FRENCH TACTICS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1939, Page 5

FRENCH TACTICS

INITIAL PENETRATION OF DEFENCES FACILITATING FURTHER ATTACK. POSSIBILITY OF GERMAN COUNTER-OFFENSIVE. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. NEW YORK, September 10. The “New York Times” Paris correspondent says -that the importance of the French gains on the Western front can be gauged by the fact that first-line troops at several points have advanced to the west wall of fortification works which has been the ultimate objective. It is noteworthy that a German communique claims that the French are far from the works, which undoubtedly they are at some points, for the front is not straight. The attackers’ aim is to secure vital points, escape flanking fire, and organise the conquered positions to facilitate the advance. The French command portions of the Laute River and the Saar River, the importance of which lies in the fact that the crossroads of the rail junctions cross the Saar between Wolkeingen and Wadgassen. During their methodical advance the French heavy artillery is pounding the west wall to test its solidity, while aeroplanes constantly fly over photographing. It is logical that any German count-er-offensive, as distinct from a count-er-attack; will come in the west, where it is rumoured the west wall may be weakest. Forced back on the left and centre, the Germans might hope to relieve the pressure by attacking on the right.' A French communique implies that reconnoitring planes have signalled troop concentrations near the base of the Moselle-Saar triangle. AIR FORCES GERMAN PLANES FLYING WEST. ACCORDING TO RUSSIAN REPORT. LONDON, September 10. An intercepted Moscow broadcast today stated that many German warplanes are flying over Berlin on their way to the Western front and many troops are moving from Poland toward France. It is noted that when the Russian language was used the tone of the broadcast favoured England and France, but a broadcast in German favoured Germany. RISING INTENSITY * ATTACK DEVELOPING IN NEW ZONE. (Received This Day, Il a.m.) PARIS, September 11. The action on the Western front is gaining in intensity. The new zone of attack is from the eastern edge of a line from the Bitsch plateau to the German Palatinate, between the Little Saar River, and the Vosges Mountains. German counter-attacks are directed at the western end of the line, from the Saar to Besia.