BRITISH TROOPS IN ACTION

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20909, 14 September 1939, Page 7

BRITISH TROOPS IN ACTION

FRENCH ADVANCE ON THE SAAR HEAVY BARRAGE BY GERMAN ARTILLERY AIRCRAFT ON BOTH SIDES VERY ACTIVE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 14, 11 a.m.) PARIS, Sept. 13 In the first reference to Allied support, French military dispatches this afternoon stated: “A great number of wellequipped British troops is participating in the combat.” An official French communique states that enemy artillery continued to react during the night. Aircraft on both sides showed great activity yesterday. The Paris correspondent of the Associated Press of Britain reports that German long-range artillery, hidden several miles behind the lines today opened a heavy barrage against the French positions on the Saar River. Enemy guns pounded a small village in the area held by the French near Saarbrucken. Despatches from Amsterdam confirm that the Germans are evacuating the Trier district, also the neighbourhood of Aachen. BERLIN, Sept. 13 A German wireless admits that the French are about three miles from Saarbrucken. CONSOLIDATION OF GAINS TERRIFIC ARTILLERY DUEL IN PROGRESS EARLY ATTACK ON THE SIEGFRIED LINE EXPECTED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 13 Reports from Basle, Switzerland, indicate that a terrific artillery duel began during last night in the eastern Moselle Valley, between the Maginot and Siegfried Lines. Swiss observers are of the opinion that the Allied Staffs are “building up” to an actual assault on the Siegfried Line in the near future. Advancing by day, and consolidating their gains by night, while on both sides the artillery is very active at all times, the French continued their progress along a 12-mile line, east of the Saar River, says the Paris correspondent of the New York Times. Saarbrucken is distinctly threatened. Its capture would have a moral effect, but would not change the situation very materially, since the main objective must remain the Siegfried Line. Under cover of a barrage, French troops moved up on both sides of the Rosselle River, clearing out German advance posts. French troops are still feeling their way and clearing ground preliminary to more decisive battles on the Western Front, says the f1.8.C. Much progress has been made, and woods and hillocks possessing strategical advantages have been taken. German counter-attacks have been wiped out, but the main body of the French troops has not yet been engaged.

FRENCH ADVANCES THREAT TO SAARBRUCKEN MANY VILLAGES OCCUPIED CLAIMS BY GERMANY (Independent cable) (Received Sept. 14, 1 p.m.) PARIS, Sept. 13 Saarbrucken is stated to be ‘•definitely threatened as a result of the French advance.” The French have occupied many German villages. BERLIN, Sept. 13 A German communique dismisses i the fighting on the French front as , unimportant, and claims the recapture of Birnbirg, four miles south-west of Saarbrucken. IN STEADY STREAM BRITISH TROOPS IN FRANCE UNITY BETWEEN STAFFS (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) j LONDON, Sept. 12 Troops from England are arriving , in France in a steady stream, says the | Paris correspondent of Lite New York j Times. There is perfect unity of thought j between the British and French Staffs. j General Booth has appealed for | flog,ooo for work among the Forces. \Ys in the Great War,” she said, "the j Salvation Army will accompany (lie j armed forces into the field, minister- ] Ing day and night to their physical and j •jjlritUAi needs.”

BRITISH FLEET EXCELLENT WORK DONE CONVOY SYSTEM OPERATING NEW MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 14, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 13 Lord Stanhope, in the House of Lords, said that three Polish destroyers have joined the British fleet. A reconnaisance flight by British J bombers gathered much useful in- ■ formation regarding activities behind i the German frontier. He added that the supply of Germany’s vital war materials carried under neutral flags has "been and will be increasingly limited by the contraband control imposed by the power of our fleet.” The British convoy system is operating with "increased efficiency every day, and when fully operating there is no reason to suppose that it will be less decisive than 20 years ago. “German submarines are being constantly attacked and successes have been achieved. “Practically all German shipping, j totalling around 1,105.000 tons at the ! outbreak, is now cleared from the i high seas. The losses of British mer- • chant shipping is undoubtedly someI what severe. This can be expected, j because many ships were scattered j under peace-time conditions. The | Germans placed their U-boats and i supply ships in the best strategic Iposilions prior to the oulbreak of war.” Ministry of Shipping J Mr Chamberlain told the House of i Commons that the Government is I establishing a Ministry of Shipping at j an early date.