BATTLE CONTINUES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 June 1940, Page 6

BATTLE CONTINUES

HEAVY FIGHTING ON WHOLE FRONT SOME ENEMY PENTRATION ON SOMME. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day. 1.40 p.m.) LONDON. June G. A French night communique states: “The battle continues on all fronts between the sea and the region of the Chemin-des-Dames. The enemy lias thrown in masses of tanks, in groups of 200 to 300 at numerous points. It is estimated that there are over 2.000 German tanks engaged. Our divisions fought magnificently and tenaciously and clung to strong points. Battalions, companies, platoons and batteries faced up to the onslaught of the tanks and smothered them with their fire. Several Hundred tanks were destroyed. An unprecedented German onslaught submerged and outflanked certain French units, particularly in the region of the Lower Somme, where, enemy elements have penetrated as far as the Bresle River. German detachments also advanced in the region of Ailette until they reached the heights bordering the right bank of the Aisne. The battle is continuing with the same violence. The morale of our troops is splendid.” The French Air Ministry states: “Our Air Force continued its close co-opera-tion with the land forces today. Our bombers registered many hits against convoys and communications, while our fighters effectively accompanied bombing expeditions and protected supply operations.”

STRONG COUNTERATTACK OPENED BY FRENCH. IN AILETTE SECTOR. PARIS, June 7. The French launched a vigorous counter-attack at the close of the day in the Ailette sector, where the Germans had earlier advanced. AIR OFFENSIVE BEHIND GERMAN LINES MUCH EFFECTIVE BOMBING. •ENEMY FIGHTERS ROUGHLY HANDLED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) RUGBY, June G. Throughout Wednesday night and Thursday, strong forces of heavy and medium bombers of the R.A.F. have been continually engaged harassing the second phase of the German offensive against the Allied armies in France, with a series of attacks on mechanised units, troop concentrations and lines of communications behind the German battle front. The air offensive behind the German lines began before dusk with a vigorous and successful attack by medium bombers on the road and rail junctions | between Amiens and Arras. Extensive opposition from heavy batteries and | anti-aircraft guns was encountered and on the way home enemy fighters attempted to intercept the raiders. In one instance a Messerschmitt 110, attacking from dead astern, was hit in the port engine and at once broke off the engagement, disappearing from view with flames streaming from the damaged engine. Later three Messerschmitt 109's made an effort to break up a section of a British formation, but the attempt was abandoned as soon as I one of the enemy .fighters was seen to | go down in flames. An hour after medium bombers had ended a long bombardment of the enemy's lines of communication, a formation of heavy bombers arrived on the scene to attack similar targets. Further widespread damage was inflicted on the enemy's transport lines. On the outskirts of Albert, a lone convoy was observed moving towards a wood. Darkness had set in and flares were 1 dropped to illuminate the vehicles. A few minutes later a salvo completely disorganised the rear of the column, while other bombs exploded among the I lorries which reached the cover of t trees and also took toll. In the area of I Doullens, other bombers came upon c another mechanised unit and again t broke it up, at least two bombs scoring direct hits.