GERMAN RAIDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 133, 6 May 1940, Page 7

GERMAN RAIDS

REPULSED IN SAAR. STRONG FORCES USED. FRENCH POSTS HELD. (United Press, Association —By Electric .Telegraph.—-Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received May 6, 10.30 a.ru. RUGBY, May 5. The French official evening communique states: “During last night, in the region of the Saar, the enemy, supported by heavy artillery hre, attacked three of our outposts with strong forces. These outposts, although surrounded, resisted victoriously until our counter-attack', led by light units, drove the enemy away.” The French official morning communique reports activity of contact units. A Press Association message from Paris says that the War Ministry spokesman emphasised the importance of the German raid in tlie Saar re-, gion., The enemy attacked outposts near the Blies River covering the approach to the central Saar section of the Maginot Line. After heavy artillery preparation more than 600 Germans advanced on a mile-long front, but tlie French artillery and machinegun crossfire halted the raiders. French scouts found abandoned arms and blood stained uniforms, indicating disorderly retirement. The Germans removed their dead under darkness. The failure of the raid proved the solidity of the French positions. Earlier British Official Wireless reports stated: According to Saturday’s French official morning communique there was activity of artillery on both sides to the east of the Moselle. Tlie French official evening communique ou Saturday stated : “There was fairly brisk artillery activity on both sides in the region of the Moselle and the Blies. Last night the enemy attempted a rather important raid in the legion of the Saar on the side front. The attempt, having failed under tlie fire of our artillery and automatic weapons, the enemy retired in disorder.” BRAVERY REWARDED. The award of . the Military Modal to a French agent de liaison serving with the Cheshire Regiment is an nouneed by British General Headquarters. The recipient, Sergeant. George Lecointe, was in charge of a post manned by detachments of French and British troops when the enemy vigorously attacked the sector in which the post was situated. During a violent bombardment Sergeant Lecointe, though wounded, continued in command, giving good, clear orders to the men and setting a fine example of courage. The story of a successful British ambush is told in the announcement of the award of the Military Cross to Captain Mark Fisher. Commanding, a patrol of the Warwickshire Regiment, Captain Fisher penetrated a mile into German lines, where he lay in ambush for a probable enemy approach. When an enemy patrol appeared it was engaged at very short range. One German subaltern was killed and the remainder of the patrol ran away after returning fire, leaving valuable details Of identification in British hands.