Lavery, Exprone Coufi.
EXTRA
THE CHINA MAIL
HONG KONG, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1940.
The Son Of Albert Surrenders
BELGIAN
KING
LAYS DOWN ARMS
---NO
WARNING
KING LEOPOLD OF THE BELGIANS, AFTER THE TELLIBLE LOSSÉS INFLICTED ON THE BEL- GIAN ARMY IN THE LAST TWO DAYS, SINCE THE WHOLE WEIGHT OF HITLER'S STRIK- ING FORCE HAS BEEN THROWN AGAINST THE BELGIANS, HAS DECIDED THAT HE HAS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO SURRENDER.
This bombshell was announced over the Paris radio early this morning by M. Paul Reynaud, the French Prime Minister, following an urgent Cabinet me eting which sat until the early hours and at which all the principal leaders, including General We ygand, were present-
The full effect of the Belgian surrender is not yet known, but it is believed that the German Army has rushed through and occupied Ostend. seems that nothing can now be done to save the Channel ports.
It
Nothing is yet known regarding the position of the British Expeditionary
Force, which has been holding the line immediately on the right of the Belgian Army.
It is believed, however, that the French intend to take up their stand on the line of Abbeville along the Somme to Laon, Rethel and Montme- dy, and it is believed that the B.E.F. and the French forces north of their line will endeavour to fall back upon this line, though they will be compelled to cross the Arras gap.
The announcement has come as a greater shock as only last night, over the Paris radio, the Belgian Prime Minister, in a broadcast, declared Belgian determination to con- tinue the struggle until the common victory was won. M. Pierlot said then, however, that the King dominated all their thoughts and that he had been with his troops for three weeks.
The Belgian Army, however, has been under a terrific strain in the last few days. As earlier messages em- phasised, the Germans having switch- ed the point of their main attack, the having to bear the Belgians were whole brunt of the German war ma- chine.
French held a new line on the Somme and the Alane joining the Maginot Line proper. In the north, there was a group of three armies, the Belgian, the B.E.F. and some French divisions.
This group was under the command This group They were being bombed unceasing-of-General Blanchard..
was provisioned through Dunkirk, ly from the air, their rear under con- stant- bombardment, and their losses which was defended from the south had been terribly severe.
In a dramatic broadcast cabled by Reuter, the whole story is told, in- cluding the sensational revelation that in the King Leopold surrendered midst of battle without informing General Blanchard, Commanding the armies of the north, and without con- sulting the Allles to whom he had called for assistance 18 days ago.
Reynaud explained that in M. the early operations, the Germans, managed to split the Allies Into two groups. In the south; the
and east by French and British and on the north by the Belgian army.
EMPIRE FACES UP TO NEW SITUATION
London, To-day.
All parts of the Empire are showing similar determina- tion to that of Britain to bring the war effort to the maximum by the most ener- getic measures and with the greatest possible speed.
in the rage of battle, this same King,
The Canadian Premier's offer to King Leopold the Second of Bel- glum, who until May 10 had pre- forward at once all aeroplanes of cer- tended to attach to the German as- | tain types now available in the Do- ---surances the same value as those of minion has been accepted by the Bri- the Allies, has, without consulting | tish Government and at the same time, General Blanchard, without Inform- | Mr. Mackenzie King has informed the ing the British or the French, laid down his arms.
This is a fact without precedent în history. The Belgian Government have informed me that this decision of the King was taken against the responsible feeling of his respon- sible Ministers.
They added that, they will put all the services to the Common cause and all the forces which they -can-still-control at the disposal of the Allies and are willing to raise a new army and collaborate with the Allies. *.
►
. It is our soldiers of whom we think The Belgian army has suddenly, in now. I am able to say that they are the midst of the conflict, been ordered still intact. They are accomplishing arms, magnificent things; every one of them, by its King to lay down its without warning the British or the in the last to days have been fighting- French and has opened the road to as we would expect them to fight. They have shown thousands of exam- Dunkirk to the German divisions.
ples of heroism and the young generals who have hardly suceeded their sen- lors have covered themselves with glory.
/ Eighteen days ago this same King addressed to us an appeal for help, an appeal to which we responded by adopting a plan drawn up by the General Staff in September. Then,
Our soldiers and our Alilaa" soldiers form a' block thigh" will
Canadian Parliament that his Govern- ment is considering sweeping mea- sures to conscript manpower and pro- perty, similar to the new Emergency Powers in Britain.:
New Zealand proposes forming a War Council, comprising Ministers with representatives of the Opposition, employers, trade unions, and farmers, and also to adopt similar emergency legislation.
Australia announces the formation. of a third division for overseas ser- vice and the expansion of the navy. British Wireless.
con-
never be broken. We will tinue with complete confidence. We know dark days would come and they have come. France has been invaded thousands of times
• and has never been deforted.
On the new front, laid down, by General Weygand, with the appro- val of Marshal Petain, on the Som- me and the Aisne, we shall hold out and because we shall hold out shall gain the victoryReuter