1940-05-29 — Page 1

"Hongkong Daily Press”.

"—-May 29, 1940.

Mason's

Temperature: Max. 74; Min. 72.

WEATHER FORECAST:-E. AND S.E. WINDS, MODERATE T

FRESH; OVERCAST, RAIN.

Limary, Sigirenie Coors

OK Hongkong Daily Press.

the cold meat Sauce

Registared

a Newspaper at the Ġeneral.

Port Offies in the United Kingdoms.

報西

ESTABLISH 1857

刺孖

No. 25502

名船伍仟伍离弍第

HONGKONG, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1940,

15-19 Marina House, Queen's Bond Central.

G.P.O. Bax No. I

日软计月伍拾障政查英

Natural

se dose to `Flatura'së in desirable are "Bir William Crookes”, lonass, B

Something to offer the harmful glare is necessary-but- you don't. bare to have the whole landsospe darkened like a miny day to do thất. Wear Crookes and know what

réal sys-comfort menna

Lazumu

JOPTICIANEIRO".

dingle"Copy: 10 Dext

Price per month: 81,00.

"WE SHALL HOLD OUT: ALLID DETERMINATION UNSHAKEN

BELGIAN AMBASSADOR ABSENT

WHEN MR. CHURCHILL MAKES AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT ON WAR

Resolve To Defend World Cause

The Belgian Ambassador to Great Britain was not present in the Diplomatic Gallery of the House of Com.nons yesterday afternoon when an important statement on the latest war developments was made by Mr. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister, who was received with general cheers, says Reuter.

Diary Of Invasions

March 11, 1938-Austria. October 1. 1938 Sudeten area of Czechoslovakia.

September 1, 1939-Poland." "April 9. 1940-Norway and Denmark.

"May 10. 1940-Holland and Belgium.

May 15, 1940-Holland laid down arms.

May 28, 1910-Belgium sar. rendered.

Great Indignation Against King Leopold

from

There was no excitement or disturbance of mind dur- ing question time and Members quietly awaited the state- ment...

The Russian, Brazilian and Turkish Ambassadors were present in the Diplomatic Gallery.

I shall, of The Prime Minister said: cipline and tenacity. "The House will be aware course, abstain from giving any of what, with the that the King of the Belgians particulars yesterday sent his plenipoten-powerful. assistance of the Royal tiary to the German Com-Navy and Royal Air Force, they mand asking for suspension are doing, or hope to do..

"I expect to make a statement

of arms on the Belgian front to the House on the general posi-

The British and French Gov-tion when the result of the In ernments instructed their generals tense struggle, now going on, can immediately to dissociate them- be known and measured selves from this proceeding (cheers) and to persevere in the operations on which they are now engaged

HARD TIDINGS

"This will not, perhaps, be unti next week the "beginning of Meanwhile the House should pre ACTION OF 'KING pare itself for hafa and heavy. "However, the German. Com-tid'ngs I have only to add that mand agreed to the Belgian pro-nothing which may happen in this posal and the Belgian Army ceas- battle can in any way relieve us ed to resist the enemy's will at 4 of our duty to defend (Cheers) to "which o'clock this morning. I have no the world cause intention of suggesting to the we have vowed ourselves,por

Merch destroy our

one condence in House that we should attemptæt should It this moment to pass judgment on our power to make our way, as on the action of the King of the Bel-former occasions in our history. gians, in his capacity as Com-through disaster and grief to the mander-in-Chief of the Belgian oltimate defeat of our enemies Army.

(Loud cheers).

This Army has fought very bravely and has both suffered and inflicted heavy losses.

MR. CHURCHILL.

NOT THE SLIGHTEST REASON

FOR PANIC

LONDON, May 28 (BWS)

1 -- Broadcasting rat

p.m. (B.S.T.), the Minister of In- formation. Mr. A. Duff Cooper. referring to the Belgian deci- sion, said that we should not attempt at present to pass judgment on it

FRENCH PREMIER CONDEMNS

KING LEOPOLD'S SURRENDER

Allied Troops Continue Battle In North Under Gen. Blanchard

Britain and France stand alone now to oppose the Nazi invaders of the Low Countries and France. This is resultant on the order given by King Leopold of the Belgians to his Army yesterday to lay down their arms and capitulate to an enemy against whom the Belgian monarch and his Government had appealed to the Allies for assistance. ....The Belgian Government and the Bel gian people, however, to whom the an- nouncement came with as great a shock as it did to the rest of the civilised world, Resistance have refused to recognise the Royal capi Not Ended

All Belgian

tulation and have declared their intention

of forming a new Army and to continue

the fight against the Germans alongside Struggle Will

Be Continued

their Allies.

PARIS, May 28 (Reuter) - It

THE EFFECT OF THE BELGIAN KING'S DECISION GIVES: THE GERMAN, TROOPS A CLEAR PASSAGE TO THE COASTAL PORT OF DUNKIRK AND THE SITUA- is oficially stated that, as soon as TION WHICH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDED THIS STEP the Belgian Ministers, learned

King Leopold's decision, they met WAS AS FOLLOWS:

during the night to discuss the

The Allied forces were divided into two groups. The situation French troops were successfully holding the lines of the

The Royal decisión WBA consi- Somme and Aisne and the Maginot Line, while in the dered unconstitutional North, the Belgian Army and the British Expeditio ary Government proposes to continue Force, together with some French divisions, were engaged the struggle

The Ministers met again today: in the defence of Belgium. The latter army was under the "command of General Blanchard, a 63-year-old French With the President of the Senate Royalist who is known as a grim fighter who never gives and the President of the Chamber in; however critical the situation.

1

..

what, inensures were called for in the cream- stances.

present, to decide

PARIS. May 28 (Reuter)-The Belgian colony in Paris and men-

FRINGE NOT "TOUCHED, bers of the Belgian Government there are displaying great in-

Mr. H. B. Lees-Emith, on behalf dignation against King Leopold,

of the Labour Party, thanked the to information according

The Belgian Government has Premier for his statement, and authoritative French quarters dissociated themselves from the said: "As he is to make a fux- A Belgian senator is quoted act of the King and, declaring ther statement next week this is

The order to the Belgian quiet confidence of the peoples of saying the King's act constitutes itself to be the only legal Govern- not the time for any discussion

who were fighting the Allied countries to meet the The surrender by King Leopold a "nique stain upon. our national ment of Belgium. has formally,

Mr. Duff Cooper proceeded, "We troops, upon it.

does not end all Belgianrevis- history."

announced its resolve to continue "I will contine myself to know the Belgian Army has been with the British and French, new situation.

Reaction to the Belgian deci-tance: Two days ago a Belgian Correspondents of Belgian the war at the side of the Allies

sion in the United States has in-Winister stated that a second. Bel- newspapers in France have issued who came to the aid of Belgium angle observation: that whatever fighting very bravely against tre to lay down their arms was consultation he may have to tell us in the next mendous odds. The situation in given

demand" for even gian Army was being trained' - in" the following statement: "King on her urgent appen).

few days, weeks or months, we which the BEF.. suddenly finds with the British and French Creased the Leopold has capitulated. The

matter of planes, food, medicine When Belgium was Invaded the King has betrayed his country and "Whatever may be our feelings have not yet touched the fringe itself is one of extreme gravity. Commanders in the Northern greater aid to the Allies in the France. foresworn his oath to the Consti- with regard to the facts so far as of the resolution of this country." There is not the slightest reason sector and has roused resent and other war material, while home defence -numbered 700.00

COUNTRY'S SENTIMENT. for anything in the nature

ment in British and French anxiety for the position of the men and all other men not old Sir Percy Harris, speaking for

military circles.

Allies has also been expressed in enough to serve, or exempted from The French Prime Minister," pessimistic quarter who announced the Belgian monarch's decision to capitulate. reiterated the determination of the French and British troops to continue the struggle with grim determination and expressed the

SENSE OF BROTHERHOOD

tution. We ask Frenchmen not they are known to us. we must re- to judge us after the fashion of member that the sense of brother-

our King. The King is dead. hood between the many peoples, the Liberal Party, said that the who have fallen under the power dignified statement by the Prime: ot the aggressor, and those who Minister reflects the sentiment

Long live Belgium."

"TREASONABLE ACT

A military. spokesman said: still confront him, will play not only of the whole House but "The treasonable act of King Leo-part in better daye than those of the whole country.

pold is all the more grave in view through which we are passing.

of the fact that it came at a time when the Allied armies were. in

* difficult, though not desperate.

position."

There were no other speeches

"The British and French Armies and the House then proceeded to are fighting with the utmost dis-other business.

TYPICAL OF Evacuation

GERMAN

Of British

panie.

"Whatever may be the out- come of this immediate battle, there should be no lack of confidence."

AUSTRALIAN WAR LOAN

of

It is announced in Canberra says Reuter, that it has been de-

without

There was, howevir, an en- tire absence of panle both in England and France when the news was announced and for- ther developments are calmly swaited.

Staggering Announcement

cided to float, & Commonwealth. In Broadcast By Reynaud

Boulogne Troops From

METHODS OF Told By

TERRORISM

LONDON, May 28, (Reuter-In the House of Commons this after- noon, Mr. Clement R. Attlee. Lord Privy Seal," replying to a question, said that the bombing of hospital ships and

the machine-gunning of ambulances in France; taken in conjunction with the deliberate attacks by German aircraft on refugees on the roads of Belgium and France, might be taken

terror- typical of the methods of

a5

ism pursued by the German Gov- ernment.

Eye-Witness

Interest tree, Idan et £5,000,000 to enable those destring doing so to assist in the war cuors, an

A new £10,000,00 loari has been approved by the Loar Council and LONDON, MAY 28 (REUTER) - HOW DESTROYERS W bear interest at 21 per cent. EVACUATED. BRITISH TROOPS FROM BOULOGNE for short term and 2 per cent. "under hellish fire" was described in detall by a naval eye-for long term, The loan will be witness today.

He related how a demolition party was detailed to be ready to move at two hours' notice. Embarking in lorries; "a combined party of seamen, Royal Marines and small de- tachments of Royal Engineers. was taken by road to a port Where they boarded as destroyer and rushed across the Channel, reaching the main jetty at Boulogne in the fore-

noon.

The naval party was landed mechanised vehicles, followed by to hold the railway station, tanks and motorised field guns.

German alroraft were busy using

attacks were intermittent through-

His Majesty's Government held at demolition charges and themselves, free to take such ac earmark bridges, trains, lock- bombs and machine-guns. Their tion as they might consider a gates, etc., which should be out the day and, at one time, there propriate, but it was not their in- tention to exact retribution from destroyed when the the wounded, or women and chilcame. dren. (Cheers),

time were 60 machines. overhead. This demolition was

Owing to the position of Ger- undertaken at the request of mans all around the town, it had'; been impossible to tend to field the French authorities.

Small parties of Germans were

armoured vehicles.

FLEET: AIR ARM. The seamen, some of them quite guns or other assistance. Conse- LONDON, May 28 (Reater) The young, and who have never been quently the troops could not hold Air Ministry announced that units under fire, were in the rallway out indefinitely against the enemy's of the Fleet Air Arm, operating station fitting detonators, to their with the RAF Coastal Command explosive charge when it came made a series of heavy and effect under high explosive shell fire from

enemy feld guns.

It was decided to shorten the de-. tive attacks yesterday on enemy positions on the French and Bel- The Germans were gradually tending perimeter by a sight Bri- gian coasts.

closing in on the town with light tish withdrawal.

"

Issued at par.

On Other-

Pages

PAGE 2-Roup of ponies; UA. baseball: Passengers: Opera at King's Theatre, PAGE 3-Radio programmes, Coming events: Crossword ptzzle.

"PAGE 4 Air Force, operations

continue

unabated; China War news; Egypt ready. PAGE 5-Police Court news; * Newsettes.

PAGE 6 Leading article. PAGE BGerman tactics in.

the Balkans.

already coming down the streets PAGE Wm. Powell annual

on the outskirts of the town and

meeting; HK Block Ex- change. PAGE 10 Commercial newE."

THE STAGGERING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE BELGIAN ARMY, UNDER KING LEOPOLD, HAD SURRENDERED to the Germans without warning, the French and British Commands Reynaud, the was made in a broadcast speech by M. Pani

Reuter French Prime Minister, yesterday morning," says message

"

Explaining the position, M. Reynaud said that the German thrust forced its way between our army which thus found it- self spilt into two groups, one in the north and the other in the south.

In the south French divisions "Eighteen days ago the same are holding a new front on the King addressed to us art appeal Somme and the Alsne, adjoining for help. To this appeal I re- the intact Maginot Line.

sponded according to the plan drawn up by the Allied General In the north are a group of Stant since December last" added three Allied armies, the Belgian the Premier ›

the BEF. and some French divi-

sions. This group of three armies

Thus, in the rage of the battle. King Leopold the

is commanded by Gen. Blanchard. the same.

military service, werz soku toʻmase their way to a foreign country, They are now in France and... are training in military centres Their exact number Is dwn but there are many thou- sands and they will be of Joyalu- able help to the Allies in the line to the east and west and across northern France.

FIGHT CONTINUED PARIS, May 28 (Reuter) A communique states: "The military situation has become graver in un unexpected manner in the north, as the result of the capitulation of King Leopold of the Beligans, whose army was engaged at the side of the French and British

The latter are facing up to the situation and are continuing the fight

.:

"On the rest of the front there is nothing important to report?

More R.A.F. Personnel Decorated

More Royal Air Force per-

It was provisioned through Dun- Second of the Belgians, who until kirk. The British and French May 10 (before the invasion) had sonnel were decorated by the armies defended this bort in the pretended to attach to Germany's King in a hangat of the south and in the east, the Belgian words the same value as that of Bomber Command in East the Allies, has without warning Angila, yesterday, says Reu- Army being in the north.

MIDST OF BATTLE

Gen. Blanchard, without const-

deration, without a word for the ter.

Five of the men recelyed The Belgian Army has now French and British soldiers who

had come to help his country in the Distinguished Flying suddenly. and unconditionally, capitulated in the midst of the response to his anxious appeal, Cross while two sergeant ob- battle on the order of its King laid down arms. This is a fact servers were decorated with the Distinguished Flying and without having warned their without precedent in history.

"The Belgian Government In Medal, French and British comrades in arms, and opening the road to formed me that the decision of Many of them, twelve hours Dunkirk for the German divi- their King was taken against the earlier, had been bombing

enemy objectives.

stons.

Continued on Page 7