Armoured Divisions Through To Sedan
FRENCH STAND ON THE MEUSE
(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")-
··PARIS, TO-DAY. YESTERDAY THE FIRST, GREAT BATTLE OF THE WAR GOT WELL UNDER WAY ON THE MEUSE, AFTER THREE DAYS OF SHARP ACTIONS BE- TWEEN ADVANCED UNITS.
1
The Germans progressively increased their efforts and revealed their same classical manoeuvres, an attack on two wings from north and south. The German south wing appears to be the stronger; |
the north wing comprises a great number of in- CHURCHILL fantry units and the air force.
Two armoured divisions which were thrown ahead, TEAM NEARS crossed the Moselle through Luxemburg and COMPLETION
the Ardennes.
These German columns forced the gress with a. large force and armour- Chasseurs detachments, reinforced by ed columns in the Belgian Ardennes. a few French light motorised units, to withdraw.
They have been opposed by French
cavalry and. Belgian. Chasseurs
but
Since the end of Monday morning late on Monday afternoon the German German detachments began to ap-advance guards reached the Meuse at pear on the whole length of the a number of points. Meuse from Liege to Sedan,
There is no doubt that they will now try to force a passage over the Meuse, and this attack was expected to de- velop yesterday.
Reached Frontier
The Germans have reached the French frontier and violent combats are taking place in the advanced parts of the fortified Frerich line, which prolongs to the North Sea the Maginot Line proper.
The Germans have entered Sedan and Longwy after a violent and hard battle for the two towns.
Further German forces continued to arrive throughout the night and they have probably now reached the river at all the crossing points.
M
Spearhead On Sedan
The spearhead of the German drive in this region is towards Sedan, and most of the armoured units have been directed" towards this town.
These mot French advanced units on- Monday noarie Sedan and there was an extremely sharp,engage- ment.
The German units were backed by low-flying aircraft and artillery. The Germans are using massive A secondary German drive is being tanks, artillery and aviation which at-made towards Dinant.-Reuter. tack the French positions. At the same time an intense battle for mastery is going on.-Havas.
Heavy Toll Taken Of
J
German Tanks
Paris, To-day.
air Longwy Defence Holding
A French army communique says that in Belgium, north of the Meuse, we continued our advance movements and our organisation according plan.
گھر
Sedan itself has been evacuated and military sources in Paris say that German... mechanised...columns have entered the town.
may
They are thus on French soil, but this does not mean that they have pierced the French defences, which at this point run some way back, west of Sedan itself.
to The German attack is continuing with full force, heavy: tank concentra- actions being supported by powerful air
attacks.
the
The enemy has attacked our tual front at two points. He was repulsed with heavy loss to his tanks. On the Meuse, south of Namur, the Germans attempted to cross the river at several points. We launched coun- ter-attacks and fighting continues, more especially in the region of Se- dan, where the enemy is making a momentous effort with furious ob- stinacy at the expense of heavy casual
ties.
German local attacks in the region of the Moselle were repulsed with losses-Reuter.
On the Luxemburg border, Germans are:-battering "at Longwy, which-is also-in front of the Maginot Line. The French have checked them “hero, after heavy fighting in the city, and Longwy ds still in: French hands, Further down the Germans have launched two secondary attacks east of Forbach, in the Saar sector. Else- where along the Maginot Line op- activity-Reuter. posite Germany there has been little
Situation In Holland Grave | SITUATION IMPROVED
Paris, To-day.
According to well-informed French
Brussels, To-day.
London, To-day.
The following further ap- pointments to major posi- tions in the Government were announced from 10, Downing Street last night.
Dominions Viscount Caldecote (formerly Sir Thomas Inskip).
Secretary for Scotland-Mr. Ernest Brown.
Minister for Aircraft Production—
Lord Beaverbrook:
President of the Board of Education -Mr. Harold Ramsbotham.
Minister of Economic Warfare-Mr. Hugh Dalton.
Shipping-Mr. Ronald Cross. Transport-Sir John Reith. - Agriculture—Mr. R. S. Hudson. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancas- ter-Lord Hankey.-Reuter.
McCallum
Perfection
Soots Wh
McCALLUM'S PERFECTION
milltary circles the situation in Hol- The semi-official: Belgian'« nowg
Belgian new SCOTS WHISKY
land is regarded as grave following agency states the situation continues the German advance twoards Utrecht to Improve, and adds there is no ques and Rotterdam,
tion of the Allled Embassies leaving
The milltary situation in Belgium the capital-Router,
hardly varied at all yesterday.
The German advance guards, after
their big bound forward of
nearly
100 miles, are evidently waiting for SOVIET SWEDISH TRADE
the main German forces-Reuter.
A Rapid Advance
London, To-day,
The Germans have made rapid pro-
+kk Moscow, To-day.
A Swedish trade delegation, head- ed by the Minister of iSupply, M. Erikson, landed at Moscow airport ! last evening →→Heuter.
DELMCALLUM P EDINBURGH
ALLIED COUP NEAR NARVIK
London, To-day,
A War Office communique states: "Allied forces made a
successful landing at Blerk-
vik, seven miles north of
Narvik, suffering only a few
minor casualties.
Bjerkvik is in the rear of the German positions in the Gratangen area where our forces made a successful attack at
the same time.
An enemy detachment which had landed at Hemnes was bombarded by inflicted on the enemy. Reuter. a British warship, Casualties were
SWISS PROTEST
Basle, To-day..
The Swiss Government has ordered its Minister in Berlin to protest to the German Government over
the bombing of the Swiss railway near Delemont last week and to demand compensation for the damage.
The Swiss General Staff has form- ed a "Home Guard" for all cities, towns and villages ទន a defence against "Fifth Columnists" and or parachute troops.-Reuter.
IMITATED
BY MANY
PERFECTION
SCOTS WHISKY
EQUALLED BY
Sole Agents:-
-NONE
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