1949-02-09 — Page 6

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THE CHINA, MAIL, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1949.

WINSTON CHURCHILL'S WAR MEMOIRS: THE SECOND BOOK

#

THEIR FINEST HOUR

This Sector Is

the

.

Not

Dangerous!"

By Winston Churchill

cd tho

us thov

full

effort

under

Was

to-

ditions which General Gamelin for at Dinant the French Ninth Army

Cruel Losses

Good Morning!

Demolition of the last remaining portion of the old City Hall has commenced. But, perhaps after all, this is no subject for Joken.

*

brat planned in November, 1999.

"Humouriat Author To Revisit The Belgian Government, to

The mines wore designed to float preserve their neutrality, had

down the Rhine and destroy enemy Hong Kong." If it happens a third the Anglo-French

bridges and shipping. They wore time, we shall begin to suspect forbidden Army to enter Belgium before the Germans attacked. .When by the defender are more trying was no reason to suppose that the, fed into the river from French this is more than coincidence.

territory upstream.)

Hong Kong complains that no- the German invasion occurred than these which an assaliant, who joperations were not going well.

However, during the 13th Lord the stronger at the

body seems to want, Its Defence the night of May 9-10, 1940, is prestack, must dare. Where Gort's headquarters became aware

point of attack, Gen. Gameliu's "Plan D" for on

All the British air squadrons Medal. In U.K. over 4,000 awards are concerned, of the weight of the German thrust very long fronts

their prin- in the Order of the British Empire HK$30.00 advance by the Allied left to they can only be met by strong on the front of the French Ninth

wo could arrange a SWAP? the Meuse-Antwerp (line was

mobile reserves which can rapidly Army. By nightfall the enemy had fought continuously, HK.$72.00 | put into effect.

intervene in a decisive battle. A established themselves on the West cipal offert being against the have not been claimed. Perhaps it

supporta

Protests against the sand mono- the bank of the Mouse, en efther side pontoon bridges in the Sedan area. Several of these were destroyed During the previous winter weight of opinion the British, with the French criticism that the French reserves of Dinant and Sedan. The French and others damaged in desperate poly are said to have fallen on

GQG

(Grand-Quarler General)

and devoted attacks. The losses. In First Army on their right, had were inadequate, and, auch us

main German tho

Anti-aircraft subversive to suggest that a sund. constructed new lines and an were, badly distributed. After all, are not yet certain whether the the law-level attacks on the bridges deaf ears. It would probably be

German from the the.. Contflank ditch along the tranfeng behind the Ardennes open-frected through Luxembourg artillery.were cruel—IN ORO case, bag might fall with more offect.

ther test road from Care many to Paris, and had fer cen- against the left of the Anginof of six Alferaft only ono valutabdo too often, licned to LEWIS-HILDA CRUZ-Due to co-Belgian frontier.

It is a haunting question turlos. been famous battle-Line or through Maastricht

day alone we lost a total of 67 an accident to Mr. F. Lewis,

which can be created by a single his wedding to Miss Hilda whether the whole policy of Plan round. If the enemy penetrated wards Brussels. Along the whole from the successful task. On this think that democracy is something

front Louvain-Namur-Dinant to machines, and being engaged prin. to have D should not have been reviewed here the whole forward movement Cruz, which was taken place at St. Margaret's upon this baals, and whother we of the Northern Armies would be Sedan an intense, heavy battle cipally, with the enemy's anti-air-act of legislation," says the blurb craft forces, accounted for only publicllug the Bernacchi talks. have been wiser to

French deprived of its plvat, and all their had developed, but Church today at 2.30 p.m. has would not

63 German aircraft. That night And evidently, on the subject of had to be unavoidably post-stand and fight on the

frontler, and amid these strong/communications would be endan-had not contemplated,

there remained in France of the our proposed Municipal Council, only 200 sor-wo are too often inclined to think. poned.

defences Invite the Belgian Army gered equally with the capital.

Looking back, wo can see that had no time to install themselves! Royal Air Force to fall back upon them, ratherMr. Chamberlain's War Cabinet, before the enemy was upon them viceable aircraft out of 44ml A friend gave a Maori a brand-

This detailed information came mid

Now he's going new boomerang, than make the hazardous

in

served and for whose which I harried forward leap to the Dyle acts or neglects I take my

only gradually to hand. But it was mad trying to throw the old one Bad News

already clear that the continuance or the Albert Canal.

share of responsibility, ought not During the 14th the bad news No one сап understand

have been daterred from

began to come in. At first all was of fighting on this scale would soonway.

"Perhaps because one has lived, For all practical purposes, decisions of that period without thrashing the matter out with the vague at pm. I read to the completely consume the British Air

Forco the Hong Kong Volunteer realising the immense authority French in the autumn and winter Cabinet a mesango recolved from cendancy. The hard question of bird has been set free, some kitten

in spite of its individual an

some dog has found a home, some Defence. Corps, as we have wielded by the French

of 1939. It would have been an M. Reynaud stating that, the Ger-

how much we could send the belief of every

has been strokod."-Beverley loaders and known it, closes its long and och officer that France had unpleasant and dificult argument, mans had brooch han ble Britain without leaving ourselves Nichols. Ever patted a child?

for the French at every singe dan, that the French wore unable honourable career this even the primacy in the military

defenceless and thus losing the power to continue the war pressed ing at a farewell gathering France had conducted

Ons bluff is as good as another. itself henceforward upon us. Our

Maybe, If a few cases arrived here of members past and present. rled the main weight of the for-

own natural promptings and many marked "Top Secret, Oak Ridge At its passing few will shed rible land fighting from 1914 to

weighty mlillary arguments lent a tear, though most will re- 1018. She had lost 1,400,000 men killed, Foch had held the supreme member

associations command and the great British with the HKVDC with pride and Imperial armies of 70 or 80 and a certain amount of sen- divisions had been placed like the unreservedly under timent, born of many happy Americans days and the tried and trust his orders. Now the British Ex- peditionary Army numbered but ed comradeships of a prison- 300,000 or 400,000 men,

spread Those, from

Havre and er of

the bases at camp.

the however, are days long past. jalong the coast forward to It is but a shadow of the line, compared with nearly 100-

French divisions, or over 2,000,000 former Corps, a moribund Frenchmen, actually holding the obsolence that is disappear-long front from Belgium to It was natural ing, not because there was tu Switzerland.

that we should place prospect.of its revival, but be therefore

command, j.cause, since the war, no seri- oureclves under their

and that their judgment should ous test has been made of be accepted, surviving loyalties, or of the willingness of the younger generation to fill its depleted ranks. No-one would make so bold as to suggest that all the lessons of December 1941 were thoroughly

their

war

military

and car

Gamelin's Stand

on several oc-1

LEGEND British

French

The Hague Rotterdam

Antiterdam

Armaca

Belgions

Dutch

Brussels

B:E.F.

Arras FIRST

Dinant

ARMY

St.Quantin

de

ARMY

OND

•Reims

100tles

Army Group B

Army Cologne

Group A

Koblenz

Mainz

Army Group C

Army Group No 2

Strasbourg Army Group kat

THE FORWARD MOVEMENTS STARTING 10 May

Of

The Signal

from

force to the incessant, vehement to Hong Kong" wo could forget French appeals. On the other hand all about Defence Force. there was a limit, and that limit if transgressed would cost un our ilce.

Fighter Position

Four million dollars worth of palm oil is to be stockpiled. A new application of the silver bullet principta?

•

Tiger, tiger, brown eyes bright Wandering round Shatin at night

Seen by day you are I foar Just some slick blackmarketeer.

At this time all these issues were discussed by the whole War Cabl net, which met several times a day; Air Chief Marshal Dowding, at the head of our metropolitan Fighter Command, had declared to me that with 25 squadrons of 1ghters

ters he could defend the island goldmine many people think it is," against the whole might of the Alas no! Sometimes there's a bit German

man Air Force,

that with but

"The taxi business is not tho

less he would be overpowered. This of quartz sticking to the nuggets. would have entailed not only the

A meeting of Hong Kong Coy destruction of all our airdelde and loneso is reported. Some Chigaleso our air power, but of the aircraft also attended.

factories

on which our

whole I

future hung. My colleagues and The little moppet seemed

4

were resolved to run all risks for little sceptical about the tale of the sake of the battle up to that The Old Woman Who Lived In timit and those risks were very A Shoe." "It is perfectly roason- great but not to go beyond it, no able," explained father, after all matter what the consequences I'm lying on a shoestring," might be,

About 7.30 on the morning of the 18th I was woken up with the news that M Reynaud was on the

of then great numbers with tanks and

***] effect.

light, had armour, heavy and completely scattered or destroyed the French troops on their im- mediate front, and could now

pace never be

Lore

for

1

It had been intended that Gen.

should command

tho Georgos French and British armies in the feld from the moment when war absorbed, was declared, and Gen. Gamelin but at least, the weaknesses of was expected to retire to an ad- Fronch the pre-war defence organisa-visory position on the

Military Counell: However. Gen. clearly exposed, Gamelin was averse from yielding tion were and for the decision to post his control as generalissimo, Ho pone any attempt to re-build retained the supreme direction. A local volunteer units until a vexatious conflict of authority took, could say: "Why do you not send to realat the combination of tanks telephone at my bedelde. He spoke atress. "We have been defeated." and between him place

Gen. more troops of your own? Will, and dive-bombing, and asking for, in English, and evidently under wider 10 more squadrons of lighters to As I did not immediately respond scheme had been evolved

take over Georges during the right months' you not the holding promise of reducing tull. Gen. Georges, in my opinion, sector

To re-establish the line, Other mess- front? If and never had the chance

to make the serves are lacking, pray supply ages received by the Chiefs of he said again, "wo are beaten; we

Generals We have 5,000,000 men Staff gave similar information, have lost the battle." the margin for error

I said: "Surely it can't have has been strategle plan in its integrity and mobilised. We follow your ideas and added that both confusion, there

Gamelin and Georges took a happened so soon!" But he ro general approval. Intelligent on his own responsibility.

The British General Staff and about the war at sea; we conform serious view of the situation and piled: The front is broken near examination of the

new our headquarters in the field had to the plans of the British

that General Gamell was sur-Sedan; they are pouring through scheme reveals many merits, long been anxious about the gap Admiralty. Pray show a proper th It is an excellent example of between the Northern end of the confidence in the French Army prised at the rapidity a local defence plan shaped Maginot Line and the beginning and in our historic mastery of the chemy's advance. In fact, Kleist's armoured care" or words to that I then said: "All experience. to meet future needs within of the British fortiited front along art of war on land." Nevertheless Group with its immense mass of

shows that the effensive will come the Franco-Belgian frontier, Mr. we ought to have done it. local borders and providing Hore-Bellaha, the Secretary of

to an end after a while. I remem bor for the closest liaison from State for War, raised, the point in

March 21, 1918. After five or six days they have to halt

halt for sup the outset between all units, the War Cabinot

plies, and the opportunity Representations wore The French "mobilisation" of move forward at a civil and military, grouped eastons.

in war. known in

counter-attack is presented. channels. 5,000,000 included many not under At almost all points where the learned all this at the time from into what might be termed made through military

Considering, however, our rela

the armies had come in contact, the the lips of Marshal Foch himself." a Task Force. Naturally, the tively small contribution, the Cabl-arms, .., in factories, on

land. dc.

Certainly, this was what we programme outlined has not net and our military leaders wore

At the signal the Northern weight and fury of the German

attack was overpowering. They always seen in the past and what escaped criticism, but the at-naturally shy of criticising those Armies sprang to the rescue of crossed the Mouse in the Dinant we ought to have seen now, How- whose armlos were 10 times as Belgium and poured forward along sector with two or more armoured tack has been on the officialatrone e our own, The French all the roads amid the cheers, of visions. To the North the fighting/ever, the French Premier came conception of Hong Kong's thought

back to the sentence with which' that the Ardennes the inhabitants. The first phase of present-day needs rather than were impassable for large modern Plan B was completed by May 12 on the front of the French Flat he had begun, which proves in- on the structure of the "Ride armies Marshat Petain had told The Fronch held the left bank of Army had been most severe. The deed only too true: "We are do- First and Second British Corps feated; we have lost the battle,” Plan" assuming that the ex- the Senate Army perts are right. This is es- "This sector is not do the Meuse to Huy, and their light were still in position from Wavre I said I was willing to come over.]

forces beyond the river were fall- to Louvain, where our Third sentially a highly debatable done along the Meuse, but nothing pressure. The armoured divisions mery, had sharp Oghting.

A great deal of fiold work was ing back before increasing enemy Division, under General Montgo~/ and have a talk.

Far- World Copyright reserved. Re- point to which no final ans- like a strong line of pillboxes and of the French Firet Army roached ther North the Belgians were reproduction, even partially, in any wer is likely to be supplied anti-tank obstacles, such as the the line Huy-Hannut-Tirlemont tiring to the Autwerp defences. language, strictly prohibited. unless the Colony is so um-Bitish had made along the Bel- The Bolglans, having lost the The French Seventh Army on the Exclusive rights ein Hong Kong

sector, was attempted. More Albert Canal, were falling back gian fortunate that events con over, Gen. Corap's Ninth French to the line of the

Gette and seaward dank was rocolling even by "China Mail" spire to force the issue to vany was mainly composed of taking up their prescribed position

and quicker than it had advanced.

(To Be Continued Tomorrow.) practical test. For the pre troops who were definitely below

"Royal Marine". [from Antwerp to

to Louvain. Thuy

From the moment of the inva sent, the primary fact is the the French standards. From Sedan still held Liege and Namur.

to Kiraon on the Oise, along aj

Tho

French Savanth Army had sion we began the launching of passage of the Defence Force front of, 60 miles, there were no occupied the lalandes at Walcheren the duvial mines into operation Ordinance, in which the old permanent fortifications, and only and South Beveland, and wore en- "Royal Marins, the Whine and in HKVDC will appear in a New two divisiona of professional gaged with mechanised units of the first week of the battle nearly Look garb as the Hong Kong troops.

the German Eighteenth Army en 1,700 were "streamed." They pro Regiment, starting all re One cannot be. strong every- the line Herenthals Bergen-op-duced immediate results. Pract cruiting frord absolute, where. It is often right and neces Zoom, So rapid had been the adically all river traffic between -to hold long sectors of avance of the French Seventh Karlsruhe and Mainz was suspend- scratch, and with the elimination or ang frontier with light covering forces, Army that it had already outrun ed, and extensive dautage was done The to the Karlsruho barrage, and s but this, of course, should be only its ammunition supplies.

large superiority in quality. though not number of pontoon bridges. The spirit suggestive of "playing with the object of

whon in numbers of the British Abe success of this device was, how..

at soldiers". In the hear reserves for cara Force

was already apparent. Thus ever, lost in the délogy of 'dianstar,

future, if not tomorrow,' a

revealed.

strenuous recruiting cam divisions,

of 43 up till the night of the 12th there! (Operation "Royal Marino" was half the mobile

the enemy apreading?? wz paign will begin, and the na, Franch Army, from Longwy to ture of the response will be the Swise frontier the whole of awaited with a somewhat which was either defended by the anxious interest. In this Maginot Line farts or by the DO YOU

[matter," preliminary encour

agement has been lacking, but we disagree strongly with the view of a correspondent whose letter is published

broad swift-flowing Rhine with its

a fortress pretem behind an improvident disposition.

Was

KNOW

YOUR

The risks that have to be ruff, tavadan

ལ་དོན་

elsewhere in this laste. It the emergency at the moment would be most unfortunate of its development, and for if Colonel Ride were com-some time afterwards. If

HONG

RADIO pelled to adopt as his thrine t be accepted that the Par- KONG?

tune "Never say Never Again flamentary discussion reveal- again," for if the Parliamon-ed ignorance of the Hong tary discussions demonstrat Kong problem, this served ed anything, it was that any merely to lend emphasis to sudden outbreak affecting the docemity for ruyffig very Hong Kong internally or largely upon, bur own re- externally, would find the sources, The, answer, there Colony almost wholly des fore, then bo regarded as pendent upon the efficiency plain for every able-bodied of its own manpower to meet citizen eligible for the Force.

Dan

had

*!), wish. Churchill would stop Biring those broadsides!"

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