ADVANCE OF THE FRENCH

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20906, 11 September 1939, Page 11

ADVANCE OF THE FRENCH

SIEGFRIED LINE PENETRATED STRONG COUNTER-ATTACK BY GERMANS POSITIONS STRENGTHENED—CONTINUOUS LINE MADE (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 11, 1 p.m.) PARIS, Sept. 10 An official communique states: “A series of methodic actions has enabled advances between the Saar and Vosges.” Le Temps semi-officially states that a French division dented one point in the Siegfried Line. The Germans, marching through underground galleries and colleries, counter-attacked in the French Saar basin, after emerging with machine-guns and automatic rifles. A semi-official review of the situation says the French spent the night of September 9 in the area conquered on September 7, strengthening their positions and establishing liaison with their starting points. Their advance guards in captured block-houses fought off night raiders. Fresh troops joined the isolated forward positions, converting them into a continuous lineA German wireless from Berlin announces that French armoured cars have entered German territory for the first time. Many Frenchmen were killed and an officer was killed.

FRENCH MOBILISATION TROOPS RUBHED TO FRONTIER SCENES OF FEVERISH ACTIVITY MEN AND MUNITIONS MASSED (United Press Assn.—F.lec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 11, 3.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 10 The Rome correspondent of the New York Times says the French arc rushing reinforcements to the ItalianFrench border. Material and men are massing throughout the Northern Savoy and Mondane sectors. General mobilisation will take at least a fortnight. The railways are under the command of the military authorities. Passenger trains are packed with reservJsiis, so-me travelling from two to three days to reach their regiments. There are large concentrations of men, machine-guns, held guns and small tanks near Chambary. The Mondano station is packed with Italians and Yugoslavs who are going home. v--GERMAN OFFENSIVE BRITIBH PLANE CRASHES OCCUPANTS TAKEN PRISONER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 11, 3.15 p.m.) PARIS, Sept. 10 A war communique says the Germans have launched an offensive in ' the Siervk region, east of Moselle. The Berlin High Command states that the crew of a British plane, one of those which distributed leaflets in north and west Germany, crashed at Überstedt, in Thuringia, where the occupants were made prisoner. CONTROL OF PETROL RKBTRICTIONS IN GERMANY CONFISCATION OF CARS (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 11, 3.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 10 The Berlin correspondent of the American Press says the authorities are stringently enforcing petrol restrictions and are confiscating cars whose drivers arc unable to justify their use. GONE TO THE FRONT MILITARY GOVERNOR OF PARIB APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR (United pre«s Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrl.nt) Sept. 11, 3.15 p.m.) PARIS, Sept. 10 General Hering, aged 65 years, exGovernor of Strasbourg, has succeeded as military governor of Paris General Billotte, aged 64 years, who has gone to the front. ITALIANS IN FRANCE (vaned Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrnsi PARIS, Sept. 9 A communique explaining ihe position of Italian residents says that, according to the Franeo-Italian agreement, they are exempted from military service and personal military demands, but remain subject like French citizens to requisitions concerning property, furniture and dwellings.

POLISH RESISTANCE STILL HOLDING INVADERS ARTILLERY SUPPORT GARRISON (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 11, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 10 The Polish frontier correspondent of the Times declares that, Polish resistance is still stemming the invaders south of Pultusk, while the Polish garrison, supported by the heaviest artillery, has not been dislodged from Hel Peninsula, outside Gdynia. HITLER’S MOVEMENTS FLEEING POLISH TROOP 8-^S FLIGHT BY FUEHRER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) * (Received Sept. 11, 3.15 p.m.) BERLIN, Sept. 10 It is officially announced that Herr Hitler flew over the Polish troops who were fleeing south of Warsaw. WAR ITEMS A large Polish military unit will be formed in France, where is it estimated 1,000,000 Poles reside. Ten Finnish ships carrying cellulose timber for English and other ports passed through the German minefields in the Baltic. The Welsh boxer Tommy Farr has joined the Royal Air Force. Among leaflets dropped in remarkable propaganda raids by Royal Air Force aircraft over Germany were copies of Mr Chamberlain's message to the German people. The American Red Cross Society is sending to Poland .50,000 dollars worth of hospital'goods and blankets. The sum of 25,000 dollars has been advanced to the American hospital in Paris. * * • • The United States Secretary of State for War, Mr Harry H. Woodring, has ordered the despatch of two infantry regiments, totalling 2700 men, to reinforce the garrison at the Panama Canal. The Netherlands tested its inundating system, flooding portion of the Province of Utrecht as a defence preparation measure. A Ministry of Information bulletin states that as far as can be ascertained all British subjects in Warsaw are safe. A 10-year-old Canadian girl survivor from the Athenia has died of her injuries aboard the rescue ship City of Flint. • • • • Six thousand Slovak deserters crossed the frontier into Hungary. • • • • Finland has bought 95 horses from England and five from France to be trained by the Finnish cavalry for the Olympic Games next year.