The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-06

broken through In places.
Military sources said that thu
right wing OF the German forcei
would strike southwest along thu
channel coast from the SomIne es'
tuary toward 10 Havre, while an
other drove south from a point neal
Soissons directly toward Paris.
This operation would serve botf
10 further cut off contact between
France and Britain. and at the SAINT
time permit the right wing 10 swing
eastward after reaching Havre, heac
for Paris and join the force NOV.
Ing southwark from Scissors. Thii
would trap q large part OF the
French forces In vast pincers.
Crossing Described
Berlin, June 6.--(UP)--A German
soldier correspondent today de-
scribed how his unit advanced Pcross
the Somme In the opening OF the
new German offensive.
"rhe night before o,ir Somme
front resumed activity" he said. I've
lay In the small town OF Pont Remy
In oh the front line with our sap
pers, Through the center OF the
town flows the somma. The sap
pers Ito right at the bridge which
we dynamited In order 10 prevent
any enemy attack across the Somme
during the decisive battle In the
north Of France.
"Under the cover OF darkness
they feverishly prepare q bridge for
the attack the next morning. Over
there q few yards distant Is the
enemy. With the first signs Of dawn
stubborn fight begins for the
Somme crossing
"rhe French use q church steeple
only a short distance from the
blasted bridge o. an artillery obser-
walton point Although the enemy
fire Is OF almost hairline accuracy
our sappers do not allow themselves
10 be disturbed.
'"rhey work as II possessed 10 Icy
the heavy iron Orders brought
from miles away over the stream.
II must DO ready by noon OF the
latest. Sweat streams down from
their steel helmets over the dirt,
dust-caked faces OF the sappers but
they take no rest because they know
the bridge must be laid quickly 10
tho tanks can cross and hurl back
the enemy.
Meanwhile our first tanks cross
on auxiliary bridge 100 yards up
the river and storm troops cross
10 the opposite heights.
"'rhe sharp hammering OF our ma
chino guns mixes with the muffled
heavy thunder OF shell fire. II con-
tinues without cessation until the
enemy after three hours OF bitter
resistance Is forced 10 abandon the
river bank opposite US and take
10 the heights ever further on. Not
long after that the enemy fire is
sllenced. Then, while our fighters
and reconnaissance planes circle
above, our own artillery thunders In
our ears. The victorious motorized
troops press further over the somme
into tenemy territory"
French Blockhousc Capture
with the French Armies at the
Aisne. June 6.--(UP)--From the
commanders cryptic reports re.
ports received from the time action
began until the final explosion, I
learned how the Germans cap.
tured a French biockhousc. the only
one they have captured on the
Maginot Line.
The blockhouse Is at the end of
the line, In the Montmedy sector
Attacks on that sector lasted several
days and automatic weapons and
artillery inflicted heavy losses or
the German infantry.
The blockhouse In question was
composed OF two independent tur-
retS connected by an underground
passage and four observation posts
which the French call "beils".
The final explosion reduced the
blockhouse TO q rubble heap. bury
ing It's crew. Thousands OF Ger.
mans. I was told, were sacrificed
TO smash this one blockhouse
According to the reports OF the
blockhouse commander teiephoned 10
the rear while the action was going
on. German four and six inch guns
opened fire at 3 p. m.
An observer telephoned 10 the
commander that his bail" was
wrecked.
At 7:4S p. M. one turret had col
lapsed.
The commanders next report said
that shells had fallen inside the
turret and smashed the guns Five
minutes later the crew withdrew TO
the second turret. leaving q few men
TO guard the passageway.
Hours Of Anguish
The commander next reported
long hours Of anguish as German
artillery continued its work Of de-
struction. All night long the men
inside the one remaining turret kept
their guns In action against Ger.
man infantry.
At 3 .. m. the next day the COM
mander telephoned headquarters
that the bombardment had reached
the maximum Of violence. Germans
we're sending over enormous projec-
tiles that exploded several minutes
after landing.
That evening the commander re-
ported his one turret was still hold
Ing out and that German infantry
men were piled In heaps In front
Of the blockhouse.
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