OPINION IN LONDON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 May 1940, Page 5

OPINION IN LONDON

POSITION STILL GRIM PUSH TOWARDS CAMBRAI. MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM AT PRESENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, May 20. It is authoritatively stated in London that the position on the Western Front is still grim. The geographical position is not better, but the moral position is better. The French are believed to be gradually plugging holes in the French line, and their “75’s” are extraordinarily effective against the German tanks. The enemy have not dented the British line and no British material has been abandoned. The Allied morale is improving, and the arrival of General Weygand has imparted tremendous confidence. The weight of the German mechanised thrust is slackening. The continued defence by the Belgians of the Liege and Namur forts is hampering railway movements behind the German lines, as practically every railway leading to the German front passes through those towns. Military quarters in Paris admitted that the Germans have captured St. Quentin. Instead of pressing on the salient toward Paris the- Germans are attempting to turn their main onslaught to the west and north, so as to advance on Cambrai and to attack the' British and Belgians in the rear. The westward threat in the direction of Cambrai is the most serious problem at present, and it appears that a heavy German armoured division is pressing in that direction from Le Cateau. Further south the push continues near St Quentin, where a battle rages over a wide area.

At the Montmedy bridgehead the Germans launched a big infantry attack supported by artillery ■ fire. All the attacks were repulsed with the exception that the Germans took a small blockhouse. ENEMY SALIENT ‘ WIDENED SLIGHTLY NOT GREATLY DEEPENED. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) PARIS, May 20. It is authoritatively stated that the base of the bulge between Sedan and Maubeuge has been slightly widened, nut not greatly deepened.

A French spokesman said the battle was raging with maximum intensity eastward of Cambrai. Further south, between Landrecies and La Fere, German armoured units continue to push west and northwestward. The only German success south of Sedan was the capture of a small blockhouse in a most advanced position of the Maginot Line.

VARIOUS CLAIMS MADE IN ENEMY REPORT. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, May 20. The German High Command stated: “We are continuing to pursue the enemy rearguards in Belgium. Wc have crossed the Dendre and reached the upper Scheldt. British troops, by a forced march, are seeking to reach channel ports. At Maubeuge and southwards of Valenciennes we repulsed the attacks of a French and Belgian Army, which suffered heavily. Further south-westwards our mechaniscu units reached the plains of the Somme battlefield of the last war. on the road of Cambrai to Peronne. The inner belt of the Liege forts, and all forts at Namur, excent one, are in our possession.

“The German Air Force successfully attacked enemy concentrations and aerodromes, sank two destroyers off the Belgian coast, seriously damaged a French torpedo-boat and destroyed three merchantmen.”

The communique claims that the Allies yesterday lost 143 planes, of which 95 were shot down m aerial combat, while only 31 German planes arc missing. British planes last night repeated raids on western Germany. There were a number of civilian casualties. The war prisoners camp was the only military objective hit and a number of prisoners were killed.