The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-09-29

Most important fact is that
the French are moving with ex-
IRENE caution and there have been
no major gains. So far they have
not penetrated any part OF the
actual Siegfried Line. AL Of the
towns and villages which the
French have captured are located
in sort of no mans land between
the Maginot Line and the real
beginning of the German fortifica-
tons.
The French have developed a
heavy mountain tank which has
been successful in blowing up pill
boxes. But these pill-boxes hold
only machine-gun nests, and are
the outposts of the Siegfried Line.
The heavier Notifications have.
been reached.
Most of the French offensive
so far has been artillery fire. In
fantry has not been thrown into
great action, largely because the
losses from infantry charges
against machine-gun nests are
bound to be terrific. And the
French are not. anxious to have
heavy casualties reported to the
civilian population, behind the
lines. The shock to public opinion
might be disturbing.
Even 50, French losses have
been greater than the censored
reports indicate.
French advances in the Saar,
while not great, have had one i'm
portant effect. They have either
taken away from Germany or put
out of commission a vital coal
mining and industrial area.
BRITISH AIR MYSTERY
On the British side, most inn
portant behind the-scenes military
development is in the air force.
This has been mysteriously mac
tive.
Reason is the disastrous result Of
the British air raid upon the Nazi
naval station at Wilhelmshaven
In the first days of the war. The
censor failed to disclose that the
British lost five Of the - planes
which participated in that raid.
They were shot down by German
anti-aircraft guns This is a ter
rifically high casualty rate, es-
pecially in a surprise bombing raid.
The twelve British planes sp-
preached Wilhelmshaven at an
altitude Of 5000 feet, then dove
to 800 feet to release their
bombs. Ordinarily b0mbers
count upon their diving speed of
over 300 miles an hour to pro-
fect them from anti-aircraft
guns. But the Nazis shot down
five, an amazing record for anti
aircraft gunnery.
All this has caused the British
to do no more bombing them
selves until they can work out
tactics. Until they do, they can
not afford heavy airplane losses,
since Britain Is far behind Ger
many in air strength.
RASKOB'S RANCH
For some time New Mexico has
been specializing over the sudden
purchase Of 100000 acres of land
by John ]. Raskob, director OF
General Motors and former head
of the Democratic National Com
mittee.
Raskob, it was rumored, had
struck oil. Other rumorS had 1t
that he had found gold. No one.
however, had the temerity to ask
him until Eyie Robert (Mrs. Chip
Robert), glamour girl of the Demo-
cratic National Committee. visited
Santa Fe this summer. Evie lost
no time in popping the question.
what are you going to do
with all that 100000 acres Of
New Mexican desert" she asked
Raskob.
''I'm going to run cattle on
It," was his meek reply.
NOTE - Patrick j. Hurley, ex-
secretary or war, also experimental
with brief New Mexican resi-
dence, thereby starting rumors
that he would run for. the senate,
He is now back in Virginia, how
ever.
GERMAN CABLES ,.5
Inside fact regarding the Nazi
cablegrams urging neutrality let
tiers to Congress is that they were
picked up by British intelligence
agents. ss 4 e
The British got them from the
nsatlantic cables. virtually an
of.which are British controlled.
The messages we're decided and