HEAVY CANNONADING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1939, Page 6

HEAVY CANNONADING

FRENCH BOMBARDING SIEGFRIED (LINE Hundreds of Big Guns Massed on Both Sides SOME DETAIL INFANTRY ACTIONS ESTIMATE OF ENEMY FIGHTING POWER (By Telegraph.—Press Association.— Copyright.) (Received This Dav, 11.30 p.m.) PARIS, September 2'n The French artillery has begun a direct bombardment of the main fortifications of the Siegfried Line, in an attempt to blast the Germans from their positions. . The Germans are replying, but are failing to make direct hits on the advanced French positions. The cannonades reached the intensity of the 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. French shock troops took the offensive in the Saar and Palatinate regions and claim to have annihilated several German groups. The French consider that the German armies are not so powerful as in 1914- in numbers and fighting ability, although there is no lack of equipment.

ROYAL AIR FORCE

ANOTHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT.

LEAFLETS DROPPED IN WESTERN GERMANY.

(Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 25.

It is now revealed that the Royal Air Force carried out a successful night reconnaisance last evening, dropping leaflets in Western and South-Western Germany. All the planes returned safely, without encountering serious opposition. BRITISH TROOPS FINE IMPRESSION MADE IN FRANCE. SPIRIT OF “CONTEMPTIBLES” ALIVE. (Received This Day, 12.57 p.m.) t RUGBY, September 25. A military observer attached to the field force in France sums up the impression made by the British troops as follows: “We have an army lacking nothing of the fighting spirit of those described in earlier days as ‘Contemptible.’ It is impossible to encounter them without a feeling of pride and confidence that the army will pcquit itself with honour.” AIR BATTLES SUPERIORITY OF FRENCH MACHINES. FASTER & MORE SKILFULLY HANDLED. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) PARIS, September 25. Air battles yesterday have given full proof, of the quality of the French machines, which are superior in speed and skill to the German fighters.

For the first time since the war, a stretch along the Rhine between Strasbourg and Bale was the scene of prolonged and violent cannonades. The reception given to counter-attacks elsewhere appears to have discouraged the Nazis.

An earlier reference to the improvement of French positions on the West front relates to the rectification of lines in the region of Blies and the Hardt forest. The actual advance was of several hundred metres.