1940-05-25 — Page 22

MASS INFANTRY SLASHES AT

NARROW NAZI BOTTLE-NECK AS —–

Battle

Saturday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

May 25, 1940.

Empire

His Majesty's Stirring Broadcast To The of "ISSUE OF LIFE & DEATH

the 'bulge' FOR US ALL-THE KING

intensifies

By MILES HANDLER

(UNITED PRESS STAFF CORRESPONDENTİ PARIS, May 24, (8 p.m.).—A high military source here has denied the German claim to the capture of Calais and Boulogne.

:

He said the situation at Calais is favourable and that the Germans have not entered the city.

The Allied forces inside Boulogne are still

LONDON, MAY. 24: (REUTER). -HIS MAJESTY, THE KING BROAD- | CAST AN EMPIRE DAY MESSAGE TO THE NATION TO NIGHT.

““A YEAR AGO,” HE SAID, ́“I SPOKE TO THE PEOPLES OF THE EMPIRE FROM WINNIPEG IN THE HEART OF CANADA. "WE WERE AT PEACE”

"We were at peace.

"On that Empire Day, I spoke of the ideals of freedom, justice and peace upon

which our Commonwealth of free peoples is founded.

"Clouds were gathering, but I held fast to the hope that those ideals might yet achieve a fuller and richer development without suffering the grievous onslaught of

holding out and the combats are still limited to HITLER

the outskirts.

To-night's official French communique said the French have launched a successful, counter-attack south of Sedan.

25-MILE BOTTLENECK

Massed French-infantry-slashed at both sides of the 25-mile bottleneck north of the Somme, through which the German troops aro pouring towards the Channol,

The battle rages hottest at Amiens and along the Scheldt River on the north side where the French claimed to "have begun their advance.”

IF THE BOTTLE-NECK IS CLOSED THE GERMAN ADVANCE TROOPS IN BOULOGNE AND CALAIS WILL BE ANNIHILATED, THE COMMUNIQUE CLAIMS.

P A military source said very heavy fighting continued all day in the Valenciennes and Cambrai sector, where strong attacks and bitter counter-attacks alternated. NAZIS ISOLATED

NEW YORK, May 24 (Reuter).-Five thousand German troops belonging to mechanised units are reported to be isolated in Amiens, according to a broadcast by the National Broadcasting Company's Paris represen-

tative.

This representative added that

WHY THEY WILL LOSE

Allied forces are busily mopp- S. African Premier Oning up these isolated Germans,

other Nazi mechanised forces Fuel

aro "stalled" owing to lack-of-

Psychological Defects

STAKES ALL

Win Or Lose War

In One Battle

BERNE, May 24 (Reuter). German official circles openly admit that the Reich is now playing all its trump cards on the Western Front, according to neutral correspondents in Berlin.

It is stated that the Germans. realise that the result of the War will probably depend on the issue of the present operations. Consequently, they are throwing into the battle all their reserves of mechanised material.

war.

"But it was not to be.

i

Hell Is Let Loose From The Air

R.A.F. CARRY

MERCILESS

OUT RAIDS

SPECIAL TO... THE... “TELEGRAPH" LONDON, May 24 (UP).—The Royal Air Force continued their unrelenting attacks against German columns on the Western Front to-day,

Nazi concentrations in the Arras and Boulogne "The evil which we strove unceasingly and with all districts were mercilessly bombed, says an Air Ministry honesty of purpose to avert, fell upon us. OUR_CONSCIENCE_IS_CLEAR

"In this our conscience is clear.

"For there is now revealed without possibility of mistake a long planned scheme to subjugate by force the nations of the world against which all our efforts for peace were doomed to break.

"A decisive struggle is now upon us. PLAIN SPEAKING

"I am going to speak plainly to you in this hour of trial.

"I know you would not have me do otherwise. "Let no one be mistaken: it is no mere territorial conquest our enemies are seeking. ...

"It is the overthrow, complete and final, of this Operations in northern France and Empire and of everything for which it stands, and after Belgium are belleved to comprise the that the conquest of the world.

Brat part of Hitler's plan.

The German troops, however, are meeting a resistance with which they

do not appear to have reckoned.

The second phase of the plan would be a direct attack against Britain,

H.K. TRADE

BOOM CONTINUES

total

in

"And if their will prevails they will bring to its accomplishment all the hatred· and cruelty which they already display.

LIFE OR DEATH ISSUE

"It is not easy for us as to believe that designs so evil could find a place in the human mind.

"But the time-for-doubt-is-long-past.

"To all of us in this Empire, to all men with vision and goodwill throughout the world, the issue is now plain.

ONLY GOAL

communique.

Last night RA E'units made strong sortles on the enemy's- lines of communication in north east France, southern Belgium and the Rhineland. V

Hits were registered on the railway junctions at La Chapelle, Beaumont and Gambloux. Rolling stock and trans- port columns were set.afire, and many explosions occurred.

Other — bombers attacked- Charleroi where they scored direct hits..

ITALIAN SITUATION' '

OMINOUS ORDERS

80 Nazi Planes Down

No less than 80 Nazi planes were brought down or seriously. damaged in the numerous raids with the R.A.F. carried out dur- ing to-day.

Italian Shipping To Ten British planes are reported to

· Remain In Port

SPECIAL TO THE “TELEGRAPH"

Diplomatic circles in London are

LONDON, May 24 (UP) taking an increasingly serious view regarding the possibility of Italy entering the war.

be missing,

Eleven fighting British plates over thio French coast this nflemoon brought down eleven Messerschmidta and seriously damaged three more. Repoated Bombing Attacks stated the Al Ministry communique. LONDON, May 24 (Reuter)The Air Miniatry announces that intense air activity on an increased scale continued yesterday, last night and to-day over the fighting fronts in France and Belgium. to

Repeated day bombing attacks were in made by R.A.F. borbers on enemy columnis in the neighbourhood of Arras and Boulogne.

The despatch of Sir Samuel Houre as Ambassador to Madrid is believed to be designed chock any similar trend Spain.

·

Private advices received in Now York state that Mr. Winston Chur- Strong sorties were made during the chill, the Prime Minister has ex night on the enemy's lines of corn- changed messages with Signor munication in north-east France. Mussolini in an attempt to clarify Among the targets hit by the heavy bombers were military objectives at Italy's attitude.

Baval and A-message-from-Romo-states-that

Area were Hirson, where luxury the Italian Line confirms that the started.

Hits

were also obtained on the Iner Rex, which Was scheduled to leave for New York on railway junction at La Chapelle,

At Givet, on the Meuse, a mar- May 29, has postponed the date of

shalling yard and a large column of departure until June 12, The Conte Savola, which

transport were severely damaged.

ист

wns

June 12, bas postponed the date of departure until June 23.

Anitely.

Whe

other

The Colony's trade coniinues to Extremely Intense Fighting

boom. LONDON, May 24 (Router)-^ Official Agures released this morn-

The rallway junction at Beaumont French military spokesman indicated Ingshow that during_April_the "It is an issue of life or VICTORY IS THE scheduled to leave for New York on

of imports

was hit and the rolling stock.net.on. and death for us all. JOHANNESBURG, May 24 this afternoon that the heaviest fight-combined values

fire. "Defeat will not mean some (Router).-General Jan Smuts, ing was taking place in the west exports of merchandise tolniled $131,-

The junction at Gembloux wea also The sailing of the Augustus for and around Arras Cambral and 200,000 (£8,100,000) was compared the South African Premier, Valenciennes.

with $100,000,000

New York has been postponed inde-successfully attacked and an explosion (£0,500,000) brief eclipse from which we shall

LONDON, May 24 (Reuter).-In a

seen among the convoy of for- speaking at a civic banquet in

emerge with strength renewed personal message to the men regis- There, he said, the fighting was Aprii, 1939.

ries nearby, The Neptunia, which was schedul- honour of his 70th birthday, extremely intense. For the real there Thus, in terms of local currency the it will mean the destruction of tering for service to-morrow, Mr.ed to leave for Central American

After the bombing at Charleroi, an- ullered

was little change, a warning that the.

visible trade, of the Colony in-

explosion occurred. Official communique issued to-day creased by 23.1 per cent, during April our world as we have known it Ernest Bevin, Minister of Labour, ports on May 24, will not now leave

Heavy bombers attacked the enemy Government would deal with

announced that the French hadi of this year as compared with a year and a descent into darkness upon says, "In this grave hour when our until June 21.

very existence, the future of our Italy Celebrates An Anniversary ne, Coblenz and elsewhere...

communications at Emmerich, Colog- "Fifth Columnists".

reached the outskirts of Amiens, that ago. In terms of sterling the in its ruins. there had been increased pressure on crease was 24.6 per cent.

nation, your homes and loved ones ROME, May 24 (Reuter)-Italy's Six Fall To Return "I speak to you to-day with are at stake, the call comes to you to celebrations of the anniversary of her Imports of

merchandise

From these widespread .operations your gallant comrades and with them off soberly.

were no boisterous demon-cular victories against the enemy,

The fighters continue to win specta- to play a decisive part in the greatest

and ourstrations in the streets of the cities. the ovi struggle in our history

It might have been called rather shot down or seriously damaged at From reports received they have There is but one goal before us "anti-Ally Day" than "pro-German Icast 80 enemy aircraft since yester- victory. To this mighty task in far-Day."

day morning? All the newspapers avoided re- tuno or adveralty we will dedicate

Ten Aghters are missing but some

General Smuts also referred

| the line at the Somme and that the

during

!

to South Africa's fine response enemy attacks at Sedan had continued last April amounted to $72,100,000 new visions of this Empire be- take your stand side by side with entrance into the Great Wer passed six aircraft failed to return. 4,

to the call for volunteers.

He declared that the world would

be much poorer at the end of the War and there probably would impoverishment be unprecedented after the most colossal destruction in history.

Psychological Defects

The Germans lost the last war despite their matchless mallilary machine because of psychological defects which remain unchanged and which will once more defeat Ger-:] many.

without appreciable progress despite (£4,500,000) as compared with $67,- fore my eyes. the means employed to stop it.

municating with their headquarters.

General Position

000)

comparison with

is its Zuli significance

In general, however, the position is total volume of imports were valued aspiration Nazi fanaticism may call for a that some German units have got to at $270,400,000 £ 18,700,000)

will spare no effort to supply and back you. in every possible way."

Tha

the enemy by stating that Italy went pilots

At least 500 aircraft have been lost

24

by the enemy In France and Belgium

since

ABBEVILLE CARNAGE

000,000 (£3,500,000) in 1930; while That it has come into conflet and It was learned here to-day that exports totalled $50,000,000 (£3,600,- sharp Boulogne was in German hands.

which (£3,000,000) a General Weygand is anxious not to 3.000 compared with $49,000,000 system

destruction a year ago. help the enemy by giving them any The increase in merchandise im- appears in a brighter and more Information which might be useful.

ports was 20.3 per cent. In terms of certain light.. Hence it will not always be possible the Hongkong dollar and of 28.6 per There in word which our enemies ourselves wicensingly. We at Home calling that to-day's ally was then tots may yet: return. to announce what towns have been sent, in terms of sterling..

used against us Imperialism. taken or retaken as there is reason Exports during last month increas- "By that they mean a spirit of

to war with the Hapsburg Empire.

The "betrayal" by her former to believe that the advance German ef by 10 cent, and 20 per cent. domination, and lust for conquest, units mby

Alles is the note of the leading during the last week, making the 'not hava. of COM

*** Cast The Word Back respecRemarkable Figures respectively.

We are free peoples of the Empire. stream are bringing to the struggle hour of reckoning has struck for the

articles which all proclaim that the total over 1,500 enemy aircraft lost the invasion of the Low Ron

on land and sea and in the air.

Countries. The first four months of 1040 pro- Cast that word back in their teeth.

"plutocracies in their dotage." who have these ovli"At this moment our thoughts turn "It is they wh vide remarkable trade figures. The

to our fighting men and to those who

Concessions love them,

SPECIAL TO THE as "Our one object has always been

ROME,

May!

(Domel)-High no icss fierce and determined the north coast of France. They compared with

ith $182,000,000 (£11, peace: pence in which our Institutions hearts at home, wives and sweet-

"Beside them stand the soldiers of Fascist party members to-day in- fanaticism on the other alde, and to penetrated through the narrow gap 200,000) in the corresponding period may be developed: the condition of

peoples improved and the our old ally, France, and with themtimated that the Allies had recently the moral factor will be added the between Arras and the Somme. of 1939. Exports for this year's first our religious factor.

Their units are busy destroying four months

land, people upon whose peaceful order to prevent Italion entry into the (£13,000,000) as compared with spirit of goodwill." 1179,100,000 (4.10,500,000), tione.

"This is the peace which they have lands has fallen all the horror of War na allies of Germany, but that II

Wholesale Slaughter As a result, imports for that period taken from us and they are seeking treacherous and unprovoked aggres-Duce had rejected the offers as It is thought probable that the

unsatisfactory, and on the ground that- German High Command is not fully increased by 48.1 per cent in terms at to destroy all that we have striven to sion.

A Day Of Prayer

By Nazi Bombe

Naxi Bombers maintain,

they had come too late. informed about the movements of local currency and by 49.1 per cent.

According to these sources; the "At this fateful hour we turn as our concessions are to terms of these troops.

"Against our honesty is dishonour, sterling. Exports In-

faithfulness

soil fathers: before us have turned in all Franco

the effect that

LONDON, May 24 (Reiter).. Any information released by the creased by 24.2 per cent, and 23.8 against our

trenchery, agalost our Justico, la bruto unfere in the Old country I Have intre boutely, in Asle and 1 advance turned northward to. will admit the special-Abbeville, where the German Allies. about them might enable the per cent, respectively.

"Here make Djibouti a free port to facili-wards the Channel ports, was Germans to reinforce these advance Since April, 1030, monthly values There, in clear and unmistakeable asked that next Bunday should guards with parachute troops.

of Imports of... merchandise, Into

botate Italian shipping. This decision may still apply even longkong fluctuated from a low opposition, lle the forces that now observed as a day of national prayer. Great Britain; they stated, had bombed to pieces by the Gorman where the German High Command value of $39,000,000 in September confront one another,

The uprising of peoples through laya claim to have taken a certain last year to a high of $75,700,000 in out the Empire shows without doubt place.

March this year. Exports values To-day a German communique with fluctuated from a low of $39,800,000 which will prevail. Its deanty amount of Information in November of 1939 to a high of scema to be confirmation of the Wiseness of this decision for secrecy.

Position Defined.

South Africa will be in the strug- telephone lines and other communica➡000 mounted to $211,200,- problems of Government solved in a Poland, Norway, Belgium and Hal-made some concessions to Italy in

glo to the full and to the end, sald General Smuts.

Trade Talks With Soviet

New Possibility Envisaged

LONDON, May 24 (Router)——Tho statement in the House of Commons yesterday by Mr. R. A. Butler, the

Up to late on Thursday night the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, that the Government is taking Im-position could be defined with more mediate steps to improve relations or less certainty, as follows:

101,000,000 in January of this year.

EVACUATION OF GIBRALTAR

connection" with.

1.

"It may be possible for many of withdrawn the Allied blockado in the aft force before their troops our brethren across the seas to join Mediterranean and was ready to seized the town, according to a their prayers with ours.

Let us with one heart

supply necessary raw materiais to and soul

Italy. humbly but confdently commit our cause_to.God and ask His old that we may valiantly defend bio right, their as it is given to us to see it.

"So now to the peoples of the Em- pire, men and women in all

quarters

They bave risen in fast wrath against the things which they delest and despise."

"Nothing can slake

resolution.

Confidanco' Undimmed

Red Cross man who has just | left, northern France.

"The last line I saw IL, I WAI GRO vant desolation of mouldering, ruins, REVOLUTIONARY with the anttered streets, drewn with dead add dying, wonien and LEGISLATION

The Germans bombed it appar BE A GOMES Aently without thought of military objectives, dropping high explosive LONDON, May 24 (UP)The incendiary bombs Government assumes dictatorial con- darts which shoot about like jumping and incendiary

will defend their 'Ilves' and all that your task, whatever it may be, miRPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

ליין 4.

"In perfect unity of purpose they of the globe, I say to you: put into with the Soviet Union seems to from the North Sea down the River

Allied troops are holding a line. GIBRALTAR, May 24: (Reuter)—— makes life, worth living.

the

courage and purpose of which Indicate, says. "Reuler's' -diplomatie

Gibraltar's "Let no one think that my con you are capablo. Keep your hearts correspondent, that the latest Soviet Scheldt Into France, down to Valen- evacuation plans, it has been made Odence is dimmed when: 1. tell you proud and your resolve unshaken. communication, is regarded as open olennes and from thence south of clear that there is no intention at how perilous is the ordeal which we one man, with a smile on our lips thus temporarily setting aside the

"Let us go forward to that task astrol of British Industry to-morrow, crackers." ing the door toward the posatullity that the Germans had broken throttala present of making it compulsory for ure facing.

· of trade talks. ......

the gap between the French and anyone to leave except women with "On the contrary it shines in my and our heads held high, and with British armies,

young familles.

heart as brightly as it shines in yours. God's help we shall not fall The first batch of this category "But confidence alono la not

America Listens-Intr allod for: French Morocco

on enough

WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuter), Tuesday,

"It must be armed with courageAmerican radio stations this even- and resolution, with endurance and Ing cleared the air of programmes in LONDON, May: 24: (Heater).-M. self-sacrifice.

order to broadcast His Majesty There is as yet no confrmation, of van tangother love hocesare the high qualities that KingEmpire: Day massage Britain than any mathee mines tested more the brings the potential invaders nearer that the measures taken to clear the New Yorks report that German in London, called at the Foreign the men of the Homeland and theThe speech was very clearly heard Napoleon massed on PLEASE Turn To Page 4. Office to-night.

·men from overseas in an unending throughout the United States, kad ahores In 1805,

The correspondent says that in these circumstances there-de-- reason

Rome mechanted” oplumni

had

to believe that subject to the agrco advanced as far as the coast, ment of the Soviet Government, the South of the gap the French were init British Government may send Birmly holding the Somme as the Stafford Cripps to Moscow on an oriskirts of Amiana, ZUINKA AN - gestown house-mieign in nacrtiain:wink: Discs are avaliable for trade negoli Cations. DONT 412

end

cardinal principle of democracy, which has existed for centuries,

The purpose 11 to concentrate every ounce of manpower towards winning the war.

Mines Cleared-

CAPE TOWN, May 24 (Reuter) — The German capture of Boulogne The Defence, authorities announce

the French successful and that go damage was

done, to a single ship.