IN THICK
OF THE ACTION
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
PARIS, TO-DAY.
IT IS STILL IMPOSSIBLE TO GIVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE MILI- OF THE TARY SITUATION IN THE CRITICAL ZONE NORTH SOMME, WHICH CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS EXTREMELY CONFUSED.
direction of the coast in the form of
The brunt of the heavy fighting is being borne by British and French troops in the area between Douai, Cambrai and Arras, but no details can be pieced together with accuracy. The German forces appear to have made some slight raids by small motorised detachments.
progress at Cambrai, but the recapture of Arras has improved the situation. Meantime, the Germans are continuing raids in the direc-hind our front, we bombarded three
tion of the Channel and trying desperately, in spite of tremendous losses to consolidate the positions gained by advance elements.
The lines of the Somme and Aisne are holding without dif- ficulty, and while military circles declare the situation is substantially unchanged, they agree that if anything it is more satisfactory than yesterday's developments suggested.
North of the Somme the situation | heavily engaging the enemy in is confused owing to the presence of Cambrai sector. small German. detachments moving through Picardy.
In north Belgium fighting is going on between Allied and German troops.
In the Cambral sector the fluctua- tlons in the struggle are shown by the re-establishment of the situa-
Allies tion in favour of the Arras.
the
The French were entrenched on the south bank of the River Alana
Arras is at present in our hands. In Lorraine, the enemy having directed fire against three towns be-
towns behind the German lines.- Havas.
Weygand Satisfied
Paris, To-day.
from General Weygand, back
a
tour of inspection of the war zone in Belgium and northern France, ex-
MR. CHURCHILL VISITS FRANCE
London, To-day. Mr. Winston Churchill, accom- panied by milltary, naval and air advisers, pald a short visit to France yesterday to consult with M. Reynaud, the French Premier, and General Weygand, supreme commander of the Allied armies.
Mr. Churchill returned to Lon- don in the evening.-Router.
B.E.F. Line Holds Everywhere
London, To-day.
It was learned in London. last night pressed satisfaction last night with that the B.E.F. front has been held
the troops, whose fighting spirit he heavy. found unimpaired by the hard strug- gle of the past two weeks.
the morale and material equipment of everywhere and casualties are not
Military circles in close touch with the Generalissimo emphasise that the and the Germans had not renewed situation is still grave but point out that the main bodies of the German troops
the have not consolidated gains made by the motorised columns. -Reuter.
their attacks in the Rethel sector.
Cam- South-east of Arras in the brai sector, fighting is going first one way and then another.
at
The Somme and Aisne, and whole line from the Aisne to
of Sedan, region south-west
the the
In northern Belgium, Allied German troops are fighting hard the Scheldt sector.-Reuter.
and in
and
from Sedan along the entire Maginot Line up to Switzerland, is strongly held.
Motorcycle Units
the Military circles, referring to
of the situation in Picardy north Somme, say complete information from this area is not available.
It appears that small enemy de- mainly of tachments, consisting
groups of motor-cyclists equipped with machineguns, are attacking more or less successfully our com- munications.
One of these elements occupied the suburbs of Amiens and another at- tacked Abbeville station.
During this attack two Frenchmen escape by in the station tried to
One
swimming across the Somme but the Germans opened fire on them. was killed but the other got to telephone on the other side and gave the alarm.
Bridges Destroyed
а
and
All bridges over the Somme have been destroyed by the French the Germans do not appear to possess considerable means at present the which are necessary to cross the river. On the Aisne the situation is un- changed. The Germans have not re- newed their efforts to break through In the Rethel region.
Heavy German Losses
In the region of Montmedy the re- sistance of our fortified regions and considerable German-losges have ap parently caused the enemy to inter- rupt their offensive operations there. The Germans have not launched new attacks and have even stopped the heavy artillery fire which they had maintained for the last three or four days-Havas:
Shuttling To and Fro
Paris, To-day. The French War Office spokesman said yesterday that enemy motor- cycle and mechanised detachments in the Amiens sector were shuttling back and forth between the fighting zone and the coast. This did not mean effective occupation.
The British and French troops were
RAIDING PARTIES (SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Paris, To-day.
A General Staff communique says the enemy's pressure continued in the
Half Million Casualties
London, To-day.
suffered
The German troops have enormous casualties. In the offensive in northern France, according to the Paris radio.
The Britlah counter-attacked be- tween Arras and Doua, but the re- sulta are not yet known.
The Belgians launched counter-at- tacks against the German troops who had crossed the Scheldt in two places, and both counter-attacks were suc- cessful.--Reuter.
SNATCHERS ESCAPE
Walking in Cumberland Road, Kow- loon Tong, yesterday morning, Mrs. Moore, of No. 271, Prince Edward The number of enemy casualties is Road, had her hand-bag snatched by estimated at 500,000.-Router.
Repulse
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