The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-13
Paris Besieged From
Three Sides By Nazis
CONTINUED From Page y

From their Seine front, the Ger
mans had sent armorcd units out II,
an attempt TO reach lie Havre and
other channel points north OF the
estuary.
This was a minor movement,
however, and II was forecast that
today the Germans would attempt
10 throw their main western army
across the Seine 10 join the adj
vance units.
French Counter. Attack
The French had made o vigor-
Gus counter -attack In the PERSIAN.
Beaumont 5enlis-Bet2 sector north
and northeast OF Paris yesterday, a
war office spokesman said, and II
was believed that this might have
relieved pressure there for the mo-
ment.
Between Chateau Thierry and
the Reims area, heavy German Fore
es were trying to enlarge their
Bridgehead on the Marne, which
they had succeeded IN crossing.
1T was asserted official that In
this single front the Germans had
thrown from three TO four armored
divisions and four motorized d.
visions, meaning from 1900 TO 1000
tanks and from 1000 TO 10000 vehi-
cles for guns and men and supplies.
A war office spokesman said that
French planes had bombed military
Industrial objectives OF Mannheim,
Neustadt and Frankfort In Ger
many and that British bombing
planes had attacked German COLI
ufnns In French territory.
Az 10 Italy, the spokesman said
that there had been no action on
the French Alpine front. He said
that the British had bombed the
industrial suburbs OF Turin and
Milan and that the Italians had
bombed Malta, the British mid
Mediterranean navy base.
There had been no naval actor
In the Mediterranean, the gpokes.
man said.
On the ninth day OF q drive with.
out O precedent In It's striking power
the Germans were maintaining 9
pace which the Allies had believed
Impossible, and there was no sigr
that II was slackening.
Reports OF an unbroken success.
sion OF German advances were tenn
pered only by the indication thai
the Allied line, though II had beer
forced back steadily. had been main.
tanned intact and that Gen. Maxine
Weygaiid, the Allied gencralissifno
was ready 10 act at once II there
was any sign that the German drive
was beginning 10 lose momentum
after q solid week OF forward
movement which took II farther anc
farther from bases and costs II en-.
orfnous losses.
Paris An Open city
The military governor OF Parii
has proclaimed Paris an open city
and announced that all steps have
been taken 10 assure adequate foot
and supplies for the population, u
was announced today.
1.-THE proclamation announcement
was not Immediately amplified. Nor.
mally an open city Is one which n
not fortified and thus II woiiid ap.
pear that the French had decided
not 10 defend Paris. This, however
was no confirmed)
The governor, Gen. Herring. postet
q proclamation this morning, an.
nouncing that he was handing ovei
his post 10 Gen. Dentz because
ne himself was taking Up an arms
command.
A separate notice proclaimed tina
Paris was an open city and prom
ised measures TO protect the popu'
lation against suffering.
British Planes Help
with the Royal Air Force II
France, June i3.--(UP)-British air
craft today dumped ton after ton o.
high explosives on German position
near Paris and Raj pilots reported
they had blasted out every bridge
but one In q 60-niile stretch Of Thu
lower Seine.
Wave after wave Of British bomb.
ers, aided by French planes. art
rearing over the German lines. All
men reported they were droppinl
bomb loads with such regularity
that the constant explosions sound.
Cd like the thundcrous beat Of q
mighty combustion engine.
Towns along the Seine valley
where German frcops--both il1fan.
try ana mechanised forces con.
csntrating for the push on Paris art
IN flames. RAJ men reported.
Throughout the night medium