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THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 28, 1940.
Battle Of Lys Reaches Maximum Intensity BELGIANS NOW BEARING BRUNT
THE OMEN OF ILL
[SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"]
Paris, To-day. The French Government met under the chairmanship of President Albert Lebrun from 10 o'clock last night to 20 minutes past midnight.— Havas.
[SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"]
Paris, To-day.
On his return from a brief trip to London the Premier, M. Reynaud, held a series of conferences with the Bel- gian Premier, M. Pierlot, the Belgian Defence Minister, General Denis, the Belgian Ambassador, M. Letellier, Marshal Petain, General Weygand, the United States Ambassador, Mr. Wil- liam Bullitt, and Admiral Darlanı Havas.
Paris, To-day.
The Council of Ministers heard a statement by General Weygand, the Allied Generalissimo, at a two-hour meeting under the chairmanship of President Lebrun -last night.
The Premier, M. Reynaud. Is to make a broadcast declaration to-day at 7.30 a.m. (G.M.T.). Reuter.
43 NAZI PLANES SHOT DOWN IN ONE RAID ON CALAIS
[SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"]
Paris, To-day. German public opinion which thought the German Air Force was invincible, is now changing its mind. As already officially announced in Paris, between May 10 and May 20, an average of over 100 German 'planes a day was brought down by Allied fighters or anti-aircraft units.
Since May 20, this daily average has become even greater. The. fol- lowing may form a useful indication as to the extent
In a single raid on Calais, 43 Ger- man 'planes were shot down.
During a raid lasting for one hour on Dunkirk, 66 German 'planes were brought down. Havas.
FRANCE HAS
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PARIS, TO-DAY.
A GENERAL STAFF COMMUNIQUE SAYS THAT IN THE NORTH THE GERMANS ATTACKED THE BELGIAN ARMY IN THE MENIN REGION. British troops in the Lys region successfully at- tacked an enemy superior in numbers. On the Somme a local action was brilliantly conducted. by our troops supported by aviation.. East of the Aisne the enemy launched intermittent
attacks.
CANADA MUST GIVE ALL
Ottawa, To-day.
Mr. Lan Mackenzle, the Cana- adian Defence Minister, In broadcast last night, said:
“Canada must give all if all is needed."
"This war must be won for Canada as well as for the British Empire."
He foreshadowed conscription of the nation's resources-Reuter.
BELGIAN PREMIER'S BROADCAST
Our artillery and infantry are hold- ing up the enemy and are improving our positions.-Havas.
Valenciennes Evacuation (SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL").
Paris, To-day.
Evacuation of the French salient in the Valenciennes region was ordered after a whole day of fighting in which, all German attacks were repulsed with heavy losses for the enemy.
ANTI-FASCIST SCENE IN SHEFFIELD
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London, To-day.
An anti-Fascist de- monstration took place at Sheffield yesterday when a crowd manhan- dled a newsboy selling Fascist papers. The po- lice intervened but could not prevent the mob from destroying the pa- pers. Havas.
SOVIET AND SIR
The retirement was ordered only for strategic considerations as the troops a
were ahead of the rest of the line and thus exposed to heavy losses.
London, To-day. The Paris radio last night broadcast a speech by the Belgian Prime Minister, M. Pierlot.
and
The withdrawal was effected at night STAFFORD
without loss. Havas.
Extreme Violence (SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Paris, To-day.
The French military spokesman, commenting on the critical fighting in Belgium and, Northern France, stat- ed that the Germans had apparently shifted the bulk of their striking force against the Belgian positions on the Lys.,
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London, To-day.
The Soviet will probably ask that the conversations between Sir Stafford Cripps and Russian leaders be lim- ited to Anglo-Soviet relations and not touch upon Russian successfully relations with third powers,
British troops had counter-attacked in this area,
The Germans, he said, are ap-notably Germany, authorised parently attempting to split the circles here believe. Allled forces · In · Belgium and Nor- The Soviet readiness to open con- thern France, presumably because versations with Britain through Sir the Allied pressure in the gap was Stafford Cripps nevertheless is wel- more severe, than had been anti-corned as they will probably lead to cipated, and it is hoped to ease this the consolidation and improvement of pressure by the diversion.
Anglo-Russian relations. The battle of the Lys was still con-
Sir Stafford's conversations will not last deal exclusively with trade questions tinuing with extreme violence evening, having then reached itsbut if an agreement materialises on maximuni intensity.
this point a trade mission will imme- diately leave London for Moscow.→ Havas.
Terrific Barrage
M. Pierlot announced the, Belgian. Cabinet met yesterday at the Belgian Embassy in Paris. The Speakers of both chambers of, Parliament other leaders were present..
The
unanimously Government
continua affirmed its will to
the struggle until the common victory Terrific artillery fire is being laid is won, and declared there would against the Belgian and British lines be, no peace until 'independence was along, a 25-mile front and infantry regained and the rights of Belglumac being thrown forward with a com- restored.
plete disregard for casualties.
and
M. Pierlot said the King dominated all their thoughts. He had put him- self at the head of his troops had not left them for three weeks.-- Reuter.
DELICATE
"SECRET" WEAPON POINT FOR
NAZI PLANS
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a correspondent with the
Lausanne, To-day.
Paris, To-day. France has her own "secret" wea- The "Gazette de Lausanne" pon to deal with Hitler's mechanised hordes,
says a delicate point for the French Air Force states.
German plan is the continued It is a new aghting 'plane which is supply of munitions which is being successfully employed against seriously hampered by the German armoured vehicles. It uses a cannon, dlves down on the vehicles R.AF, as well as supplies of
petrol.
and shoots them out of action. Havas.
IER'
FORECAST-East
-winde, a, mag
sloudy, rain.
According to the experts the Ger- man troops are using petrol and crude oll in astronomical quantities to the
There are few tanks being em ployed, but the artillery barrage is probably the heaviest of this or any other war.
The French meanwhile are exerting all possible pressure in the south, and important progress has been made along the whole line from Abbeville to Peronne.
Havas.
DEATH OF KAISER'S GRANDSON
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Berlin, To-day. Prince Wilhelm, grand-son of the
ex-Kaiser, who has died following an operation for abdominal wounds re- celved in Flanders, is the second of action. the Kaiser's grand-sons to be killed in
The other was Prince Oscar, who was killed in Poland last September. -Havas.
Another factor generally regarded
and extent that they will encounter serias decisive is the morale of the Al- ous difficulties if the battle lasts a lied troops who in tenacity concede long time with the same intensity. nothing. Router.
F, .
BRITAIN AND ITALY
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London, To-day. Proposals forwarded by the Italian Government to Britain through Sir Wilfred Greene may constitute the basis for a contraband control agree- ment, the "Manchester Guardian” de- clares.
Italy may be prepared to accept the navicert system if satisfactory techni- cal measures
are drafted allowing Italian shipping to dispense with the delays caused by the contraband con- trol.
'Thus the main motive of Italo-Bri- tish friction would disappear.-Havas.
BRITISH STRENGTHEN NARVIK AIR FORCE
'SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAILAL Stockholm, To-day. Considerable reinforcements of Bri- planes are reported to have reached the Narvik sector. Havas.
tish