THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 11, 1940
B.E.F. ON THE MARCH
LONDON, TO-DAY. YESTERDAY MORNING THE KHAKI-CLAD COLUMNS OF BRITISH TROOPS IN FRANCE WERE MOVING WITH SMOOTH EFFICIENCY TOWARDS THE EAST AND THE BELGIAN BORDER,
HITLER PREPARES TO BOMB CIVILIANS
Berlin, To-day.
It is officially stated that 24 civilians were killed during an attack by Allied aircraft on: "the open town of Frei- burg."
answer
"The Gorman air force will now back in like manner. Any further systematic enemy raid on the German population will be returned by a fivefold number of German planes on British or Franch towns."-Reuter.
Civilian Centres In France Bombed
Paris, To-day. Numerous casualties resulted from
yesterday's Nazi air raids over various parts of the country, particularly north and north-east France and the Loire and Champagne districts, but mater- ial damage was relatively small.
Bombs were dropped not only on aerodromes, railway stations, work- shops and mines but on purely civil- ian centres.
Among the places attacked were Be-
|Crowds of civilians greeted the troops with evident
:
joy, pelting them with flowers and running alongside the troop-laden lorries offering the men bottles of beer.
As they moved off the men waved heartily to the French people, who turned up their thumbs to indicate that all is well with the British Army.
FRENCH QUICKLY OFF MARK
The suddenness
German of the onslaught has certainly not caught the Army napping.
Ex The arrival of the British peditionary Force at the. Belglan frontier was an impressive sight. Long columns of lorries, tanks, ar- moured cars, motorcars and motor- a steady cycles moved forward in stream.
:
•
The men looked bronzed and fit and ready for anything.
The call to action has undoubtedly proved a psychological tonic to
troops, who had been kept on
alert since war began.
the
the
Under an almost cloudless blue
ally.
Page
GAMELIN'S
ORDER OF THE DAY
Paris, To-day. General Gamelin has issued the following Or- der of the Day to his troops
"The attack which we have foreseen since last October was launched this morning: Germany is engaging in a war to' the death against us.
2.
"The password for France and her Allies is this:-
"Courage, energy, con- fidence." Reuter.
MEETING AT WHITE HOUSE
Washington, To-day. The Army and Navy.
Paris, To-day. M. Reynaud, broadcasting last night, said
"French troops crossed they and efficiently to help their new
aky British troops have gone quick-Chiefs of Staff and the more important members frontier into Belgium between
Belgian civilians in gratitude lined of the Cabinet met Presi- 6 am. and 7 a.m. to-day..
He added: "Hitler has the roadside and raised their hats and
cheered, while women blew kisses to dent Roosevelt at the dropped the mask. Now it is the passing soldiers.-Reuter.
White House yesterday. France's turn to show the way with her troops - and planes.
"Everyone is ready to do thune, Choques, Lene, Dunkirk, Nancy, his duty. France has drawn
Hazebrouck, Calais, Abbeville and Al-
bert.
www.
Reuter,
her sword."
Reuter.
HOME OFFICE
WARNING TO BRITISH WARNING
CIVILIANS
London, To-day.
London, To-day. The Home Office announces that in the last 24 hours. many Germans have landed in Belgium and Holland by FRESH INSTRUCTIONS to Britain's civilian popu-
lation were issued yesterday, as a result of the parachute from aircraft and in a number of cases they invasion of the Lowlands.
have been wearing uniforms "We must all be prepared," states an announcement calculated to deceive obser- from the Minister of Home Security. "Carry vers into thinking they were your gasmasks with you always from now on. If friendly. you think that they are not in perfect condition, they can best assist the authorities if consult your warden at once.
LUXEMBURG ASKS AID
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"} Paris, To-day.
It is officially announced that the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has requested French air in face of the German aggression. France has in- formed the Grand Duchy that she will be extending all assistance power,
in her
The tiny Dutchy population of which is only 300,000, possesses for its pro- tection only 225 gendarmes and 170 soldlers-Havas...
French Reply (SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"):
d'affaires The French charge. Luxemburg told the French Govern-
"
If civilians are in the open and can- not get to a shelter, they must lie down and cover their heads with their
arms.
Another
announcement concerns lights, and warns people not to forget windows at the back of the house and skylights.
It is the duty of everyone to see that all lights for which they are responsible are obsoured so as to be Invisible from outside,... If the raid alarm is sounded, all forches and car headlights must be 4 promptly extinguished..
A further announcement states that sentries have been posted to guard vulnerable points, They will challenge anyone coming near, and 11 the challenge is not answered, they will fire. Reuter.
Luxemburg appealed to France for -protection of the population and re- - ment that the German army had establishment of the integrity of
violated the territory of the Grand Luxemburg territory. Duchy in contempt for the
France answered she would give promise from the Reich to respect Luxem- all the assistance in her power.
Havas. burg. -
The public will be wondering how
the enemy should attempt to land troops in this country by parachute.
The best way the ordinary citizen can help is by keeping watch and, if he observes such an attempt, to report, it immediately to the nearest police station which will communicate with the military authorities.
If any such attempts are made they are most likely during the hours of black-out. Reuter.
DUTCH RESOURCES IN COMMON CAUSE
London, To-day!
last Broadcasting from London. night, Herr van Kleffens, the Dutch Foreign Minister, said: "Our country has a vast empire overseas and con- |siderable resources, PenAIK
"These resources: we now putat the disposal of our common cause the destruction of the German spirit of wanton aggression.
“I can assure you Holland will continue to fight until together we
" Reuterze po 'have won."
It is believed they discussed measures to ensure Ameri- can non-involvement in the European war.
Most of the Cabinet members ar- rived showing signs of sleepless night...
a
In
Little work was being. done Washington yesterday morning. Crowds gathered round every loud- speaker to. hear the latest war bul- létins. ---
Officiale are keeping. a close watch on events in the Far East, especially the Netherlands East In- dles.
President Roosevelt is being praised in many quarters for his decision to retain the Fleet at Hawaii, a decision for which he was personally respon- sible. Reuter.
Washington, To-day.
The Dutch Minister, in a statement to Reuter, declared: "By invading my country Germany has outdone herself as a civilised nation.
"The American people is intelligent enough to draw their own conclusions and will not be taken in by the usual German lles and these cowardly means of warfare."-Reuter,
New York, To-day. President Roosevelt's order "freez- ing" Belgium and Holland's assets in the United States, which order means that the Germans cannot get at them, affected over £90,000,000, Most of Holland's gold was already in the United States and the rest had been sent France. Reuter.
INSURANCE RATES DOUBLED
London, To-day. London underwriters have doubled the existing insurance rates of ships sailing to Belgium and Holland. For ships.salling through the Mediter- ranean or the Black Sea, the rate is increased 100 per cent from 60 per cent-Reuteri