AN EARLY STAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 June 1940, Page 5

AN EARLY STAGE

SOME ADVANCED TROOPS WITHDRAWN ENEMY TESTING ALLIED ” LINES. SPECULATION AS TO MAIN THRUST. LONDON, June 6. _ The new German offensive is still in its preliminary stage. The French High Command states that the battle was resumed at dawn today and that enemy pressure was particularly marked south of the Somme, causing a withdrawal of advanced French troops. On the whole positions were maintained along the rest of the front. Other reports show that the Germans are heavily pounding the Allied lines in order to find weaknesses. There is considerable speculation as to where the main thrust will be, but the heavy pressure on the Somme front and the slight Allied withdrawal suggests that Hitler's objective will be along the coast. The Allies have never held the lower reaches of the Somme since the German, thrust to the Flanders coast. The reports suggest that General Weygand’s tactics are to create a depth of defences as the best means of combating penetrations by tank units. These defences consist of successive points of support solidly held and deeply spaced to prevent enemy infantry and supplies from pouring in after the tanks. An early report received in Paris said that the Germans held three bridgeheads south of the Somme.

WEYGAND’S VIEW SITUATION GOOD ENOUGH. MORE ENEMY FORCES YET TO COME UP. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, June 6. A military spokesman states that no very definite news has been received regarding the Somme front. The Germans. employing the same tactics as in the first offensive, have made some progress, but the French defences arcvery deep and the Germans have achieved nothing than can be described as penetration. The Germans are attacking on both sides of Amiens and also near Peronne, at Chauny, and Soissons. General Weygand reports: “The situation is good enough, and the battle is progressing as we had expected. The enemy has not yet brought up all his forces.”