Evening star., 1940-06-05
Paris
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German casualties to date since
Hitler's offensive action began
against the Low Countries and
France at between 100000 and
100000 out of, roughly, 2,500,OO0 men
engaged
Germany used about 80 divisions,
10 Of them armored and motorized.
a spokesman said. The armored
divisions were estimated to have
lost from one-third to one-haf their
strength.
Armored Columns Wait.
Armored columns waited for OPEN
lngs in the French lines to start
their characteristic lightning dashes
deep behind the French front.
Toward nightfall the battle was
raging with increasing violence in
the sitting heat, smoke and dust
OF the fields some 70 miles north
OF the French capital.
Simultaneous with the assault
German bombers raided an area In
central France, not identified by
name. French fighters and anti
aircraft struck back.
In Paris, before the Army Com
mittee of the Chamber of Deputies,
Premier Paul Reynaud voiced his
confidence that France can hope
for a favorable issue" of the neu
struggle.
I'VE will fight to the end with
our British ally for the liberty OF
the world" he said.
Barrage Opens Battle.
The new battle began at 4:05 am,
with a violent artillery lombard
ment of the French lines.
Under cover of the barrage,
masses Of infantry moved forward
to the attack as the Nazi air force
roared overhead, bombing and
straflng.
The attack came in "blitzkrieg"
fashion less than "a hours after the
fall OF Dunkerque, which signalized
the end of the great battle of
Flanders and left the Germans in
complete control of Holland, Bel
gium and some 10000 square miles
OF Northern France.
First reports indicated that the
German offensive, apparently aimed
directly at Paris, was confined en-
tirely to the Somme- -Aisne front,
which the French have been hasten
ing to fortify.
East of Laon, on the eastern flank
OF the new battle line, and along
the Maginot Line no unusual ac-
tivity was reported.
The Amiens sector, wheN one
phase of the battle appeared to be
centering, is on the middle reaches
Of the Somme, where the Germans
have held a bridgehead on the
southern side of the river despite
determined French efforts to push
them back across the stream.
Mechanized Units Thrown In.
The Germans were said to be
throwing mechanical units into the
battle in some sectors.
Units of the northern Allied ar
mics which were evacuated through
Dunkerque early in the retreat from
Flanders were already in position
along the Somme- -Aisne front before
the new German push started.
Some British units which did not
60 into Belgium with the rest of
the B. E. F. also were reported
the front line of the Somme de-
fense.
Heavy French forces have been
moved into consolidated positions
along the entire front from Abbe-
vile to the Aisne and Disc junction
where the Ailette River Canal con-
meets the two rivers.
Running from Abbeville along the
Somme where at lsast one French
bridgehead has been established on
the northern bank, the French line
follows the river, which itself con-
stitutes an obstacle to military oper-
ations.
The river valley is not only mar
row, but also swampy. The Somme
is paralleled clear to Abbeville by
a deep canal along the widening
mouth.
Along the lower Somme the
southern slope of the valley forms a
rampant by its steep incline, with
small woods adaptable to anti-tank