VERDUN RECALLED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1940, Page 5

VERDUN RECALLED

IN SCALE OF ENEMY ATTACKS INFANTRY LAUNCHED ON WIDE FRONTS. WITH HEAVY MECHANISED SUPPORT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) PARIS, May 27. A military spokesman said the battle in Flanders is becoming more and more a big defensive struggle of extreme stubbornness. The German General Staff is adopting the tactics used at Verdun in the last war. Men and material are being hurled forward in ever-in-creasing masses. Infantry are making ceaseless attacks from the widest fronts, with tremendous tank, artillery and aerial support. In the Argonne, the French recaptured ground lost on May 25. The planes of both sides are attacking in back areas. The Allies are concentrating on roads, troop columns and bridges. The Germans are fiercely bombing ports. The main German attack was on the sector held by the Belgians on the Lys directed towards Menin and Courtrai. Despite a colossal loss of life, the Germans made only feeble territorial gains. Fighting lasted all yesterday and iast night. It was the first night fighting on a big scale since the outbreak of war. The French stopped all German attacks in the Valenciennes sector. The French withdrawal from Valenciennes was due to the troops being too far' forward in relation to the general Allied line in the north.