Paris, Sept. 9.
The picture of what is happening on the Western Front is gradually becoming clearer from laconic commuriques issued here. Along the Rhine, where concrete block-houses the water's edge face each other at short range, only artillery action is possible, The sector running from Laulerbourg 0 the Luxembourg frontier, therefore, is of the greatest interest.
It has previously been impossible to obtain a clear picture of the ope tions long the Siegfried Line, but since the outbreak of war French planes have been continually photographing all angles of the German defence line, and these photographs have now been amalgamated Into a detailed plan.
"No man's land" varies in depth between three and sist miles, and this is the area where the French forces will frst of all concentrate their attention. They have already pushed advanced guards across, mopping up machine-gun nests and advanced posts, until they are now up against the Siegfried Line itself.
Maginot Line Secrets Kept These tactics have given the Mogi-not Line a breathing spell, and its Secrets have been preserved by an iron curtain of ale defence. At the same time, mighty mobilization opera-fons behind the Maginot Line are proceeding without ceasing, and the French are'now pounding the Slegfried Line, testing its strength, and seeking. out its weak points.
'A communique issued here last night, speaking of mine-fields and the "destruction of outrages d'art"
very revealing, as mine-fields have been Laid as a defence measure against tanks, and the "outrages art" include bridges and_ tunnels, presumably including the bridge over the Saar.
'According to neutral reports, Saar-bracken itself has already' been evacuated.
"As a result of this pressure, the movements of German troops to the Polish front have been slowed down, Indicating that the Allied General Staff's object of relieving pressure on the Poles Is already being achieved Route
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.