Evening star., 1939-11-06
Guns Blast
Nazi Troops From
Island in Rhine
German Assault Fails
To Capture Post in
Vosees Mountains
BY the Associated Press.

PARIS. Nov. 6.-Militarv sources
reported today that German troops
had occupied a small island in the
Rhine only to be driven back to their
own bank of the river by fire from
heavy mortars.
The German units crossed to the
unidentified island on the hitherto
quiet southern flank of the western
front. before French observers noted
their presence.
The French fire sent earth and
brush flying into the air. it was
said, and the Germans hastily with
drew. German casualties, If any,
we're not disclosed.
Patrol skirmishes and artillery ac-
ton was general on both sides along
the ,I00-mile, northern flank. but
French attention was riyeted- to the
south, because of the,apparel1tly hrst
German attempt to cross the Hhtrte,
a natural barrier betweer the oppos-
ing armies in that area. %a4 rs-'
- ~ French Halt Attack. 49,.
:, At the same time, another strong
German force attempted to storm
French post in the Vosges Noun.
tains. but a French counter attack
halted 1t, these sources said. NJ: - I. :
French, British, ard :. aSaAA
planes took advantage. .m elsarzfaferS
walls in the weather ITO make recon-
naissance flights over r9Heny terri
tories. 9c s-<-'iJ; -....,. ,
The most imneptaatsaj German
fight. military dispatches said, was
by squadron of thfee p1ailes which
caused a series of alar1nsatA North
ern France. s-7s.*
The French said the planes con-
verged from the direction of the
North Sea and Belgium. apparently
with rendezvous at Turcoing
French town almost on the Belgian
frontier. They said the planes
turned off in the direction of Bel
GUM as soon as anti-aircraft guns
opened fire.
These sources said the British
and French reconnaissance flights
penetrated deeper into Germany
than the Germans were able to get
into France.
Nazis Shell FOrbach Salient.
The French regarded German ar
tillery activity primarily as Nazi
test, but also noted it was increas-
ing steadily an was continuing on
three sides of the French Forbach
salient.
The weather still aided the French
sitting strategy with heavy rains
and high winds hampering German
patrol maneuvers.
German howitzers, in four con-
secutive days, had dropped about
300 shells on Forbach, Sarreguemines
and on French lines further east
toward Bitche on the Rohrbach
Plateau, in front of the Maginot
Line.
French observers said the Ger
mans apparently were trying to
smash all approaches to Forbach
and French communications with
Warndt forest gun emplacements.
But the French said they were main
tanning firm grip on the salient,
commanding the forest and Saar-
bruecken, through the Spicheren
spur and other forts built on hills
about the cities.
continental Blockade" Doubted.
French economic experts said
Germany was attempting to close
European supply sources to Great
Britain and France in hope of OIL
setting the allied blockade and the
United States repeal of the arms
embargo.
Germany would corner. the eco
nomic aid of the neutral nations
Of Europe if she succeeded, they de-
clared. since the plap envisages a
bloc including Soviet Russia, the
Netherlands, Italy and the Scandi-
navian and Balkan nations, all
pledged to trade exclusively amcng
one another.
But even if the entire group
Joined, the experts said, it was
doubtful whether the plan could
prove fully successful since those
nations lacked sufficient amounts
Of such prime materials as cotton,
tin and oil products.