The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-06-13
DH JOSEPH w. GRIGG, JR.
tUafted Press stafY Correspondent

By JOSEPH w. GRlGG, JR.
tUnfted Press star Correspondent
E,erlin, June 10 = (U,P) - The
battle RACES at the gates Of Paris
today, German sources said, and
claimed that the great French
Magirot line along the eastern from
tier ID Immediately endangered by
the German thrust across the
Marine at Chalons.' f''"
For the first time, II was said
here, German troops can now see
the Eifel Tower from their positions
around Paris and the city Is within
easy reach OF artillery lombard
rnent
The Germans said that their
armies were driving forward with
out respite on the whole French
front and that Paris was IN danger
OF enlightenment.
II was noted here that the high
mountaineering 10 Its practice
OF the early days Of the battle OF
France-today again couched Its re-
port In, general terms, claiming q
rapid general advance.
Important Capture
German capture OF Chalons. Sur
Marine was regarded here as the
days most important development.
This important city lies about 80
miles south and east OF Reims.
II 10 slightly south and due west
OF Verdun, the famous French
fortress which controls the eastern
approach TO France. Major French
highways and rail lines connecting
the Maginot Notifications lead
through Chalons.
German sources claimed that
capture OF Chalons impcrilled
French communications with the
fortress troops manning the Magi-
not line and brought them In grave
danger OF capture from the rear,
The Chalons advance also pushes
q German Spearhcad through the
center OF the main French line OF
resistance and brings Paris In fur
ther danger OF being fianked on the
east, II was said here.
A coflliiunique issued from Adolf
Hitler's field headquarters said that
In heavy fighting German divisions
had crossed the River Marine at
several points.
The capture OF Chalons was
claimed and the high command said
that after passing the 1915 battle
fields before Paris, the Germans
were IN pursuit Of the enemy.
The communique said that ac-
cording 10 preliminary estimates
more than 100000 Allied prisoners
had been taken since June 8, In adj
dition 10 huge quantities OF war
material. Two Allied armies on the
German west wing were destroyed,
IL was claimed, and more than 200
Allied tanks we're captured.
ChalonS, capture OF which the
high command claimed, Is on the
Marne 20 miles southeast Of Reimq,
The communique said also that the
Germans had gained ground be-
tween the Argonne and the Meuse.
German artillery was said to
have scored q number OF hits on q
loaded Allied transport, forcing Il
TO return 10 the coast, which II had
attempted TO leave, near 81. Valery
between Dieppe and lie Havre. An
other ship, the high command said
exploded under the fire Of German
antt.tank guns.
2e,000 Prisoners
The high command, which yester-
day said that 10000 Allied prisoners
had been taken In the st. valery
area--a little Flanders-said today
that the number had increased u
$4,000, including I'VE French gen.
erals and one British general.
Despite unfavorable weather Ger.
man planes continued 10 bomb the
Chaions Sur Marine area and tn,
seacoast, on which one. transport
and one large tug Allied with troop'
were sunk and q 10000 ton trans.
port and q number Of samllef Graf
wcre damaged seriously, the higt
command said.
New claims Of German victories
IN the high command comfnuniqus
followed assertions by German mil
itafy sources that German arnIel
nAre bounding Into the outer forti.