The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-06-07
Today's Events Give indication of Premier
Mussolini's Intention To Act; Charges Are
Made byItaly Philippians Are Now on March
German eservesAre
Rushed Against Line
BY JOE ALEX MORRIS
UNITED Press Foreign News Editor

German forces have been trebled in strength
since the start Of the assault against the Weygand
line Wednesday but attacks are being controlled for
the third successive day. French military spokes-
man said today.
All available German reserves have been thrown
into the battle, the spokesman said.
Destruction Of German tanks leading the assault
continued to be terrific the spokesman said, estimat-
ing that since the invasion Of Belgium Germany has
lost $500 tanks.
German air attacks had practically ceased today,
the spokesman said, and he gave as reason for the
reduced air attacks the French claim that Germany
had lost go per cent Of her dive bombew during the
Flanders battle.
Greatest German Advance
The greatest German advance was said to have
reached q point seven miles north OF Scissors along
the Aisne Canal, on the Laon ROAD, out the French
continued to appear confident that Gen. Maxine
Weygand's defense in depth was smotherng the Ger
man attack.
The French military spokesman said that today
three times as many German troops were in action
as on Wednesday, leading to belief that all German
reserves had been thrown into action.
Nazi High Command Quiet
Germany today claimed a general advance
against the French defense lines but the Allies for
the first time, with cautious optimism, said that the
situation looks "pretty good"
For the third successive day the German high
command-contrary to custont-inade no claims OF
specific advances II asserted in almost the same
words employed yesterday and the day before that
operations "are progressing successfully according to
plan"
Major Drive May Be Coming
In London II was warned that the German offensive
may not yet have developed It's major drive and that ope
aons thus far though carried on BY large forces sun may
break through might be exploited.
Thus far the Germans have made small advances In
three sectors along the Norman coast where they nave
pushed ahead about II miles to the River Brese south OF
Peronne still held by the French, where ntration has
occurred toward Nese and northeast OF Sossons where
the Germans gained foothod on the dominating ruge o.
Chemin Des Danes
German Artillery Is Active
To the east at the right angle corner where the flexible
Weygand Line joins the fixed Notifications OF the Magno
Line the Germans opened up intensive artillery barrages
at several points, including several easements OF the
Maginot itself.
London quarters suggested that the main German
thrust may yet be made at this sector where German
through might open the way TO continuous thrust
thanking the powerful Magnot Notifications
the rear cutting off the hundreds OF thousands OF
crack fortress troops the line and leaving the whole body
O: France without fortified protection
1000 Tanks Take Ridge
The German foothold on the Chemin Des Danes Ridge
famed during the World War the scene OF bloody losses
by the French won with huge force OF tanks est
mated as high as 1000
But the Germans were suffering heavy losses. French
sources claimed the destruction Of 400 or more German
tanks since opening OF the three-day old offensive
French Lines Not Bucking
In contrast to the experience during the swift Flanders
dash the French lines were not buckng under the German
blows Instead they were absorbing German elements as
to push into the lines until they reached deadend corners
where they were blasted by hidden guns captured
German military quarters admitted the terocity OF
French resistance but still expressed entire confidence IN the
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