'The communique issued by the French War Office last night said French forces were striking into the Saar Basin on the far northern crook the Western Front, German' troops were said to be' retreating} rafter destroying their military works find setting of land mines.
Reports from Luxemburg said the] French vanguard had advanced halt way. to Nuenkirehen, "Mftecn miles to north-east of Saarbrticken Civilians were completely evacuate ed from Saarbrucken a few days axe when German Army oflieers realiza they could not hold the city ayainst the French offensive. The city was] enelreled in a pincer operation which carried Prench forces across the Ger. man frontier near Laulerburg to the east and. Saarlautern to the west.
One French force moved into Germany along the west bank of "the Rhine while another followed the!
Moselle River valley.
Many tanks, estimated at 600, were} used in the encirclement drive aceating to neutral informants of the United Press. Large fleets of bombing, planes also were reported active blasting German positions. Speedy French tanks smashed into" German pill boxes on the slopes of Int. Saint Annual and ripped gaps in German barbed wire ments tu clear The majority of German troops were believed to. have evacuated Sarbrucken to avoid bein trapped. 'The French were expected to oGccpy the important industrial city inthe rich Saar district today with resistance only from German suicide squadrons Fett in the city to make. the French ie tory ar cosily as' possible.
The French War Oise announced that the French offensive continued te" move forward steadily despite numerous German mines. andthe destruction of bridges. French Army fcgineers, working under heavy gunfire, were building pontoon bridges to replace bridges blown out by the Germans. French quarters. said the French offensive was gaining momentum and it was believed the attack would assume major proportions over ihe week-end when British forces are expected.
The War Ofice also announced active aerial and naval action in cooperation with the British Fleet aimed fcpectally "at protecting the Allies" Sen lanes—United Press.
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