The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-12
LINES ARE STILL OPEN
Many Persons Leave City
AS Its Outskirts Bombed
By German Planes ,
MEN DEFEND RIVERS

1A1t4o, III 16"\ W"
The creeping battlw of France
edged to within the sight and hear
ing of suburband Parisians today
as Frenchmen, for the second time
in a generation, took up their
stand along the historic Marine
east of the city.
Residents in the outer parts of
the city reported hearing the roar
of the night battle and seeing the
gun flashes on the northwestern
horizon. 4,
Communications Open
Although the Germans were try
ing to encircle the city, commune
cation by highway and wire still
was open to the nerv center
where the government had moved
i'll central France.
Most people had been transporta-
ton already had left the one-time
capital of the republic of France.
AS many as so persons crowded
about available taxicabs and it
was almost impossible to board
enc of the infrequent subway
trains.
Automobiles still were leaving
the city, but many were without
gasoline. Others here e x p e C t e d
train service to be restored that
would enable them to leave.
The city was ominously quiet as
the battle rolled closer.
The outskirts of the city were
bombed several times yesterday,
but the center of the city went
untouched.
Many Rumors
Without newspapers, Paris was
filled with fantastic rumor about
Soviet Russia and America.
Only one newspaper was printed
in Paris today and it was Ameri-
can-the Paris edition of the Her.
aid Tribune. The official govern
ment newspaper, now printed in
the south, was expected to be dis
tributed here, however, to relieve
the anxiety for news.
Not a light burned in the streets,
but the scarcity of automobiles and
pedestrians made light unneces-
Sary.
Electricity water and gas still
were available, however.
A turn in the weather, which
up to now has favored the Maxi
blitzkrieg of planes and tanks, may
aid the defenders of Paris. 1t was
noticeable cooler and more cloudy
this morning.
Major Hopes
The French lines on the Seine
to the west, where the Nazis were
attempting to cross by boats where
the Germans were turned back in
1914 and 1918, were the major
hopes of the city's defenders.
But to protect Paris, the French
line would have to bulge northward
from these two streams to a line
on both sides of the Disc, as the
Seine passes through the city.
On the west flank, other French
forces fought bitterly to throw
back the Nazis, who were trying
to cross the Seine between Rouen
and Vernon, U.'~.~ 's
es for troops and por.a.le boats
for their tanks.
On the east flank, as part of what
the high command called a gener.
al battle of the greatest vic.
lence' of the whole struggle for
Franch, a heavy tank attack by
the Germans in the valleys of the
Vesle and Ardre, numbered on. It
is designed to cut off Reims from
the east and southwest.
Fresh Troops Arrive
Fresh German divisions were
brought into the battle in the re-
gion of Champagne, on the east.
Bitter fighting ragged on the
whole course of the River
Retourne, south of the Aisne and
of Rethel. and the French reported
the Nazi crossings there had been
dearly disputed"
South Of Attigny French counter
attacks were said to have inflicted
serious losses" and all German
assaults between the Aisne n d
Meuse Rivers were pronounced re-
pulsed. ~r