in I Dll - relying on bayonets. There were two machineguns per batallion. To-day only 20 per cent was infantry with 50 Bren guns. 22 anti-tank rifles and other weapons per batallion. This showed bow much better the army was-equip-ped with lire power. Assurance to Relatives “1 would like the men’s parents smd wives to know that tho\ ate m lino spirit,” lie continued. The - only present shortcomings were the iuatlcquaiicy ol cigarettes and the slowness of the delivery of letters. The Commaiider-inChief and corps commanders reported tint highest pride in t!m men who were, at present busily. fortifying positions in the line. A point emphasised in Air. HorcBelislia’s statement was that the eonLmgenLs <>! the British Expeditionsy Force at. present in France were not the last that would arrive there. A base lias been created and lines oi communication organised to ensure a regular Mow of supplies and munitions and the reception of further contingents as, and when, it might be decided lo semll them. Opinions of Neutrals Air. I loro-Helislm cited the neutral testimony of American observers to tlu* excellence ol Hie equipment possessed by the force, and he added : “I

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OPNEWS19391013.2.20

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 246, 13 October 1939, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
594

AGAIN DRIVEN BACK Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 246, 13 October 1939, Page 3

AGAIN DRIVEN BACK Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 246, 13 October 1939, Page 3

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