APPALLING LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1940, Page 5

APPALLING LOSSES

SUFFERED BY GERMANS DURING VAIN ASSAULTS ON FRENCH. ENTIRE DIVISION ANNIHILATED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, June 3. The French Press is debating whether the next enemy offensive will be of a military or diplomatic nature. The Havas News Agency gives a vivid description of the appalling German losses during vain assaults against the French lines in the region of Rethel. The French commanding general who had a tremendous task to re-es-tablish the French front after the initial German penetration, retreated his forces, reassembled them and coun-ter-attacked. . Then it was the Germans’ turn to be surprised. They had thought the battle already won and realised the solidity of the French too late. French pursuit and assault planes harassed the Germans and artillery battered them. An entire German division was annihilated, and one point afforded the terrible spectacle of thousands of inert bodies lying in brilliant sunshine. The German command has not heeded the losses and poured in new waves of troops which in turn were destroyed. Then the foremost French unit contacted a German line held by veritable fanatics who shouted the name of the Fuehrer from one to another in encouragement, but the magnificent spirit of all ranks enabled the French to take important positions and re-establish the situation.