1940-05-21 — Page 1

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The FIRST EDITION

Hongkong

CHILDREN'S COTTON VOILE & MUSLIN DRESSES

Supreme Cour!

Telegraph.

FOUNDED 1501

二拜禮 號一廿月五英港香

TUESDAY, MAY 21,

1940.

日五十月四

No. 10130

SINGLE COPY 10 CENTI

$39.00 PER ANNUM

$7.95 each

Whiteaway's

SITUATION IMPROVED

GERMANS FALL BACK RAPIDLY AS DRIVE ON PARIS FAILS AISNE AND OISE CLEARED: FRENCH WEDGE AT LE CATEAU THREATENS NAZI FLANKS

By MILES HANDLER (UNITED PRESS STAFF CORRESPONDENT).

PARIS, MAY 21 (UP).—THE GERMANS ARE FALLING BACK RAPIDLY IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR AND THE DRIVE ON PARIS, WHICH AT ONE STAGE BROUGHT THE INVADERS TO WITHIN 75 MILES OF THE CAPITAL, HAS APPARENTLY BEEN ABANDONED.

This is the chief news from Franco to-night.

It has been summarised in the dry, official communiques by four words issued over the signature of General Weygand, the new Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies.

The communique stated simply: "The situation has improved."

What this improvement in the situation means to Hitler's hopes of a Blitzkrieg conquest of France may be indicated by events during the| GERMAN HOPES CRUSHED past twelve hours in the Rethel sector.

The Germans have been everywhere thrown back across the Aisne River, both banks of which are now held by the French forces.

Rethel is again in Allied hands.

All hopes of German successes in the Montmedy and Longwy sectors near the Luxembourg frontier, where the invaders attempted to flank the true Maginot Line, have been crushed with an overwhelming defeat which has been swiftly followed by such heavy French pressure

On the German left flank, the French have launched that the entire German left wing is now compromised.

a Blitzkrieg of their own,

Continuous Raids On Nazi Supply Dumps

STIRRING FEATS BY THE R.A.F.

LONDON, May 20 (Reuter).-The Air Ministry announces that the bomber aircraft of the R.A.F. main- tained pressure on the enemy lines of communication last night.

Oil refineries in north-west Germany have also been successfully attacked.

South of Brussels, operations have been carried out against. railway stations and bridges.

I

The railway bridge at Roux sustained a direct hit.. Damage was done to rolling stock and the permanent way. Troops and tank concentrations were attacked in the Aisne

sector.

Near Sedan a lorry park was set on fire. From all these operations, involving a large number of R.A.F. bombers, only two failed to return despite intenso enemy anti-aircraft fire,

Acrodromo Bombed

The aerodrome al Vernes, north of; Trondheim, was also successfully attacked last night.

BATTLE OF

THE BULGE

|

Béthencourt

Fommerewi

Le Cateau

Aaron

Inchy

avillos

#Bertr

Raumon

Benin

Maurais

StSouplet

St Martin

Escaufour Hausigny Molain

Vaux.

Andiggy- les formes

Landrecies

Catillon

Mazinghier

Andigny

Ors

Oisy

la Groise

Fesmy

Becques

fron

Mulatre

Wassigny

Etreux Bakepvijek

Bohain

Viennevrel

Hannipes

Darengt

Seboncour

Tupigny

Etayes Beautrou

Montigny

fealame ZFontaine- *Notre Dame

Bernat

Grgugia Aisogville, Verly, Lesquiel Vadencopro

Villero

ngellamps

Maliy

Guises

cquigny

(2814)

Miles

0 1 2 3

5

This defeat not only removes any danger of the EARLIER REPORTS Germans-getting-behind-the-Maginot-Line-fortifications- SUMMARY OF SITUATION

but prevents the invaders from using the excellent roads and railways of Luxembourg to bring up their supplies.

~The situation in the eastern sector,~~where theTM Germans are attempting to break through to the Channel ports, may be summarised as follows:

Allied resistance has increased to such an extent that the German mechanised units were able to advance only two or three miles in yesterday's fighting. This is reminiscent of trench fighting in the last war, where every yard gained tools a terrific toll in men and materials.

66

Official

" Drive

May Fail." Nazis

Told

Nazi Losses May Be Staggering PREPARING THE FATHERLAND FOR THE SHOCK

LONDON, May 20 (Reuter).-German official about the statements western offensive show that the Nazis realise the task which the German High Command is facing.

The German public. has been warned that the cam-

SEVERE THRUSTS paign cannot be conducted

ON ALL FRONTS

PARIS, May 20 (Reuter)-A War Ministry spokes. man stated that the battle is raging with maximum intensity east of Cambrai and Landrecies and that fight ing continued all day.

He stated that the enemy did not appear to have made any

considerable progress.

BRITISH,

St. Quentin has apparently reverted to the Allies, but one of the German tank unlls which succeeded in breaking through during the week-end appears to have approached Peronne, which BELGIAN

is only 60 miles from the Channel and which is now the scene of

some fighting. (Peronne is on the north bank of the Somme).

J

Further north, the Allied forces have seriously com- promised the German drive on the Channel by driving a deep wedge in the German lines between Landrecies and Guise.

La Cateau is in Allied hands and the Germans have been pushed back ten miles from the River Oise.

If the Allied can succeed in effecting a juncture with the forces operating further southwards, the entire German 'opera- tion will be cut off and surrounded.

Situation Much Improved

* Confident in its striking force, the Germen Army is pushing forward,

LINES INTACT

Skilful Manoeuvre- Nonplusses Nazis

Between Landrecies and Lafrer on the west side of the Sambre-Oise Canal, German armoured units continued to push west-north-west.

without casualties. They have been told that the casualties will be less than those of the Somme and Marne in the last war.

Ofeial German archieves, put the German losses on the Somme

then at 700,000 dead, wounded and captured. The losses at the Mame were about the same figure.

A spokesman of the German Pro- paganda Ministry said in a broadcast on Sunday night that they must take into account the possibility of an attack from central France against

the south flank.

The German High Command bas The situation remains confused to be prepared for the possibility. with a vasi intermingling of A German communíque also speaks British, French and German tanks, of the possibility of an attack on the but it can be said that on the north flank. whole the Germans continue to push forward.

The situation in this part of the front is described as "serious,"

Two Nazi Raids Fail

Allies Attacking

The Allied troops attacker

have already between Maubeuge and Valenciennes, according to the com- munique.

According to the

German High

The communique would appear ta indicate some activity which is not welcomed by the German High Command.

In the Rethel region, two German LONDON, May 20 (Reuler). efforts to effect a surprise crossing Command this is an attempt by the

completely re-Allied

troops to force thele way out pulsed, only small detachments to the south.

were captured A late French communique, but it is hold up on the marks, ward-The task of the British and of the Alane were issued at midnight (7 a.m. in the centre every inch of ground Belgium troops has been to carry crossing and they

out a strategic withdrawal to during the night. II.K.T.) reports that the altuais being disputed.

to Big infantry and heavy artillery Graphic Description

fire against the bridgehood at tion at Montredy (on the right The position at Peronne, is not acel any German attempt By Eyewitness flank of the Maginot Line) is clear, it is not known whether the take them in the rear from the Montmedy was repulsed with great

enemy losSCE.' much improved. All German town has been fully occupied by spear-head in the south.

whether only - This withdrawal has been LONDON, May 20 (Reuter). attacks have been repulsed and r machine-gunned by relays of Hudson) "Reuter's" special correspon the. Allies are driving into the slight advanco guard has reached it-Icarried out with skill by both capture of a small blockhouse on one

dent with the B.E.F. writes: German left flank. Tons of

Maginot Line Attack Repulsed the Allied forces.

The British have got back "Along the leafy lanes of high explosive are being poured

pressure la also! Heavy German France across carefully cultivat-on to the German tank columns, being brought against the fortifed ovithout having to abandon any All day long our fighter aircraft ed countryside, the baitle of the

region of Montmedy. This sallent, material. have been called upon to

The definite improvement in the which controls the

passage of the At no time did the Germans make engage bulge still rages. with the superior forces of

situation from the Allied point of Mause east of Sedan, hampera Gera dent in their positions, the "German heavy columns, led view is further indicated by to-night's man moveinents considerably...

It is true that the British have not chemy, to drive off formations of

A large number at enemy aircraft there were repeatedly bombed and

aircraft.

Much damage is belleved to have been done and

fires seven started.

were

The only German success is the of the most advanced positions be fore the Maginot Line.

Summing up the spokesman rald: "It can be said that all actions car- ried out by the enemy failed despite powerful artillery support and suc-

Infantry attacks.

there is nothing to

cosm Montmedy to the Rhine and along the

bombers which continually harass by tanks and shepherded by a German High Command communique.

which worn that the German "must A new attack against the Maginot had to face the torrille muss attacks the Allied troops and to attack their vast fan of bomber formations take into account now the possibility Line at this point was 'repulsed; as which the French have encountered report, while in northern Belgium

Aghter escorts,

Jike a flock of birds, aro.striking of a heavy-French attack against the were those launched In the same re- After almost every engagement they

glons yesterday, with very heavy return after having Inflicted heavy westward in a tremendous effort southern and northern flanks. lasses on the enemy. Then they im-to enlarge the breach In the

Germany has also been warned that losses to the enemy. casualties have been heavy and the Along the rest of the line, to the mediately take off again to renew original Allied lino. the struggle.

Gorman losses. on land alone have report. already exceeded one million men,

"Shock" Troops Stem Advanco

Ono Against Four

:

Doods Of Haroism

"In their path deeds of heroism of Thus, in patrols over France and a high order are an hourly occur. Belgium yesterday, one squadron rence.

"Form

communiquo Indirectly hints that the Swiss frontier, there is nothing to fight been Bghting all the

the Allies continue strategic move- further south.

ments without serious enemy Inter- Fighting All The Time

ference. However it would be wrong to

Thrust Still Strong imagine that they have not had to

PARIS, May 20 Router)-To- They have

night's official communique states that time and have had to stand up to the German thrust is still very strong intense bombing.

Our losses are not on a large scale in the region north and west of St.

Quentin. and it is believed that, with reason-

New enemy attacks have been re- pulsed in the Monummedy region, peit "heavy

There is nothing of Importance on bombings

the rest of the front.

Nazi Gen. To Rule

Occupied Belgium on due to much

of Hurricanes sighted over 100 "British armoured vehicles from the

he increasing violence of their on enemy alrersti. In a series of com the north and French from the south slaughts, the German westward push bats they disposed of 11. claht of charge into the invaders flanks, while made comparatively Ittle headway LONDON May 20 (Heuter). It is

Every time the Germans have which were enemy fighters. French formations challenge them in to-day.

we learned that General voir Brauchitchattacked they have suffered losseE. One young pilot, who took on front.

Magnificant Belgians After extremely heavy fighting be- has appointed General von Falken- four Heinket 111's one ofter the

corts, motor-cars and tween Allled and German armoured lausen to be the Military Commander The Belgian troops, too, have been other, destroyed three of them. forries turned on their aldes, free units north and west of St. Quentin, of Belgium and Holland.

trunks, railway trucks and any other German territorial gains at the close The occupied

these Bghting magnificently. There are no breaks in their lines. Liege and are still holding out. ›up-to-row-confirm that 80-enemyerder the roug

|-cvietiibration/Mazzamy d WITH INDIG WHICH Murried the early aircraft were destroyed by R.A.F. #Anil-tank runs are rushed into

were heavily: damaged,

specding to the battle sone: troops Victories against such odds are not have rusted to fill the mos. -All the

PLEASE Turn To Fago 7. PLEASE: Turn To' Page:7:

areas

There was grent activity of our aviation in the course of the day. Numerous reconnaissances prepared an engagement of bombing formations on armoured enemy units.

Heavy bombing was carried out on the column, retarding their pro-

Only 8 Woska" Training LONDON, May, 20 (Héuter)-*In .. troops now being brought up are his office as Nazi Gauleiter of "the The Germants depend largely on our Infantry column at the Western

PLEASE Tum-To-Fagi.

Reports which have been received: kind of obstaclo were used to barri- | of the day, werd very small compared countries will be under millory od-Namur 19 ans ute of thißderabic Frost itsYSSISTALINIMortars on theenim.

aircraft yesterday and many others pollion: nahthir - vekleles are send stages of the attack.AN

· Holland, will be under the command

It is becoming more and more of General von Falkenhausen until importance because they command the mais railway to the present apparent that the_Allled "shook" Dr.' Arthur. 'Beyss-Inquart taken over German Front

“stemming the Clerman onrush.--- occupied-arOGS.

Ithaka Talways for their supplies.

1

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