LATEST WAR NEWS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 161, 17 May 1940, Page 5

LATEST WAR NEWS

GERMAN ADVANCE HALTED APPREHENSION IN JJ.S.A/ OPEN WARFARE IN BELGIUM This morning's news indicates that the German advance through Belgium has been strccess-f fully stemmed. The French Ministry reports that the attack by the armed column, which yester day was regarded as serious, has been overcome and' W'i'tli the counter attack? there is a marked improvement in the situation. A warm tribute is paid to the magnificent work , of the Royal Air Force, which surpassed everything expected' of it*. C 8' « * The German attack between Namur and Sedan has now settled down to a state of open warfare, where the invaders are attacking in massed formations regardless of losses. One area' iir front of Liege has been describe ed as a vast field of tanks. ■S£. The Air Ministry announced the biggest air raid of the war by the R.A.F., when road' antT rail communications east of the Rhine were destroyed. m a * » Belgian troops are gallantly resisting the Germans on their second lines of defence. Their position is becoming stronger, •with each new aririvafl of units of the 8.E.F., which according to Belgian observers'are; • magnificently equipped, and in splendid spirit. as m c * A German reconnaisance plane was shot down by French fighters 1J miles from Paris, Jast evening. * * * In the French Chamber of Deputies yesterday, the Prime Minister said that Germany had decided to stake her all on a forward thrust through Belgium whereby she could then devastate France, dominate Europe and make herself the most powerful nation in the world. * 9 9 * President Roosevelt in approaching the congress for ai further 1182 million dollars for defence said yesterday, that fresh and shocking developments' compelled every neutral to look to their defences. The work of 'fifth column' traitors in even remote countries showed the manner in which modern warfare was planned and carried out. He would like to see the U.S.A. turning out 50,000 -aeroplanes a year. Nothing is knftwn of the contents, or the result of President Roosevelt's message toMussolini. m • w » In other neutral States there is the gravest apprehension, as. to what the developments will be from day to day. Switzerland has organised, apart from her fighting forces a special defence force composed of women and elder men. Greek troops- are exercising in conjunction with their air force. Italian interests in Egypt are being liquidated prior to the departure of Italians for Italy. ■ n *« * The German wireless broadcasting to the Dutch people stat ed that the Government and the King and Queen of England, together with the French Gov-* ernment are preparing to leave for Canada, owing to the fear of German invasion. * m tk * Dutch people in the German occupied areas are already forced to accept German treasury notes as legal tender. With this they are permitted to purchase supplies sufficient for only one day's requirements.