1940-05-22 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 22, 1940.

Fighting Speech By French Prime Minister 'COUNTRY IN DANGER..'

BUT

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ON AID TO ALLIES

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

St. Loula, Today.

are

If

"If we admit that our security and defence

at stake' wo cannot take half-measures. we are justifled in spending bil- lions of dollars for the Allies and' helping them with our Navy then It would be cowardly not to help them also with also soldiers," de- clared Mr. Robert Taft in a speech fast night.

Mr. Taft, who is one of the Re- publican candidates at the forth- coming. Presidential alections, sald that the United States should remain neutral In the European conflict as he considered that par- ticipation in the war, would re- sult in the destruction of Amerl-

can

democracy rather than of German dictatorship.-Hayas.

A DARK HOUR IN HISTORY

OTTAWA, TO-DAY.

HOUSE

OF

ALLIES

CANNOT

BE BEATEN THOUSAND

Paris, To-day. SQ. MILES

"IF PEOPLE SHOULD SAY to me that a miracle is

needed to save France, I would say 'I believe in BATTLEFIELD

France and

miracles,' for I believe in France. England cannot be beaten. They cannot die,” said M. Paul Reynaud, Premier, in the French Senate yesterday.

Referring to the perfect collaboration existing be- tween himself, Marshal Petain and General Weygand, he said: "We must have confidence in our great leader, our soldiers and our airmen.' The country was in danger and he would tell the

truth.

were

Foch's Man

雷看

(From Router's Special Cor- respondent with the B.E.F. somewhere in France) There is little light which can, at present, be thrown on the multitude of fierce at occurring encounters

various places.

The scenes of combat are scattered over an area of about one thousand square miles, some near the fron- tier and some near the Bri- stop-tish Zone where one evacuat-

The French divisions on the Meuse selves at the service of the country-

not numerous and the best Weygand and Petain. troops had been sent to Belgium. Bridges on the Meuse had not been blown up; the mistake would not go unpunished.

"Since this morning Arras and Amiens have been occupied by the Germans."

"Weygand is Foch's man who ped the German army in 1918. He is to-day on the battlefield,

"Between Petain and Weygand there is absolute understanding. No weak-

re-

M. Reynaud spoke with great frank-ness will be tolerated. There will be

no more dilatory procedure with ness regarding the serious position in

gard to traitors, saboteurs and cow which France and the Allies find

themselves.

The Premier was supported by his Cabinet, Including Marshal Petain, M. Daladler and M. Chautemps.

Formidable Attack

After declaring that Arras and Amiens were in the hands of the Ger- mans, M. Reynaud said: "Belgium, Luxemburg and Holland having been ADDRESSING, THE

invaded the enemy unleashed a form- COMMONS YESTERDAY, THE PRE- idable attack upon the French army MIER, MR. MACKENZIE KING,

at Sedan. ASKED MEMBERS TO REMEMBER THAT "IN THIS, PROBABLY ONE OF THE DARKEST HOURS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR EMPIRE, THE OUTLOOK WAS SIMILARLY BLACK IN 1918 BUT THE BRITISH FRENCH TROOPS RALLIED WON."

AND AND

Mr. Mackenzie King declared the si- tuation in France was more serious. He briefly reviewed the situation from and declared communiques received the British and French were working in close co-operation. Their morale was unbroken.

He added: "The gravity of the news precludes the need for any general statement of policy or programme, since the situation is changing every hour-every minute."-Reuter.

་

OVERTIME IN U.S. ON DEFENCE WORK -

Washington, To-day. All United States Navy establish- ments have been ordered to speed de- fence preparations. by working addi- tional shifts and by increasing the civilian shipbuilding forces by at least 18,000 within three months.

At present 68 warships, including eight battleships, are being construct- ed or projected. Reuter,

"

"Our divisions were not numerous on the Meuse which was defended by troops under General Corap. In- Altration of the Meuse is easy for mobile troops.”

ards.

4

Ив

Lot "I have told you the truth.

have confidence In our great leader and in our soldiers. Our avia- with tors are covering themselves glory..

"I thank the Royal Air Force. (Here and cheered the Senators stood up loudly).

"These two great people, two great Empires, cannot be beaten. They can- not die."

Army's Morale

of

Is

After his reference to the loss Arras and Amiens, M. Reynaud asked: "How have we got to this point? the moral value of our army in doubt? Not at all. The fighting which occur- The Premier spoke of the "disor-red in Belgium during the first days ganisation" of the army under Gener- al Corap.

When he mentioned the name of Pe- tain, however, the Senators called out "At last" and, rising from their seats, applauded the victor of Verdun.

"Having made a breach the enemy's motorised divisions went through. The German advance has continued and since this morning Arras and Amiens have been occupied.

proved it.

ed town was. the scene of street fighting yesterday.

It is still impossible to refer to a front.

In the words of an officer who is in a position to know: The British are everywhere 'fighting like hell.'

The spirit of the British Tommy remains as high as ever.

"I saw one lorryload on its way to reinforce one area of the battle, filled with singing men." The air action continues same intensive scale.

on the

"Last night I saw street casualties inflicted by German bombs and no- one can count on a night's rest now." --Reuter.

RIDDLE OF

COMMONS SOLVED

"The truth is our classic concep- tion of the conduct of war has come

London, To-day. up against a new conception.

In view of the formation of "That conception includes not only the massive use of heavy armoured an Administration embrac- divisions or co-operation them and aeroplanes but the creationing three main political par- of disorder. by parachutists.

"I won't speak of false news

telephoned orders to the civil author!

ties with the object, for example, causing hurried evacuations.

of

ties, the Government has and taken advice and is satisfied that the provisions of the Ministers of the Crown Bill, Not First Surprise

1937, relating to the payment "We must think of the new type of of salary to the Opposition warfare and take an immediate deci-Leader is in abeyance for the the ston.

time being.

the "This surprise is not the first we

This intimation was given in upper have suffered and overcome in

Commons by the Premier at question- history and ended masters of the sl-

time.. tuation,

New Conception "Our traditional conception of how the war is waged has been thrown down for a new one-motorised raids in depth and parachutists:"

M. Reynaud then reminded House of 1914.

"We ended by gaining the hand after our first reverses.

"Every man, and every woman must understand the greatness of the hour in which we are living. May cortain. people not understand It too late.

“Two men who had the right to rest on their laurels have placed them-

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the.

Some discussion then arose as to the future procedure in the House in view of the entry of the Opposition into the ranks of the Government and ruling of the Speaker was sought from several quarters when Mr. Lees Smith (Labour) rose to put a question to the Premier on next week's business, Opposition

"It will be the same to-day if we `all will it—if every soldier under stands the immense role he plays, if each workman now working. 12 hours a day bends over his machin ery with over more intense energy; "They are beginning to understand abroad that it is a question of them- selves. May they not understand too customarily put by the late." Reuter.

BRITAIN AND ITALY

London, To-day.

Leader.

- է

The Speaker cited precedent to the effect that it was the right of the Senior Privy Councillor on the front. Opposition Bench to raise future busi- .ness and in the unprecedented cir- cumstances in which the House found Itself, suggested the right of place on the front Opposition Bench should at- tach to. ex-Ministers of all parties. — British Wireless...

Sir Wilfred Greene, Master of the Rolls, has left for Rome to renew his contacts with the Italian Government as chairman of the British delegation to

the Joint Anglo-Italian standing committee which was established on matters.-Reuter.

the outbreak of war to provide ma- for discussion of economic chinery