1940-05-20 — Page 17

OFFENSIVE WILL LOSE MOMENTUM

Allies In Position To Stop Nazis

MASTERY CAN BE GAINED

`FROM PAGE ONE squarely against those of their adversaries,

Monday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

May 20, 1940,

GEN. WEYGAND ALLIED RETREAT Prayers For ARMY DICTATOR

FROM PAGE ONE

France

PARIS, May 19 (Reuter) of that Army that has been heavily being the President of the Republic) and bridges as they withdrew, the Dame pealed through the bright a post by virtue of which lie was forces were able to avoid costly con sunshine this afternoon in the Commander-in-Chief. A year later fact with the enemy, during their areas surrounding Quaslmedo's the Ministry of Defence was estab] great retreat. The Germans were Gothic haunts as dense throngs

· FROM PAGE ONE High Command, Is undoubtedly French Leadors At

pleased with the success that has at- firm and tactful administration he tended this delicate manoeuvre, des

Divine Service still further enhanced his reputation, pite the fact that the Germans have

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" In 1931 he was appointed Vice been presented with three-quarters "For myself, I have invincible con-

War of Belgium and most of its seacons.

PARIS, May 19 (UP)-The fidence In the French Army and its President of the Supreme

of France (the President

By: destroying highways, railways bells in the old towers of Notre leaders, It is only a very small part Counell engaged

and only a very small part and Inspector-General of the Army, French, Belgian, Briush and Dutch of France has yet been invaded.

"There is good evidence to show that practically the whole of

Military observers here note that as time goes on, the German bounds forward, backed by

heavy armoured columns. will specialised and mechanised forces of shed and Weygand' became head thus unable to take their customary of Parisiens stood outside to

become steadily less both, in width and depth.

to

into

my have already been thrown We know that heavy losses have been infileted on them.

The Only Way To Mastery "No officer or man, no brigade or divisions which grapples at close quarters with the enemy wherever encountered can fall to give worthy contribution to the general results.

of the combined land, air and sea toll of rearguard units, forces. During his term in that post the Maginot Line was completed. . He retired

from ary, 1935, and was succeeded by General Gamella.

the post In Janu-

Strongly Anti-Naxi General Weygand is a strong op-

Everything the German navy, army or air force could used. has been systematically destroyed, including oil and petrol stocks, shipyards, ware- houses and war materials.

Dutch Play, Their Part The Dutch were able to save the remains of their air force when they destroyed and evacuated Beveland, Walcheren and the Zeeland Islands,

Every

bit

await the solemn service in the Cathedral, at which prayers were offered for Franco.

Whille churches throughout France attracted extra heavy aliondances at to-day's Masses, the special service at Notre Dame formed the centre of interest.

Notables Attond

"Le Temps military critic, a retired general, writes: "The un- tion is lill serious but it is to be believed that the High Command has check the new enemy drive along the Oise

ponent of any rapprochement with the necessary means to

Germany. He is also said to be one Valley.

Leaf the very few French generals who "The armies must cast away

M. Reynaud, the Premier; General "Reliable Indications allow us

really understand Englishmen. idea of rexisting the attack behind think

of Dutch aviation Weygand, the hero of Verdun, and that recovery. is perfectly possible, The re-grouping recently concrete lines or natural or melancholy and apparent difidence materials and planes which could be new Allled Supreme Commander-in- mentioned in French communiques and must realise that masend a conceal a master mind which works down were brought to Allied atr Chief. M. Daladier and other leaders of the Allled effort were among the evidently enabled us to give our dis-only be regained by furious and un-with great rapidity.

This is the

the man

who has been) Whole regiments of the Dutch worshippers. positions the depth which was at first relenting assault.

"And this spirit must not only

selected to take charge in the pre- Army came out with the Allled

of inviled gucila were jacking.

sent theatres of war.

They included members of cover and animate the High Command but must

forces in the slow retreat across. Bel- present. "Reserves must now

"TO

Galvanise Energies.

gium.

Ure Diplomatie Corps, departmental protect the dangerous penetrations." Inspire every fighting man.

PARIS, May 19 (Reuter),—Gen-

Aim Of Naxi Drive

officials and high officers of the French military experts believe French Army, Navy and Air Force. pected to galvanise, the energies of that the present German drive is

Police were forced to form an alley the French nation.

aimed at the axis of the present

through the throngs for the passage of the officials.

Gen. Sikorski's Message

"In the air, even at serious odda or PARIS, May 10 (Reuter)-Brond- even at odds which up to now have era! Weygand's appointment is ex-

overwhelming, we have ceclawing

four casting to the Polish nation, General heen thoug down three or

planes to one of our own and the re- balance of the British and Ger- Intive

an Air

Forces has now become con- man

Sikorski, the Polish Premier, sold that he was speaking at a particu- larly grave moment.

been

He added: "We are only in the Riderably more favourable to us than front, M. Georges Mandel, who was

first phase of a great battle which may have many varying fortunes. It would be as dangerous to exag gerate the significance of local success as to exaggerate provisional retirement.

"Victory will be, as always, the

of result

and moral

material superiority. These two factors the Allies both possess.

"Thus calmly with resolution and steadfast faith, we must await victory In the struggle."****

Avalancho Of Steel & Fire PARIS, May 10. (Reuter).In a message to the Polish nation to-day. General Sikorski said that the batile

for which they had been waiting was now being fought in Belgium and partly on French territory.

The Allied armles, he said, were opposing an avalanche of steel and fire.

Behind them were the wealth of their countries and Empires,

What struck him more than any thing else, however, was the deep sense of patriotism they have,

This was only the first phase of a great battle which would fluctuate one way or another. It would be as erroneous to exaggerate the signi ficance of local success as it would be to exaggerate that of provisional retirement.

48

to

GERMANS IN RETREAT

FROM_PAGE_ONE

hours in the Oise Valley and between the Alane and the Somme. Overhead, the sky was black with bombers. which played an Important secondary role in support of the rival tank armies. Nowhere in history or on battle- field has there

ever been more than this punishing battle fought tank battle of the Olse Valley, upon which, it appears, the whole German Invasion may probably turn..

AL

least, the very

to-day's successful barring of the passage the German tank colunins by the French has given the Alles time to re-align their forces.

Foodless, Sleepless For Wook Both armies have been fighting for more than a week in which time they have had practically no sleep and al- most no food. Yet there are no sign of fatigue as the two armies meet in one of the first frontal engagements of the war.

Rifies, machine-guns

and small anti-tank artillery are helpless against the Clerman wall of tanks because the Germans put big tanks in front and alongside small tanks.

When 400 such monsters line up they are immune to orderly attack.

They have cover 12 to 20 miles per hour, spitting deadly fire on all alden.

It took a combination of French tanks and field guns to successfully break up the Germans steel wedges, and German motorised infantry which followed the tanks into battle were annihilated with heavy lossen. The Allied air forces flew con- tinuously during 17 hours of daylight to-day and did enormous damage to the German rear.

、

Pontoon bridges across the Meuse, which are the Germans vital com- munications system, were attacked by dive bombers and at least eleven such bridges were destroyed.

To-nisht the German pocket on French oil was a kidney shaped sack about 30 miles deep and 40 miles wide along the general line from Maubeuge to Landrecies, to Guise, to Vervios, to Ilethet Kancout and along to Sedan.

German

M. Reynaud, vift succession has called to the aid of the home Fight hand man of M. "Tiger" the right Clemenceau, and General Weygand,

of own the right hand man Marshal Foch.

prestige General Weygand's

1108 remained undiminished. and the nation sec

sees in the changes final proof of the Government's ferocious deter- mination to Bght with cool intelll-

at the beginning of the war. "In cutting down the bombers we are fighting our battles as well as those of France.

Ability To Boat Naxi Air Forco

"My confidence in our ability to fight li out to a finish with the Gergence and relentless energy. - man Air Force has been strengthened by the fierce encounters which have taken place and are taking place.

heavy, "At-the-same tiño our l bombers are

ers are striking at the root of the German mechanised power ind have already inflicted serious damage upon oil refineries upon which the directly depends. Nazi effort to dominate the world

General Weygand is known as the "man who has never been beaten." It is declared that he loves danger which lends him genius..

"Wo must expect that as sooon as stability has been reached on the that Western Front, the bulk of force which gashed Holland ruin and smoke in a few days will be turned upon us,

into

"I am sure I speak for all when I say that we are ready to face it and endure it and to retaliate against t to any extent that the unwritten lows of war permit.

Britain The Next Victim "There will be many men and women In this island who, when the will, will feel comfort and even pride ordcal comes upon them, as come i

that they are sharing the perils of our lads at the frontsoldiers, sailors and airmen, God Bless Them!--and are drawing away from them part at least of the onslaught they have to bear.

"Is not this the appointed time for alt to make the utmost exertion In -their-powor

"If the battle is to be won we must provide our men with the-ever In- creasing quantities of weapons and ammunition they need.

GENERAL GAMELIN

"We must have, and have quick- ly, more planes, tanks, shells and guns-there is need for these vital WAR IN NORWAY -- munitions-----

Must Win The War

They increase our strength ngainat the powerfully armed enemy and re- place wastage of obstinate struggle and the knowledge that the wastage will be speedily replaced enables us to draw more readily upon reserves and throw them in now when -every- thing means so much.

"Our task is not only to win the battle but to win the war.

"After this battle in France abates, its forces there will come to battle for our island, for all that Britain

is and ali that Bellain means "That will be the struggle. "In that supreme emergency we shall not hesitate to take every step, even the most drastic, to call for the effort of which they are capable.

"Interest of property and hours of strugat for alle ing Compared to the struggle for life and honour, for He

and freedom to which we have vow- ed ourselves.

Sacred Pledges

Shelling Of Narvik

Allied Attack On City Progressos

fields.

*

salient, which is roughly between St. Quentin

When the crowds.saw their white- and Amiens.

haired Marshal veteran of the last This, it may be recalled, was the war wearing the gold "Kep" of axis-d

of the great German drive

Marshal at France, the plate roured the lust

war.

with hoarse cheers. If they succeed in capturing this

In the streets, thousand bowed ares they will succeed in culling their heads or knelt in prayer as the off the whole of the Allied north-services were being conducted in the ern armies between Maubeuge and Cathedral.

the coast from the Maginot Line and will also be able to strike through France to the coast poris in the English Channel,

BATTLE FOR

SUPREMACY

But there is a tremendous con- centration of Fro and-Belgian troops absolutely intact, having suffered comparatively smalĺ losses during the retreat.

French, British, Dutch AIR

It is this mass of more than n million soldiers which now blocks the Germans in the western side of the

bulge.

Important Air Victories The G.H.Q. of bath the British and French air forces continue to report Important victories over the German Air Force.

Continued From Page 1

great numerical weight as we could

wish.

The Arklers' main task has been to protect the ground forces from the German bombers, to seek the latter out and shoot them down.

Profiting by their superior technicat During one fight over French ter-quality, our fighters have taken a ritory

yesterday, nine Hurricanes "reat toll.

shat down

German bombers) At night the bombers this week without a single British loss.

have given us the first real proof of The total estimated German air the R. A. F. strength.

The bombers which have bombed losses yesterday, including the four. bombers shot down in a stymied air bridges, fusi dumps and so on do so raid on Parts, was more than 40 at night. The selected areas have machines. They were chiefly bon-been a night Inferno. bers and heavy troop transports,.

Allies Fighting Well

Pressure..oa the Allled__air_foces

Admirable Efficiency.

Our night bombers carry twice the LONDON, May 10 (British Wire-load of enemy bombers. They have less)By concentrating in a single dropped their missiles In the right drive of enormous momentum what place. many experts estimate-to-be-a-very large proportion of their total avail-has been enormous, faced as they are able strength in tanks and me chanised unite and supporting air craft, the Germans have pushed back the French armies on a limited sector of the Western Front

The ground which the Allies have been compelled to give in this aren of northern France is a natural cause

anxiety which has distracted at of tention from other aspects of the operations-of-the-last ten days of cance to the ultimate re- great significance suit of the

campaign.

the

these is efficiency and celerity

One of

forces mo

British

with a gigantic concentration hurled into battle without regard of loss.

They have been fighting well. For every Allied plane brought down, three of the enemy planes have been

similarly treated.

The enemy cannot go on indefinite- ly like this even if, as Goering claims, the act

actual number of their planes is inexhaustible.

must They

have trained crews even if the number of men is claimed to be inexhaustible. There must still be spirit In the drive. The air forces on both sides are admirable with which tired.

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moved to positions In Perhaps the spirit of the men will be of the

Belgian armies post the deciding factor.

from which they have

sub-

sequently had regretfully to make

voluntary retirements, in conformity CRUELLEST WAR

with readjustments of the line which strategic considerations made advis

LONDON, May 19 (Reuter)--The Ailled attack on Narvik is progressable. ing speedily.

The town is being shelled from the sea and land. It is believed that only a small number of Germans are in the town itself.

..

:

FROM PAGE ONE

Ghastly And Horrible "Before the bombs began falling

around me in Brussels I found out

god

Belgians' Fino Work Another is the magnitude of the task accomplished by the Belgian free decision between war and peace,** Army Itself. British military critics he said, warily praise the achievement of The main forces are south of Rom-the Belgian forces in withstanding bak on the railway leading to the the furious onslaughts of the Germans Swedish frontier..

that across the Rhine the war using new methods of warfare.

They

hove

ove thus succeeded in was advancing with a far more ter- their first task of preventing a Ger-rible kind of war than the world has

break-through. They have plan ever known. folled the Command of

fencompassing the rapid the Belgian forces for

the

Belgian Army kas Intact.

The land shelling has been carried out by Polish troops which occupied the town in the other si ho of the harbour. They are using howitzers.

"To-day

'of

German

Trinity Centuries ago words were welllen "I received, from the chiefs of the French Republic and particularly

to be a call and a spur to the fallh- This dimeull operation, carried out ful servants of truth and Justice: in

•co-operation

with other Allied from the indomitable Prime Minister, M. Paul Reynaud, the most sacred

'Gird yourselves and be yo men forces to conform to the general pledges that whatever happens they

of valour and be in readiness for Allied plan, was made possible by will fight to the end, be it bitter or

the conflict, for it is better for us the excellence of the staff work and It we fight 'to be it

to perish in battle than to look the admirable precision with which glorious--noy, on end it can only be glorious.

upon the sutrage of our nation and the movements had been executed. altars. As the will of God is la

Their

British comrades neir

in urine "Having received His Majesty's Commission, I have formed an Ad-

heaven oven to let Elim do."

pay the highest tributes to the un- ministration of men and women of

Commons Statement daunted spirits and, high morale of every Party and almost every point of view.

LONDON, May 19 (Reuter).-The Belgian officers and men--of which Prime Minister is expected to make a glorious but characteristic example "We have differed and quarrel- a statement on the latest develop is provided by the garrisons of Liege Ted In

In the past, but now one bond ments on the Western Front when the and the Namur forts, unites us li; to wage war until House of Commons re-assemblea on victory is won and never to sur.] May 21.

"

render ourselves ́to, servitude and It is likely that a similar stolo- shame at whatever cost and agony ment will be made in the House of

Lords.

It may be.

U.S. Listons-In

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"Americang cannot realke that the| battle that is being fought in France to-day is both ghastly and horrible

most far more hideous than the

teous days In the last war. hideous

There are millions of Americans who would

up their lives in Bivo battle for America.

"I hope they will never be put to that awful test. of ultimate devotions.

"We Americans In Europe know, clearly, that America la facing a very existence as a nation,

To Rule Or Ruin. "I have been in Europe nearly month--in Italy, France, Holland and Belgium. I have seen nearly all the Jending stateamen in all these coun- Great Retreat Ends

trics SPECIAL TO THE:"TELEGRAPH"

is waging a war of national the WITH THE FRENCH FORCES.ation' to rule or ruin May 19 (UP) Falfesting the strate world.

"If Hitler cannot rulo he firmly gle withdrawal of the Allied left "If this is one of the most awe- to

wing. which has now been completed, intends to ruin-atterly. striking

periods in the long history WASHINGTON; May 19 (Reuter).' Germany is in pomession" of three- "Germany's warfare is, and will be, Franch Advantagerie

-of-France-and-Britain-it-is-also-be-Mr Winston Churchill's-broadcast-quarters of Beiriams and most of this the most cruel war in centuries.”

most sublime. French should

was heard by radio listeners in' tho Belgina wes coast. itle, unaided except by United States. by have a tremendous advantage of much

extent of the Allied with- and

great

His ringing tones had a tonic effect demwal is not disclosed but it has or more successful than those carried The Germans are obliged to make Dominators and bu, the wide empires on countless hearers throughout the apparently been on substantial out by the Dutch in their own terri-Central Showroom-Gloucester Bldg. (Corner of East Arcade). Tel 24704.

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tory, particularly in the Zeeland - Kowloon Showroom-210, Nathan Rd., (Corner of Jordan Rd) Tel, 57341. long haul through Belgium inasmuch by side the British and French people French and British forces, his brief

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The withdrawal presents the Ger- lands, which have apparently been Ardennes

have advanced to rescue not only and incisive description of the battle mans with a large area without op- evacuated in addition to the Belgian Pockel. There are only Europe but mankind froth the foulest now raging were a welcoming nowe pay his within German

and most..

By this withdrawal, the Allies have (Although no names destroying tyranny after the columns of depressing

are mention- secondary ronds and they were quickly chopped to pieces by tanks

that has over darkened the stained printed throughout the country for succeeded in siraightening their lines ed in cabled reports, the Allied front pages of history.

the past week.

from Sedan to the Belgian coust and, Ines now, apparently extend from and heavy trucks;

The Message Of Trinity Observers see as the result of his, have ended the German hopes of either Ostend or Nieuport on the on the Franco- flanking movement, coast to Maubeuge

ISTANBUL, - May 10 (Reuter), "Behind them, behind us and be insistence on the value of the as- executing

counter whereby the Allied forces in tinuous line along the French fron- French Cabinet is cordially welcomed

Belgium early Allled-

Belgian frontler thence in A con-The entry of Marshal Petain into the may, have bem out. off. line, so they are unable to use the fored states and bludgeoned races.

and Franco gather a group of shat-

Every rood, rallway and bridge in tier fortifications to Switzerland with In tile Turkish Press, which

recalls good roads across Luxembourg,

They say is speech was not the

exception!- of the bulgo into his famous order at Verdun. Their of communion- the

Poles speech of the a desperate the evacuated been destroy the

The Turkish Press is also generally Lion follows headuse makes Dance. Butch and Norwegiat people but a leader of crow edgy, ed frealy by the withdrawing brioli, France, ich extends approximate hiaastricht past: Lalego, Namky and of whom the long night of barbarism Vision and Beter who sees beyond Wrench-Belgian and Dutch-and-by-from-Maubeuge Bedase of the oplaton that the halung-of. U Dinant to Mezieres, but a long will descend, unbroken even by the the present dark daya. AVA And afterwards by evilians who re- Germans would be in picion of present German offensive would The Belgian foria Stat Liege, and star of hope, unless we conquer, as There is general expression of mained behind, my gasolingand the selfian coastal cities of Zeebrug mean the end of the "bilzkrieg. Namur fold out those roads are conquer, we must and as conquer wo opinion that Britain has found her Among the systematic demolition ge; Le Coq and poobily Ustend it, it is declared that the Nass GAUZTEX kept under Intense fire,

real leader in Mr. Churchillz: operations none were more thorough this, estimate; la, corrock, A)

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The Germans have been unable to move east of Sedan, where the tor-

yond

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the de

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