GERMAN CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1939, Page 6

GERMAN CLAIMS

RELATIVE LOSSES ON WEST FRONT FRENCH SUCCESSES MINIMISED. FIRST PHASE OF FIGHTING ENDED. By Tc-legraph—Press Association—Copyright BERLIN, October 19. A High Command communique an nounces that the first phase of tin fighting on the Western Front has end ed with the withdrawal of the Frencl over the frontier between the Rive; Saar and the Hornbachbitch Road There is only local artillery and recon naissance activity elsewhere. It is claimed that Germany has los 11 planes on the Western Front since the commencement of the war, anc that France and Britain have Jost 60 including 12 British machines. The Germans, it is stated, took prisoner 2f officers and 664 of other ranks. The communique gives German losses cn the Western Front to October l r at 196 dead. 356 wounded and 114 missing. It declares that since September 9 no serious fighting has occurred. I generally minimises the French successes and occupation of German territory and admits that the German; have not crossed the French frontier “HIGHLY EXAGGERATED” FRENCH COMMENT ON CLAIMS. PARIS, October 19. An official radio commentator de. dares that the German claims are highly exaggerated. "The Germar communiques," he observed, "seem tc be inflamed with the spirit of victory They are wishful thinking and an ’attempt to influence neutral opinion.' FRENCH BOMBARDMENT IN VICINITY OF PERL. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) LUXEMBOURG, October 19. The French intensively bombarded the German lines in the vicinity oi Perl. AIR MINISTER VISIT TO WEST FRONT. TOUR OF BRITISH SECTOR. (Recevied This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, October 19. The Air Minister. Sir Kingsley Wood, the first Cabinet member to visit the British sector on the Western Front saw the army air component, then drove to the Royal Air Force headquarters. He ..said it was a tonic to see their cheerfulness and belief in their cause. An Air Ministry communique reveals that Sir Kingsley Wood went to France on Tuesday and conferred with the French Air Minister M La Chambre and Viscount Gort, establishing complete agreement on all points.