SAAR BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 October 1939, Page 5

SAAR BATTLE

FRENCH LIGHT TROOPS FALL BACK SOME GERMAN TERRITORY GIVEN UP. ■EVENTS TAKE ANTICIPATED COURSE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) PARIS. October 17. An official communique states: “Towards the end of yesterday afternoon the Germans launched a second attack, supported by heavy artillery fire, in the region east of the Saar, over a front of about 20 miles. Our light advance troops fell back fighting, in accordance with their mission, but our fire held up the enemy’s pre-arranged line. The French command anticipated a fortnight ago this resumption of the offensive by the Germans and decided to withdraw to other positions French divisions which had taken up an offensive on German territory in order indirectly to assist the Polish armies. The whole of our necessary movements were completed by 3.10 o’clock and thereafter we had only advance troops and a few supporting units in contact with the enemy.” BRITISH PLANE FORCED DOWN IN GERMANY. THREE AIRMEN SAVED. (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, October 17. A German pursuit plane compelled a British plane to land near Lingen, Germany. The machine struck a farm building and caught fire. Three airmen, one of whom was wounded by machine-gun fire, were saved.