The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954)(about) |
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Saturday 6 April 1940
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WESTERN FRONT. ENEMY CLAIMS RAID SUCCESS. Dead Officer Vindicated. LONDON, April 5. — The day com- munique concerning the western front issued in Paris today states tersely: "No- thing to report." The corresponding Ber lin communique says: "One of our patrols raided an enemy post north-west of Saar- lautern. The enemy lost about 15 killed." Supplementing this communique, the German Newsagency describes the patrol raid as "very bloody" and says that the enemy position was wiped out. A mes- sage from Paris states that the raid was made under cover of one of the heaviest artillery and trench mortar barrages yet used, but was easily repulsed, though the defenders suffered several losses, due to the barrage. Last night's French communique stated: "Local infantry and artillery action east of the Moselle. Some activity along the Rhine." Second-Lieutenant Jean Babelot has been posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre. He and 20 French soldiers were killed in February when two lorries packed with troops were ambushed by the Germans behind the French outposts. It was stated at the time that the lorries commanded by Lieut. Babelot took a wrong turning and drove across no-man's- land into the German lines, but Lieuten- ant Babelot has now been vindicated, the real facts having been ascertained. From Brussels it is reported that the Belgian authorities interned four British soldiers who by mistake crossed the Bel- gian frontier by car near Tournai. The Brussels correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" states that the Government of the Grand Duchy of Lux- emburg has issued instructions to the inhabitants that in the event of an eva- cuation being necessary they must cut off gas, water and electricity before leav- ing their homes, take luggage not ex- ceeding 30lb. and assemble at one of 40 places named, mostly public buildings.