1940-05-30 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 30, 1940.

KING'S MESSAGE TO B.E.F.d

London, To-day.

The King has sent the following message to the Commander-in-Chief of the B.E.F.: "All your countrymen have been following with pride and admiration the courageous resistance "Faced by circumstances outside their control and in a position of extreme difficulty they are dis- playing a gallantry that has never been surpassed in the annals of the British Army.

the B.E.F. during the continuous fighting of the last fortnight.

"The hearts of every one of us at home are with you and your magnificent troops in this hour of peril."

The Commander-in-Chief replied: "The Commander-in-Chief with humble duty begs leave on behalf of all ranks of the B.E.F. to thank your Majesty for your message.

"May I assure your Majesty that the Army is doing all in its power to live up to its proud tradition - and is immensely encouraged at this critical moment by the words of your Majesty's telegram."--Reuter.

SENSATIONAL NEW

ON LEOPOLD

LIGHT

DEFECTION

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL").

PARIS, TO-DAY. THE INNER STORY OF LEOPOLD'S CAPITULATION TO THE GERMANS, RE- VEALING HIS ELEVENTH-HOUR ATTEMPTS TO FORM A... “PUPPET GOV- ERNMENT" AND SAVE “COMPARATIVE INDEPENDENCE," AS HE HIM- SELF PUT IT, WAS TOLD TO HAVAS YESTERDAY BY BELGIAN POLITI- CIANS WHO HAVE ARRIVED IN FRANCE.

Leopold tried to create a "puppet Cabinet" during the night of Sunday, May 26, when he got in touch, through London, with M. Pierlot, the Prime Minister, and his Foreign and Home Ministers.

These Ministers had been compelled ly and flatly refused to sign the docu-

to leave Bruges the day, before. They ments. had managed to leave their quarters just in time, for the enemy was already only four miles away.

A few moments after receiving his Ministers' refusal, Leopold issued the order to his army to cease fire. The final moves in the drama were

Leopold asked one of the Ministers to sign and urgent-not taken suddenly, as the result of military necessity. They were the ly send him documents which would empower him to form a Cabinet,

According to the Belgian Constitu- tion the King needed the signature of only one Minister on the documents which he would then countersign tó create a new Government.

Scheme Foiled

the

The scheme was foiled when Premier and his Ministers unanimous-

STOMACH SUFFERER AVOIDS - OPERATION

BUS USER

COMPLAINS

DEFENCE OF

AIR SAFE IN R.A.F. HANDS

London, To-day.

In a message to a public luncheon which he was unable to attend yester- day, the Secretary for Air, wrote: "In the present grave situation, I am on duty all day and I am sorry not to have the opportunity of paying tribute to the skill, gallantry and álmost mira- culous achievements of the officers and men of the Royal Air Force, and also

to those who designed their splendid machines and no less to the workers in aircraft and · aero-engine factories whose skilled, workmanship gave them their strength and quality. "We are passing through a grave hour and the attack of Germany, upon Britain will test to the utmost qur

Sir,-One wonders, either the driver faith in the destiny of our country,”

The letter concluded: “The defence is blind or the conductor is deaf.

climax to a long series of events through which the King persistently Very often I notice passengers, mostly of the air is safe in the hands of the tried to avoid aggravation of Belgo- females, who signal to the bus conduc- daring young pilots and fighting crews German relations, even after hostili-tor to stop and instead are yelled at of the R.A.F."-British Wireless. ties began.

Premeditated Treachery?

At the outset of the con, et Leopold forbade his Ministers to go to France to establish personal contacts.

Upon the Invasion of Belgium he refused to convene Parliament or 'brand the German Invasion in o

radio broadcast. Even his messages to the defenders of Liege and Namur were extremely

brief,

All this, taken togetheTM with his re- Only those who have experienced fusal to permit consulta.lons with the the agony of an ulcer in the stomach French authorities to prepare Belgian or duodenum can fully appreciate | evacuation signifies premeditated what it means to gain complete relief. treachery, So often does this dreaded disorder lead to an operation that when Mr. J. D. gained his freedom, without go- ing on the operating table, his joy can readily be understood. It was quite a simple remedy that freed him, so his letter tells.

|*

Desperately trying to change Leo- pold's mind, the War Minister, Gen- oral Denis, recallem to Leopold that the unwritten rules of warfare forbid military capitulation in the opon

a

field.

All proved vain and the Ministers therefore left: Leopold-Havas

Maeterlinck Bitter (SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Nice, To-day.

GERMANS NEED RESPITE

for giving the signal too soon or too late. I suggest that the Kowloon Motor Bus Co., should erect signal posts be- fore every bus stop in order to avoid unnecessary trouble and to save people from walking several hundred yards back. It is also extremely dangerous

Paris, To-day. to travel by bus during meal hours as | Commenting on the situation creat- drivers and conductors are hurrying ed by the Belgian surrender, General to the bus terminals for their meals. Before half the persons have alighted, the bus is set in motion. When a per- son is unfortunate enough to get hurt, instead of receiving compensation, a fine follows!

Yours Faithfully,

J, C. Mars.

SOLDIER ACCUSED BY WOMAN...

Lance-Corporal George Downie, of the Royal Scots, was before Mr. H. G. Sheldon," K.C., this morning, charged, with larceny, and common assault on a 28-year-old woman, Ko Ng.

It was alleged that defendant stole an alarm clock from No. 90, Glouces- ter Road, third floor, and assaulted the woman at the same time.

He writes: "I was in terrible pain with a duodenal ulcer, and was X- rayed, and ordered an ́operation. Then I was advised to try Maclean Brand Stomach Powder, and had Instant re- lief. That is two years ago, and I never feel any effects of the ulcer. I feel sure the powder såved à serious operation. I can eat anything now."

The remedy that brought such com- plete relief to a sufferer in Mr. J. D.'s painful condition will as gentle and surely get rid of your stomach trouble, "It is German blood which has sud- dumb.

denly awakened in the veins of the King, who will now be only Belgian in name," he said.

Strong condemnation of King Leo- Detective-Sergeant J. Bentley ask pold was voiced yesterday by Counted that the case be adjourned to Maurice Maeterlinck, the famous 78- obtain the services of a special inter- year old Belgian author.

preter, complainant being deaf and

Maclean Brand Stomach Powder effectively stops the harmful work of excess acid. In the stomach, soother inflammation, gently cleanses the whole digestive system and restores "May the Belgian Army not follow- its natural action.

the abominable example of the King, who was for a time its King by mis- take."

Get a bottle of MACLEAN BRAND | Stomach Powder to-day which is only genuine with the signature “ALEX C.

The name of "Judas” is not strong MACLEAN” on bottle and carton.

enough for King Leopold, if the facts If you have any difficulty in obtain-orth ing it from your local chemist or store are confirmed, he says. The Belgian write to Banker & Co., P.O. Box 755, Government, by its decision to fight

mon, has saved the honour of the Bel Hond Kou.

Han name.

2APB12

GAOL FOR CHILD TRAFFICKING

Mr. T. J. Houston this morning imposed sentences of six months", hard labour on Ho Chuk-hing, 42, office coolie, and Li, Kam, 40, married woman, who were charged with tak ing part. In the sale of a small girl.

Inspector G. W. Moreton said that first defendant was arrested with the girl on a train travelling to Talpo,

Duval, writing in "Journal des De- bats," suggests it is probable that "the enemy will bave to have some respite to replace and repair the mass of ma- terial lost in the course of the severe operations he has pursued since May 10."

General Duval adds: “It is on our defence line that we shall accomplish the first phase of the recovery by breaking the enemy's armour. Next will

come the counter-offensive." Reuter.

BELGIAN RESOLUTION

re-

-Paris, To-day. A resolution confirming and newing the solidarity with the Belgian and Allled Governments was passed- at a meeting of the presidents and other officials of the Belgian Senate, and Chamber here yesterday.

Numerous Belgian members of parlia- ment attended.

The legal fate of Leopold and the legal status of Belgium will be deter- mined by a meeting of the Belgian Parlament on Friday,—Reuter.

WEATHER REPORT

The Royal Observatory reports that pressure continues highest over the Pacific to the east of Japan; it is rela- tively low in a trough extending from Tongking across the northern China Sea and Luzon to the Carolines.