CRUSHING DEFEAT

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20912, 18 September 1939, Page 7

CRUSHING DEFEAT

GERMANS REPULBED SUCCESS OF FRENCH TROOPS APPROACHING SIEGFRIED LINE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright; LONDON, Sept. 17 The biggest battle so far on the Western front resulted in crushing defeat for the Germans, according to military despatches which reached Paris late yesterday. This refers to the repulsing ol vigorous German counter-attacks on tne French lines ip. the Nied Valley. Three waves of German infantry and massed tanks utterly failed to breach the French lines on the Saar front. An official French communique issued last night says: “The enemy are continuing to send up reinforcements opposite our lines. They have abandoned and destroyed certain villages while retiring.” Yesterday’s big battle raged in a lop of the Nied River, adjacent to the Saar-French frontier, north from the village of Niedaltdorf. Reports state that the attacking German formations were hurled back, in spite of terrific shelling, assisted by scores of German warplanes dive- ; bombing the French positions. Fresh German troops were brought up from Trier, hut the French stood firm, in spite of an intense 10-hour artillery barrage. They are reported to have awaited the oncoming formations in newly-dug trenches. Severe German Losses The French artillery speedily found the range and the massed German tank formations were blown up, resulting in very severe losses. The French thereupon took the initiative and charged the dazed attackers with the bayonet, turning the fighting into a rout. The German High Command at the outset had brought up 100,0U0 picked troops in an endeavour to prevent the French from gaining a footing on the rugged plateau forming a triangle between the Nied River and the Saar, from which the French guns could not only dominate the industrial town of Saarlouis, but could bring the main Siegfried Line within range. It is officially stated from Paris that French troops at several points are fighting the defenders of the Biegtried Line itself. The battle of the Saar River may be approaching a decisive phase, but much more must be achieved before the Siegfried Line is seriously imperilled. The French were reported yesterday to have pushed beyond Peri in an effort to turn the German flank on the Moselle. The enemy, lighting doggedly on the hilltops and in woods, blew up the railway running parallel with the Luxembourg border from Metz to Trier. Beizure of Villages The British United Press says the French have seized dozens of German villages, which they have consolidated as advance posts, In their slow but sure advance along the 40 miles of frontier from Luxembourg to the eafct of the River 13lies. The French pressure, especially around Saarbrucken. is apparently forcing the Germans to move back their artillery. Semi-official reports state that the German gunfire is beginning to lull short of some towns, notably Surreguemiues. It is estimated that over onethird of the 30 principal mlnea of the Saar are In French hands.