THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 18, 1939
INITIAL GERMAN MOVES IN BIG PUSH; FRENCH EXPLAIN SUCCESS CLAIMS
Paris, To-day. ROOSEVELT
THE LAST TWO FRENCH communiques reporting,
successive German attacks east of Saar, reveal a GIVES GRIM significant change in operations on the Western WARNING
Front.
After the defeat of the Polish armies, the French
Washington, To-day. Command decided to reconstitute the furthest pealed to a conference of political re- President Roosevelt yesterday ap- positions reached on German territory on defen- fugees to help in the settlement of sive lines.
This involved the creation of lightly held observation
posts with a wide dispersal of men.
Ger-
When, as long foreseen, the mans .attacked after heavy artillery fire which fell mostly in empty spaces, the French outposts withdrew as pre- arranged while 'machine guns and ar- tillery took heavy toll of German con- centrations,
When the Germans reached the line of real reaistance in the neigh- bourhood of Apach Village, two. and a half miles beyond Slerck, they were everywhere checked. The German losses are believed to have been considerable for the shallow
sistance.
re-
300,000 refugees rendered homeless before the war.
He also asked them to consider help- ing the 10 or 20 million who might be homeless before war ends.-Reuter.
FRENCH WITHDRAW
ONE SECTOR OF FRONT
ON
Paris, To-day.
were checked wherever thethat the AN EXPLANATION of the meaning of the French withdrawal on one sector of the western front is given in official circles.
No tanks or aeroplanes were used.
STILL ON GERMAN SOIL
German soil.
The French are still Aghting on It is stated that the original French advance into German territory was made indirectly to relieve the Poles in the east.
Before they reach the Maginot Line the Germans must take four to
six lines each defended by a curtain of continuous fire.-Reuter.
GERMAN ATTACK
London, To-day.
The German attack of October 16 took place on a front of about seven kilometres after a preliminary bom- bardment against already evacuated positions.
The enemy nowhere succeeded in passing beyond the zone which had been occupied by the advanced French troops. Reuter.
ON 30-KILOMETRE FRONT
The French
London, To-day. official communique
states: "Towards the end of Monday afternoon, the Germans launched a
second attack, supported by heavy
artillery fire, in the region east of the
Saar over a front of 30 kilometres.
Our light advance elements fell
back fighting in accordance with their
plan, but our fire held up the enemy on the pre-arranged line.” British Wireless.
FRANCE TO RELEASE OLDER MEN
Paris, To-day. France is to demobilise N.C.O.'s and men of the 1909 class, that is, men over 50 years old.
When this demobilisation
is com- pleted men of the 1910 'class (49 years old) will also be released.
A fortnight ago the French High Command foresaw the Germans might launch an offensive, and decided to bring French troops back on their positions.
FAMOUS WAR ORDER FOR MUSEUM
London, To-day.
By bequest of the late Sir Philip Sassoon, the British Museum which already pos- sessed Lord Haig's map of the Western Front on September 25, 1918, has now acquired another striking memento of the Great War.
It is Haig's autograph draft of his famous "back to the wall" order of April 11, 1918.
This document, issued at a moment of extreme national danger from the enemy which Britain is again facing to-day is written in a firm hand in five paragraphs of exhortation to all ranks of the British Forces in France. Its concluding passage is: "Every position must be held to the last man. There must be no retirement. With our backs to the wall and believing in the justice of our cause, each one of you must fight on to the end. The safety of our homes and the freedom of mankind alike depend upon the conduct of each one of you at this critical moment."-British Wireless.
U-BOAT VICTIMS
London, To-day. Some 32 officers and men of
the
An official communique explains the step as being taken to assist the eco- : 5,500-ton Cardiff steamer Sneaton, nomic life of the country by sending which was sunk by a German sub- home men who are not indispensable. marine in the Atlantic, have been
A certain number of reserve officers are also to be demobilised-Reuter,
Damage to the extent of over $1,000 was suffered by the Chau Kwong Bat- tery Manufactory, 29, Bedford Road, yesterday afternoon when a fire broke out in the factory.
brought safely into port. One firemnan was killed.--British Wireless.
Mr. R. Johnson, of No. 3, Cheung Chau Reservation, has reported the theft of money and a pair of binocu- lars, valued at $189. from his re- sidence.
This movement was carried out by October 3, and since then the French have only had out light lines of ob- servation posts and supports to keep in touch with the enemy.
This explanation puts a differ. ent light on yesterday's German communique, which claimed in а large way that all French troops had been driven off German soit. In so far as French troops did withdraw in one sector, their with- drawal was planned in advance.
NO TANKS USED French observers regard as signi- ficant that the Germans used no tanks in their second attack on Monday.
tank attacks, which is perhaps why The French are well prepared for the enemy did not utilise them.
Reuter.
IN STEEL VESTS
Paris, To-day, Some of the German soldiers in the latest attacks on the French lines were
Reuter. wearing steel vests and visors. —
DARING R.A.F. EXPLOIT
London, To-day.
R.A.F. planes have made a dar- ing daylight reconnaissance raid' over Germany.
One of our machines has not yet come back.
The flight followed by several hours the previous foray
over Germany at night.-Reuter.
RESULT DEPENDS ON THE MAN
London, To-day.
"I am supremely confident that come what may, the Bri- tish Army I have the honour to command will prove itself ever worthy of its history in
the past," said General Vis- somewhere on the Western count Gort at a luncheon
Front" at which he entertain-
ed 25 British, and nine American
dents.
war correspon-
General Gort described war as
a
long period of intense boredom inter- mingled with short periods of intense
fear."
He emphasised that the final result, despite mechanisation, depended on
the man.
He was sure that the British soldier to-day would stand square and fight for what was valued by all
right- minded democratic people.
General Gort proposed the healths of the King, the President of the French Republic, and President Roose- velt.-Reuter.
KALLININ REPLIES TO ROOSEVELT
Washington, To-day.
yesterday that M. Kallinin, the Soviet It was announced in Washington
Russian President, has assured Presi- dent Roosevelt that Russia in negotia- tions with Finland will recognise the latter's independence..
M. Kallinin says that Russia's sole aim is the strengthening of friendly co-operation for the safety, of both countries.-Reuter.
-
"Nerve-tingling sedapa-from tam ing foreste. One of the man
'breath'
Issa momente in 20th; Century»Fox's "bark. Rapture which comes to the King's Theatre to-day.
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