THE SIEGFRIED LINE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20921, 28 September 1939, Page 7

THE SIEGFRIED LINE

POUNDED BY ARTILLERY MAY LAST LONG TIME ACTIVITY OF AIR FORCE (Unltea Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 26

Gunners and aviators are most active on the Western Front, says the Paris correspondent of the New York Times. The French heavy artillery in the Saarbrucken and Zweibrucken sectors continued to pound the first zone of the Siegfried Line, and the German artillery persisted in replying, south-east of Zweibrucken, where it has been concentrating its fire for several days. The air activity is directly correlated with the French operations, the observers correcting the range and photographing the damage. German fighters strive to drive them back, upon which the French pursuit aeroplanes go into action. The pounding of the Siegfried Line is likely to continue for a long time. The Maginot Line is mostly sunken, but the German fortifications are mostly superstructures, and therefore make the better target. The French guns are engaged in razing these superstructures, but it does not follow that when they are levelled there will be a mass advance. No Rash Offensives The correspondent adds that it was learned in the Great War that intensity of artillery fire warns the enemy of the intention to advance, permitting him to bring up reserves behind the threatened sector. France and Britain have declared against rash offensives, and it is generally agreed that the storming of the Siegfried Line now would come into that definition. The continuation of the present cautious tactics is therefore likely.

Thus, artillery action will conquer the ground, infantry will advance and occupy it, there will be a lull for digging-in, and then the process will be repeated. It is slow but sure, and above all economical of troops. The Germans are striving to break that rhythm of progression by activity elsewhere. Today they were extending their heavy artillery fire to the region south of Pirmasens, while German infantry unsuccessfully carried out raids farther east, on the banks of the River Lauter. Military circles in Paris state that owing to the rapid occupation of Poland Germany could place 100 divisions on the Western Front.