ATTACKS EXTENDED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 June 1940, Page 5

ATTACKS EXTENDED

ACTIVITY AT NEW POINTS MANY ENEMY TANKS TRAPPED. AMBUSHED IN DEEP DEFENCES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, June 6. The French military spokesman states that the enemy has extended his ataacks to both wings and the region of Rethel, on the eastern flank, has been subjected to heavy artillery bombardment. Large numbers of smoke-shells were being used by the enemy in a barrage, which appeared a preliminary to further heavy attacks. There was also activity at Montmedy. In the centre the Germans are thrusting southward to Soissons in an endeavour to reach the woods in the region of Compiegne and Ville Cotterets. These provide natural defences and the French are using them in their system of anti-tank defences. These defences have fulfilled requirements so far. Very few German tanks have penetrated and those which had, have been ambushed and riddled by fire from anti-tank guns. The motor-cycle units following the tanks have come under a heavy crossfire. The main attacks are at Amiens, Peronne and Soissons, but the Germans are not in Soissons.

An Air Ministry communique states that R.A.F. medium bombers attacked enemy lines of communication along the Somme battlefield. Reports so far received state that six enemy aircraft were shot down. One R.A.F. machine was brought down. GERMAN_CLAIMS (Received This Day. 10.30 a.m.) BERLIN, June 6. The Germans claim that their armies have thrust into the heart of France, and that the enemy is retreating at all points, his lines being pierced at Amiens and the Aillette rivulet.” SOMME BRIDGEHEAD RETAKEN EY FRENCH. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 6. The United Press Paris correspondent says the French captured a Somme bridgehead in the x'eronne region, after a fierce counter-attack. EFFECTIVE METHODS DESTRUCTION OF TANKS. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) .PARIS, June G. It is officially stated that German tanks have advanced five or six miles at several points without penetrating the Weygand Line. Twenty-five German tanks were destroyed at Chaulnes, which was the point of deepest advance. A French spokesman said French anti-tank guns were proving highly destructive to the Germans who were caught in a labyrinth of fire and had no choice but to stop or push forward. Then French machine-gunners halted German supporting elements, namely motor-cyclists and mechanised infantry. Those tanks which separated from their supports continued to advance, even far into the French rear, were attacked by specially-equipped corps, and, lacking support, were destroyed. The enemy at dawn today on the Lower Somme pushed forward a great number of tanks, suggesting that the principal effort today is being made in this sector. French advance posts withdrew, but the movement was purely tactical. The Germans on the other wing, to the right of Ailette and the CJiemin-des-Dames, launched an artillery bombardment from guns of all calibres in the neighbourhood of Rethel.

The spokesman added that the Germans were employing smoke-shells on a vast scale. The battlefield was covered thickly with acrid smoke, hampering air reconnaissance and screening the German shock troops. The battle in the air was as violent as on land.

The spokesman referred to a heavy German raid in the Saar region, which the French repulsed by counter-at-tacks. The Germans who had surrounded a French outpost were forced to retire.