1940-05-13 — Page 23

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THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 13, 1940

ACTIVITY

Page

DEVELOPS

ALONG MAGINOT LINE German Artillery Keeps Up Violent Fire

Nazis Trying To Turn Flank?

London, To-day.

WITH SPEED AND PRECISION, Allied advance troops are taking up their posts beside the Dutch and. Belgians, while more and more troops and mechanised and other equipment is pouring up to their support.

Events are developing in the Saarland south of Luxemburg. Here, at the northern end of the Maginot Line facing Germany, fighting broke out on Saturday night and German artillery is keeping up a violent fire.

Paris experts say that this is the most serious offen- sive against the Maginot Line, but its scale and significance remains to be seen.

The main German drive seems to be directed at the regions of the Albert Canal and the Moselle. This might mean that they are either trying to turn the flank of the Maginot Line or that they are trying to drive a wedge through to the sea between Belgium and Holland.

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M. Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister, said to press representatives yester- day that events are developing just as they were expected by the Belgian general staff. Since Saturday night, the situation had more or less stabilised.

A Belgian communique says that Belglan troops are putting up an energetic realstance, defending step by step the positions assigned to them by the plans of operations. Enemy troops which had obtained a foothold in the defence system ap-

radio warned

the populace that several hundred parachutists had

NAZI AMBASSADOR LEAVING

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

-Brussels, To-day.

The German Ambassador to Brussels, von Buelow-Schwante, was expected to leave for the Reich last evening through France.

It is believed, however, he will not be allowed to cross the Swiss frontier as long as Beiglum has not heard that her Ambassador in Berlin, M. Davignon, has been allowed to leave Germany.- Havas.

STANDARD FORMULA OF THE REICH

AMERICA'S NAVAL SILENCE

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Washington, Yesterday.

The United States Navy maintained a tight-lipped silence yesterday as to whe- ther or not the United States will move to prevent any possible action by Japan against the Netherlands East Indies as a result of Hitler's latest aggression.

It is significant, however, that on the eve of its departure for Home waters, the fleet was ordered to stay in Hawali,

Gothenburg, To-day. The newspaper "Goteborg Nytid" Britain would normally protect the comments: "It seems that the Reich Indies if Holland was at war because come down near the Belgian capital adopted a standard formula for at- of the large British interests in the tacks on small States. We believe Indies, but Britain has now to give that Germany cannot conquer Belgium her entire attention to her own war. this time, and that Germany took a In view of Britain's landing of fatal step when, against history's teaching, she tried to smash this proud people's right to live."-Reuter.

during the night. Most of them were captured.

Forty German 'planes were shot down over Belgium on Saturday. Reuter.

FRANK STATEMENT

ON WAR

SITUATION

BY M. PIERLOT

London, To-day.

troops to protect Iceland, there are strong rumours in Washington of some sort of a "gentleman's agree- ment," whereby Britain will cover the Atlantic and the United States the Pacific. There is no official con- firmation of these rumours.Havas.

.

ACTION AGAINST THE "DAILY WORKER"

London, Yesterday.

The Minister of Information has

patch abroad of the Communist or-

peared to have made no important BROADCASTING TO THE Belgian people last even-signed an Order prohibiting the des- ing, the Prime Minister, M. Pierlot, gave an ac- gan "Daily Worker" and the Fascist

progress.

Little Headway

The German advance seems to have made little headway from Maast- richt towards Hasselt. Unconfirmed

noon stated that the Belgians had re- formed their lines and had counter- attacked yesterday morning. Hasselt

is only 15 miles from the Belgian frontier.

Heavy fighting is developing further south, in the mountainous, forest re- gions of the Belgian Ardennes.

count of the military situation "with all frank-publication "Action."

The Ministry states the "Daily

ness and truth.”

reports from Brussels yesterday after- After saying he trusted public opinion would keep "that calm and firmness which are required by the circumstances," M. Pierlot said on Friday the enemy were unable to penetrate Belgian ter- ritory at any point on any considerable scale. Thorough demolitions were immediately carried out everywhere along the frontier and checked the advance of the enemy but on Saturday, north of the Albert Canal, the enemy succeeded in cross- ing because the officer charged to destroy two bridges next to Maastricht was killed by an aerial bomb.

Holland Steady

In southern Holland, the position. seems to be static. For the most part, the Germans are being held in front of the Yssel river, which is the outermost of the several lines of the Dutch de- fence. Here and there crossings have been made, but they do not appear to be very important.

In

the afternoon, the

Brussels

"LUMINOUS NEWS" FOR SHANGHAI

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Shanghai, Yesterday. Construction of a steel tower 150. feet high, from which news will be transmitted by luminous signals, is planned in Pootung, across the river from Shanghai, says the local press. Cost of the structure will be 200,000 yen. The system of news transmis- sion which will be used will be similar to the “luminous, newspaper” used in Paris, London and New York for many years, Havas.

This caused a delay in carrying out elements were near Varennes. the order, with the result that the During the whole time the Bel- enemy occupied two bridges and cross-gian Command took all steps required ed them with motorised forces.

by the situation.

Later a Belgian officer penetrated the German lines, reached the mine chambers and blew himself up with. the bridge,' herofcally sacrificing his life in the accomplishment of his duty.

When the enemy reached the Bel- gian troops' new positions they were stopped.

The latest report, M. Pierlot said, showed that the enemy nowhere had resumed his advance.

M. Pierlot mentioned that about 100

Worker" and "Action" are well known to make a practice of publish-

in to make a practice of punish minds of neutrals misapprehension

about British policy. Reuter.

Luxemburg, superior enemy forces attacked the Belgian troops who, after realsting heroically, with- drew according to plan.

French motorised forces attacked the enemy in the province of Luxem-

burg which is partly in the possession of the enemy:

Parachutists dropped near Brussels rounded

and elsewhere were being up and hunted down.

Allied Advance

M. Pierlot said the Allied advance was "very satisfactory."

He asked his hearers not to belleve unconfirmed rumours, for example, rumours that the Government. in- tended to leave the, capital were ab- solutely, false,

The Government asked the people not to lose their composure. "We have to bear shocks from the formidable army opposing us but the military situation is not compromis-

Thus the enemy had only one bridge left at his disposal. Across this he at-German planes had been brought downed, though, as was to be expected, it tracked the Belgian troops with an since the morning.'' enormous mass of tanks and aircraft.

Despite the fierce resistance they offered, the Belgian troops had to withdraw as far as Tongres.

Heavy Nazi Air Losses

The Allies had intervened in im- portant. aerial engagements fought since the morning and inflicted heavy

In the afternoon they counter-at-losses on the enemy. N tacked with their motorised forces and aircraft, but although severe losses were inflicted on the enemy, the Bel- glans could only bring his advance to a halt.

Near Varennes

In the evening the German advanced

on

Many violant enemy attacks the fortifications” of Liege : were ra- pulsed, and the glacis before, the forts was covered, with... German corpses.

From various points on the right of the Mouse, in the province of

is not free from difficult moments.

"We Shall Triumph"

"If it has been restored this is due to the speedy measures of command which were executed by the troops with remarkable ability and energy."

M. Pierlot concluded by urging his hearers- to follow the example. of their gallant army, which was {valiantly fulfiling its duty.

"Remain united. Be confident of victory, and with the help of our Allies, we shall triumph "—Reuter.