Evening star., 1939-10-16
Borroge Is Laid
On 100 Miles of
Western Front

western 'front.'
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, Oct. l6.-French heavy
artillery was reported today to have
opened fire on German forces mass
ing behind the western front in ap-
parent preparation for general Of
fensive.
Military dispatches said the French
guns were dropping a heavy bar
rage on German communication
lines ana troop concentration points
along 100-mile front extending
from the Moselle River to the
Haardt Forest.
The sector, on the French extreme
left flank, had been reported earlier
in the day in a general staff COM
munique as the center of great
activity" within the German lines.
Supplementary military advices said
q Nazi attack appeared imminent.
Activity Seen at Night.
French sources said that recent
reinforcements had increased the
German strength opposite the vital
northern sector Of the Maginot Line
to between TOO, 1000 and 800, 900 men.
The French said scouting parties,
sent into no-man's land, had re-
ported that lights cleaned behind
tt,rnr10hnfYt q
night, apparently indicating that
troops, tanks and trucks were NOV
ing up to Jump off" points. The
rumble of heavy wheels was clearly
audible in the French front lines.
German artillery, which previously
had been battering the French rear,
was reported silent all day yester-
day. This. French military men
said, was customary before general
offensive in order to keep secret the
position of new gun einplacements.
Guns of all calibers were said to
be participating in the French bonn
bardment. German troop concen-
trations were reported observed in
an area extending back from the
front to a depth of 10 miles.
Peace Appeals Broadcast.
Meanwhile, further to the south,
automobiles equipped with loud
speakers raced up and down on the
German side Of the Rhine broadcast
ing Germany's desire for peace. The
broadcasts includeA sections of
Fuehrer Hitler's recent Reichstag
speech, particularly those portions
asserting Germany has no quarrel
with France.
In various sections of the front,
German troops unfurled over their
lines banners bearing slogans such
as Bad luck for those who refuse
to accept Hitlers peace"
The French said their artillery
answered the appearance of these
banners with well-aimed salvos.
Fog and rain curtailed military
activity along the entire front dur
ing the weekend, although a
French communique last night said
ambushes laid to snare German
patrol had obtained sought-after
results" apparently meaning the
capture of prisoners.
Dispatches from the frontier prov
ince of Lorraine said continued rain
had caused the Meuse, Mouzon and
Saonelle rivers to overflow, inun,
dating the countryside and hamper
ing communications,
Heaviest Forces Near Treves.
The heaviest German forces, the
French said, were massed opposite
their left flank in the triangle
formed by the German cities of
Treves (Trier), Kaiserlautern and
Kreuznach.
Treves is on the east bank of the
Moselle River, about Is miles from
the French border. Kaiserlautern is
about so miles southeast of Treves,
while Kreuznach is approximately
go miles east of Treves and 80 miles
north of Kaiserlautern.
Paris military circles said that
while the German troop concentra-
ton in this sector might indicate an
imminent offensive, it also might
be defensive measure designed to
thwart any French surprise thrust.
The French were inclined to be-,
lieve that if the Germans launch a
heavy offensive, it will come in "a
very few days." or not for long
time. The next week week, it was
said, probably will disclose the en-
emy's intentions.
Whatever comes, the French de-
clared, their troops will be ready.
The semiofficial Havas news agency
said, mo new mtehod of combat, no
maneuver, will disconcert the French
generalissimo and his ollaborators.
Plane Output Increase Seen.
Military advices reported the
French output of warplanes would
be increased fivefold by next year
through steps taken by Air Minister
Guy la Chambre. BY that time,
they said, the industry would en-
ploy 100000 men and the training
OF pilots would be stepped up to
keep pace with production.
French correspondents at the
front, commenting on the courage
OF French flyers and their "superi-
ority'' over the Germans, reported
one pilot brought his reconnaissance
plane back in flames and landed
safety after his observer had been
riddled with bullets while floating
to earth In parachute.
In this and a similar incident
where another reconnaissance plane
was said to have been landed by a
gravely-wounded observer who took
over after the pilot was killed, "valu-
able" photographs were reported
brought home undamaged.
Approximately 10000 British SOL
diers were reported to have taken
over sectors along the northeastern
front and received their first bap-
tism of fire. They were accom-
panied by mobile units of the Brit
ish Broadcasting Co. engaged in
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