WESTERN FRONT

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20951, 2 November 1939, Page 7

WESTERN FRONT

BIG GERMAN GUNS FRENCH LINES SHELLED OF THE DEMOLITION TYPE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright LONDON, Nov. 1 The Germans have brought into action the heavy guns of the Siegfried Line, which are shelling the French lines and communications. The shelling is described in a Paris report as of the domolition type. The French communique issued this morning states: “Activity on the Western Front was reduced last night.” PARIS, Oct. 31 Anti-aircraft gunners shot down at least one German plane one hundred miles within France. The aerial reconnaissance units have been active on both sides. Seven French flights into enemy territory returned safely, with valuable information. Claims by Germany A communique states that brisk land engagements took place in the Moselle Valley near Luxembourg, near Saarbrucken, and round the Blies River. Bodies of a naval officer and a seaman were washed up near Calais, presumably from a U-boat which the French sank on October 26. The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press states that German reconnaissance units crossed the French frontier, bringing back as “much war material as they could carry.” The communique states that German scouts before the Maginot Line found sections of the French second line of defence completely abandoned, including an uncompleted trench line five-eighths of a mile from the first French village, whose houses were deserted and in disorder.

A second village also was aban- J doned. Machine-gun nests and ; shelters between the villages were j deserted. 1 The scouts returned by another route and found all positions had been evacuated. Munitions, steel 1 helmets and equipment were strewn i about. A later communique admits that 1 the reports of the scouts were a “belated description of events of some time ago. The precise date is unknown.” Marked Activity A French communique states that there was marked activity between the Moselle and the Saar, including raids and ambushes by patrols. During many flights yesterday we brought down a German reconnaissance machine over our lines. Two ■ enemy observation planes fell in the German lines on the Saar front. All the French planes returned to their bases.

HEAVY GUNS SPEAK

MAY HERALD OFFENSIVE GERMAN FORCE REPELLED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 2, 1.15 p.m.) PARIS, Nov. 1 Heavy Siegfried guns roared into the most consistent action of the war. It is believed this might herald a start of a big scale offensive. The French repelled 1000 Germans who were trying to surround a village in the northern sector of the Western Front.

The official French communique issued this morning states: “There was reduced activity during the night.”

DRIVEN OFF

GERMAN BOMBING RAIDER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 31 The Admiralty and Air Ministry announce: “A German seaplane attempted to attack a British convoy some miles to the north. It was driven off by aircraft and fire' from the naval escort. “Before flying away to the eastward the raider appeared to drop two bombs but no damage was done.”