THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 31, 1940.
OF
Flanders Battle As Fierce As Ever
THOUSANDS TROOPS IN SAFETY
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
#PARIS, TO-DAY. THOUSANDS OF BRITISH TROOPS NOT IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED IN THE DESPERATE ACTIONS NOW BEING FOUGHT IN FLANDERS AS THE REARGUARD B.E.F., DIVISIONS AND THE FRENCH DIVISIONS FIGHT THEIR WAY TO THE COAST, HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN SUCCESSFULLY. The retreating armies, according to information available last night have now retired to positions which have a south flank running from St. Omer to Cassel and a north flank along the Yser to Dunkirk.
AT CASSEL, THE GERMANS have wormed heavy tank and motorised units ahead,
but they have been stopped at the Yser. IT IS FELT IN PARIS THAT as a result of yesterday's bitter
ment, the Allied troops in Flanders have been able freedom of manoeuvre.—Havas.
BATTLE NOW RAGING NEAR COAST
*
London, To-day. THE MINISTRY OF Information announces that in view of increased German pressure on their northern and southern flank, the B.E.F. and the French forces in the north have been forced to fall back towards the coast, where a battle is now raging.
The operations were carried out with great skill and daring. Troops not immediately engaged have been evacuated with the assistance of the Royal Navy.
to
fighting and realign- regain some of
their
has been flooded from the neighbour- hood of Gravelines almost of St: Omer. To the north-east, the waterline stretches from Nieuport to Ypres along the Valley of the Yser over a width of between two and three miles.
hours thou During the past 48 General Prioux, commanding the First sands of tons of water have poured French Army, has been captured at
into the region, with each tide flood- Steenvorde, near Cassel, together withing depths up to several feet which many other high French officers. Reuter.
President's Message
Paris, To-day. President Lebrun has addressed the
following message to General Blan- Allied troops in the north-
chard, Commander-in-Chief of
the
has made advance impracticable for both infantry and mechanised troops, allowing a much-needed respite to the troops defending "Flanders hill.” Reuter.
Still Holding To Calais
Paris, To-day. Referring to the invaluable help be-
effective had their intervention and that of anti-
"While the French troops under your orders, in full collaboration with the B.E.F. and with the help of the ing given by the French air arm and Allied navies, are fighting a battle the R.A.F., the military spokesman which will be placed in the foremost yesterday said that so the grateful greetings of the country. "All Frenchmen unite in express- ing to you their warm admiration for the great courage and fierce energy
ranks of military history, I send them
This operation is proceeding successfully and a number of of our soldiers and the new glory with
troops have already reached Britain.
The withdrawal and evacuation I continues in good order. have been screened by the RAF. who
with constantly engaged are enemy.
Over 70 enemy aircraft were stroyed and many others' damaged.
the
de
British troops are operating with the French In the sector south of the Somme.
Fighting At Calais
Meanwhile the War Office announces that last week a small British force was sent to hold Calais and attempt to maintain communication with the B.E.F.
*
Finding itself unable to carry out the latter task in the face of strong enemy mechanised forces, it concen- trated on the defence of Calais.
the
Despite repeated attacks by onemy and continuous air and ar- tillery bombardment, the garrison held out for several days.
Invaluable Aid
the
By their refusal to surrender they were of invaluable assistance to main body of the B.E.F. in its with- drawal from Dunkirk.
This action will count amongst the most heroic annals of the Bri- tish Army. Reuter.
Official Communique
Paris, To-day.
"The French morning communique spoke of fighting at Yser and Cassel. Yser is parallel with the coast behind to 20 Dunkirk and runs from 12 miles behind that town; Cassel is on the Yser, about 20 miles due south of Dunkirk..
In London, the battle is describ ed as "grim and unceasing, and it must rank as one of the greatest rear-guard: actions In military his- tory.!""
Allied troops are disputing every inch of the ground, undismayed and in close co-operation; with the sup port of the Allied navies and forces.
Naval and merchant ships bringing supplies to Dunkirk.
Holding Dunkirk
air
are
The Allies, on a narrow front, are still firmly holding Dunkirk, despite heavy German: air raids. On Wednes- day, the R.A.F. brought down' 22 Ger- man planes over this one town alone.
have The Germans
flung large numbers of men into the battle and have suffered heavy losses.
-in.
A French spokesman says that the be main effort at present seems to to try and widen the' wedge between the British and French troops the north by attacking between Cassel and the Yser (or between Dunkirk A communique says our troops in and Lille, where French forces the north are fighting incessantly and driving their way through ̈· north- in good order, and are energetically westwards, heavily attacked from the continuing the execution of move-rear and flanks.) ments decided upon by the High Com- mand...
On The Somme
are
Fighting is progressing favourably. The French front along the Somme on the greater part of the Somme and the Aisne to the Maginot Line front..
appears to be 'quiet. There is no change in the situation Substantial British troops are be on the Aisne and the eastern front-hind this front with the French: They Reuter.
Fierce As Ever
are well equipped with armoured vehicles which can give the German armoured columns a good battering London, To-day. if they turn their attention that way. Reports up to late yesterday, even-Reuter. ing indicated that In Flanders the battle is as fierce as ever and that the retirement of British and French troops towards the coast at Dunkirk
“German Claim
Berlin, To-day. The official news agency claims that
which they are adorning our flags."- Reuter.
Flooding Of Two Zones Brings Respite
Paris, To-day.
aircraft batteries been that German airmen had become noticeably more shy.
Their commander seems to have hesitated to continue the old technl- que of mass dive bombing and ma-; chinegunning, regardless of cost, which it adopted. Further south-west along the coast British and French troops are report ed to be still heroically holding on in Calais after several days of ceaseless
French military circles state that the whole area south-west of Dunkirk fighting-Reuter,
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