GERMAN EFFORT ON WESTERN FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 October 1939, Page 5

GERMAN EFFORT ON WESTERN FRONT

French Reoccupy Positions Yielded Temporarily ENEMY LOSSES IN MEN AND MATERIAL SECOND ATTACK ON WIDER LINE <By Telegraph.—Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, October 17. On a four-mile front east of the Moselle, the Germans launched the greatest assault they have yet made on the Western Front. It was supported by artillery fire. It is announced that the German casualties were between 500 and 1000. |The Germans also lost more than 20 tanks. A British United Press correspondent says that, anticipating the attack, the French withdrew from their advanced positions, leaving a large number of mines which exploded, killing scores of the advancing Germans. The French thereafter opened heavy artillery fire, disorganising the enemy and forcing their retreat. The French are reoccupying all their advanced positions. The Germans occupied the Schneeberg height, on which the French' had a light line of observation posts supported by land mines. The enemy attackers were caught under French fire, were halted, and withdrew to the north of the village of Apach, which they had momentarily penetrated. A German High Command communique does not mention the above operation, but merely announces slight activity and weak harassing French tire. It adds that aerial activity is slight. . The French are completing all preparations to resist a. large-scale attack on a 60-mile front between the Moselle and the Hardt Forest. Daventry reports that the latest French communique says that late yesterday afternoon the Germans made a second attack supported by heavy artillery fire 20 miles east of the Saar River. French advance troops fell back fighting according to a prearranged plan, and the enemy advance was then held up by intensive artillery fire. '