SIEGFRIED DEFENCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1939, Page 5

SIEGFRIED DEFENCES

NOT LINE IN MAGINOT SENSE SUCCESSION OF MILITARY POSITIONS. . SOME SECTIONS 15 MILES DEEP. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright NEW YORK, September 10. The “New York Times” London correspondent says that misapprehensions concerning the Siegfried Line are being dissipated. It is not a line in the Maginot sense, but rather a series of military positions of great depth, the general theory of which is the delaying of action by outposts and stronger resistance in the successive defence lines, the terrain between which is chequered with small forts and machine-gun nests. The theory provides for heavy counter-attacks by reserve mobile divisions before the enemy is able to consolidate amid the ruins of the captured ground. There are sections of the Siegfried Line at least 15 miles deep. Travellers in Germany during the September crisis were surprised by the comparatively few troops near the frontier. There were thousands 15 miles behind, these being mechanised, mobile counter-attackers. The Siegfried Line defences can be breached, the correspondent adds, but a whole campaign, not a single action, is likely to be required. RADIO REPORTS SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS MADE BY FRENCH. GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACKS HALTED. According to the French High Command (a radio announcement states), the French attack has continued to make substantial progress on a front of about 12 miles in the Saar region. This appears to support the unofficial view that the situation on the Western front is now leaving the preliminary stages of contact and is entering the stage of conflict. German counterattacks had been effectively halted. French tanks are clearing out German advance posts. POLISH LEGION FORMATION PROPOSED . IN FRANCE. NAZI THREAT TO CZECHS. By Telegraph—P—’s Association —Copyright LONDON, September 10. The Polish Ambassador in Paris appeals to the 800,000 nationals in France to form a legion for action with the French on the western front. Of 4000 Czechoslovakians in England, 1000 have already volunteered for the Czech legion in London, says a broadcast message from Daventry. The Protectorate Government has issued a warning that enlistment in foreign armies will be regarded as treason and will meet with severe punishment. The fate of citizens of the protectorate who are captured fighting with a foreign army is emphasised.

A French message says that so many foreigners in France have offered their services to France that special recruiting areas have been formed. The constitution of an Austrian legion has begun. Polish and Czechoslovakian flags are flying over the sites where they are forming legions.—By radio.