Evening star., 1939-09-16
Germans s'GoOver'
Top; 'RepuIsed,'
Say French
Nv the Associated Press.

troops we're reported today engaged
In a terrific battle along a 4O-mlle
western front after two weeks OF
skirmishes.
The fighting, including reported
''over the top" advance by Nazl IN
fantry, was said by military obserV-
ers To be ranging all the way from
the Moselle River, southeast to the
Saarbruecken area-rich industrial
prize. -,
Observers estimated at least 10
German divisions and an equal II
not larger number of French dlvl-
sions had been drawn into the fight
ing in the norman s-land between
the Maginot and Slegtrled Anes
Divisions range from 10000 TO lo,-
900 men.
Germans GO Over the Top"
Germans were reported to have
zone over the top" toward French
lines in the lower Med River Valley
under cover of heavy artillery
bambardment.
The French general staff said the
attack was sharply repulsed."
The Germans apparently used the
World War technique of sending
their infantry in waves" against
French rife and machine-gun flre.
After hours of fighting, the French
command reported, the German
charge was broken and the attackers
were forced to retire to their orig
inal positions.
Military observers paid tribute to
the morale of the French troops op-
Grating from intrenched positions in
the face of German infantry cross
ing the shell-pocked area, a new
salient on the western front.
Small Woods Captured.
Previous communiques had said
the French were driving from Sierck
toward Trier in the north and from
the general direction of Sarregue-
mines toward Saarbruecken in the
south. The new salient is between
these areas.
Observers said the troops held
their positions against the charge
and against blasting fire from Ger
man mortars and long-range guns.
Northeast of Sierck, in German
territory, the French were reported
to have captured small woods
which had been under German fire
during a five-day battle that began
September 10.
They were said to be holding con-
solidated positions gained after a
temporary withdrawal and later
recovery of the disputed terrain.
Drive Beyond Perl.
French forces were reported to
have driven beyond the tiny Ger
man border village of Perl in an
attempt to turn the flank of Ger
many's Army in the Moselle Valley
near the Luxembourg frontier.
Dispatches said the Germans were
giving ground slowly. fighting from
> every hilltop and woods, after having
blown up the main railroad line
between the French city of Metz
and the German city of Trier. The
railway parallels the border of neu-
trail Luxembourg.
Perl. a typical Old World village
10 miles within Germany, was the
starting point of German counter
offensive up the Moselle Valley last
Sunday in which the French were
forced to give up some 500 yards OF
Germa. territory.
The cocamunique reported some
progress" east of the Moselle River
4
against the French front lines south
of Saarbrucken had caused an "ex-
cited night" on the Western front.
Near the Luxembourg boundary
French dispatches reported French
reinforcements moving up through
the muddy countryside under flre
from heavy German guns attempting
to break up French concentrations
at the westernmost end of the from
extending to Saarbruecken.
Saarbruecken Reported Hinged.
Saarbruecken, industrial center Of
Germanys rich Saar Valley, was re-
uorted being surrounded by Frencf
forces. French guns were said te
dominate the area, forcing to
standstill mining operations Whlcf
supply a considerable percentage OF
the coal coke and iron needed fol
the German war machine.
But French dispatches acknowl
edged the going had been tough
Every conquered position has beer
taken first by a tank crew, the.
said, and has had to be Widenet
and protected on all f1anks befor'
1t has been possible to move mer
up.
German artillery constantly sough
to break up French rearguard con
voys and yesterday the German
introduced low-flying aerial attack
French pursuit planes, however
roared out from airdromes behint
Frances Maginot Line and Tough
OF German ships. The French de-
scribed their losses as slight and tn,
enemy's as heavy"
Twofold German Tactics.
Military observers here saw two
fold objective in the German tao
tics: First, to extract as heav,
losses as possible before the French
are able to reach the more formid
able main Siegfried Line in larg
bodies and, second, to delay tn
French advance in the hope tina
a crushing blow soon may be de
livered to Poland in the east.
A completed campaign in Poland
they pointed out, would release Ger
many's full power to face the com
bined strength of British and French
forces in the West.
Poland's position continued Il
(See PARIS, Page A-A