GERMAN LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1940, Page 6

GERMAN LOSSES

IN ATTACKS ON WESTERN FRONT ENCOUNTERS IN VOSGES & ELSEWHERE.’ SOME ENEMY CLAIMS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) PARIS. March 18. The Germans suffered severe losses in the largest attack on the Western Front since the outbreak of war. Three engagements occurred. Firstly, the French at dawn found Germans installed in their advance posts, which are not normally manned at night. French patrols attacked and forced the Germans back. Secondly, the Germans launched three hundred men against a patrol in the Vosges, after which the French repulsed waves of Nazi troops attempting to capture an advanced position. The attackers left many dead. Two Frenchmen are reported missing. Thirdly, a filtering attempt east of the Moselle encountered a severe cross-fire, after which the French retook all positions. The Official Agency in Berlin says the French lost five killed and eight taken prisoner in this encounter. French batteries participating in intensified strafing were dealt with. The High Command says the Air Force reconnoitred England and France, attacked armed merchantmen and sank an outpost boat. LIVELY ENGAGEMENT GERMANS REPELLED IN DISORDER. (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) PARIS. March 18. A commentator reports a lively engagement west of the Vosges in which three hundred Germans were engaged. Heavy French machine-gun and artillery fire forced them to retreat in disorder. with heavy casualties, leaving many dead. ATTEMPT FOILED (Received This Day. 10.35 a.m.) PARIS, March 18. The day communique states: “Our infantry and artillery fire frustrated an enemy attempt to creep through to the east of the Moselle.”