1940-05-29 — Page 5

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 29, 1940.

EYE-WITNESS STORY FROM BELGIUM

BATTLE

NUNS LAST TO LEAVE BEFORE

OF

THE GERMAN HORDES

From DOUGLAS WILLIAMS

With The B.E.F. In Belgium, May 17.

EARLY THIS MORNING the following official com- munique was issued from British G.H.Q.:

"The B.E.F. are in contact with the enemy and fight- ing is in progress. Attacks on Louvain have been re- pulsed."

Late last night it was reported that heavy fighting had developed in Louvain as the Germans made violent at- tempts to dislodge the British. A British counter-attack during Wednesday night and early yesterday morning drove the Germans out of the station and two other points on the outskirts.

On the western side of the city, near | Children rode on the handlebars or the River Dyle, sharp fighting and back seats of motor-cycles. Others house-to-house sniping in the suburbs pick-a-backed on their brother's or went on all day. The city, especially father's shoulders, the western fringes, was subjected to heavy shelling by the Germans.

In every field along the road as I drove by at alx in the morning, 'groups of these unhappy people were sleep.

Up to noon the University had not been touched although many houses Ing or washing, dressing or cooking had been demolished by bombs and impromptu meals. Their horses orop- shell-fire. The Germans used quan-ped the grass beelde them. tities of tanks and dive bombers in As we approached the forward areas their attacks, which were brilliantly of the enemy's positions traffic became less and less, and the long, empty roads had a sinister quiet in the hot sunshine.

we

repulsed. In one counter-attack captured a number of prisoners.

From a ridge two miles from and the overlooking the city I watched scene of the battle yesterday morning. I could see clouds of smoke drifting upwards, while the whole coun- tryside was tainted with the acrid smell of tobacco from a factory which had been burning for two days.

The German heavy explosive shells of considerable size, and occasional rounds of shrapnel, burst at regular intervals in the valley, some 300 or 400 yards away, between us and the city.

Continual Bombing

A party of Poor Clare nuns, com- ing along the highway in a British Army lorry, told me they were among the last of the civilians to be evacuat- ed. Sister Marie Claire said the com- munity had suffered "the most terrible nights" since last Friday. Shells and bombs had fallen constantly in and around the city.

Several of the older sisters, includ- ing the aged Mother Superior, had had to be left behind as they were unable to travel. The Mayor and her municipal staff left several days ago. I asked her if the Germans were în the city and she replied, in halting English, "Yes, near the station, I

think."

"Where will you go now?" I asked the little party who appeared already worn and travel-stained.

"We don't know," they replied. “We We hope someone will-take us in. have no plans. All we wanted to do was to get away from the city."

A British battery, hidden In woods and valleys behind where we stood, was banging away at the Germans. ·

the pasture,

Sheep. still grazed courtyard, fruit

hens ran about and vegetables were growing in pro- fusion in the garden. A child's swing hung from an old tree. On the ten- nis courts. a couple of rackets lay where they had been flung after the last game played only a few days ago." In another farmhouse near a Brit-n Ish battalion everything stood as the owners had left it. Food was on the table, the beds were unmade, the watch dog waited in his kennel for -his-master-to return, a little pet can- ary, released from its cage, hopped forlornly in

still Pigs outside the farm gate. cows swollen with milk- mooed unhappilya-zeme

rooted in the he yard

-Along the roads back to Brus the unending stream of refugee tinsed.--- Sorrie trundledseumber packages loaded our bicycless had their possessloris 7- ro blankets and slung ärilund their necks.

GERMAN

DECISION

Berlin, Today.

The present status of King Leopold will remain unchanged, it is, an- nounced in Berlin, and he will be given a Belgian chateau as a temporary re- 'sidence.

"Those Belgian soldiers who follow him into capitulation will be given an amnesty, and efforts will be made to bring the situation as far as possible back to normal in Belgium."-Havas.

OFF THE RECORD

1940 The Hagtatar

ED REED 33 und Tribune vodicals

Page

LOUVAN

ADMIRALTY TAKES OVER COAST GUARDS

London, To-day.

The Admiralty has made an Order transferring from the Min- Istry of Shipping to the Admiral- ty, the management and control of His Majesty's Coastguard.

The order came. Into tion at once.-Reuter. -

opera.

CONCERN BUT NOT DISMAY

London, To-day. Viscount Caldecote, the Dominions Secretary, read a statement in the House of Lords yesterday practically similar to that made by Mr. Winston Churchill in the Commons.

Referring to the Belgian Govern- ment, he added the words "which re mains the sole constitutional repre- sentative of the Belgian nation, which has disavowed the action of the King." The statement was punctuated by. cheers when reference was made to the British and French, determina-. tlan to continue the struggle. Lord Snell, Leader of the Opposi- tion, said: "The statement gives us all concern but we receive it without dismay."

It was surely their duty to try and give comfort to "our men who are de- fending a soll which is not their own. by assuring them that in this new embarrassment they have our grati-

By ED REED.

"Don't swat the last one, Willië. Ho'll get your father: up

{ in> the_morning.”

Here's Luck

EWO BEER

Tel. 30311

SEVERE

DAMAGE IN CHUNGKING

"

AIR RAID

Chungking, To-day.

An intensive raid on Chungking was carried out by 144 Japanese planes yes- terday.

Two flights bombed the residential districts while two other attacks were made on the suburbs.

Chinese casualties are estimated to reach hundreds but foreign casualties are not yet reported, though bombs fell close to the for- eign Embassies.

All windows in the French Em- bassy were broken and the occupants thrown off their feet by the explo- sions.

་

was

The foreign

press, hostel completely wrecked. Reuter's representative and his wife had a narrow escape. Reuter. tude and complete admiration.

"More than ever they represent the. living wall. which is defending the liberties of the world. To them we send our (Cheers).-Reuter,

affection and our

trust."

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