BATTLE RAGES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 167, 31 May 1940, Page 5

BATTLE RAGES

BRITISH TRCOPS FIGHT ON ACTIVITY OF THE NAVY A Ministry of Information communique issued at 7.30 a.mi to-day states that in view of increasing pressure the Britishi Expeditionary Force in Belgium has been forced to retire to the coast, where a fierce battle is raging. The evacuation of the troops is being screened by the) Royal Air Force and the Navy. « 9 » C Over 70 German aeroplanes were destroyed on this front yesterday. Allied troops are con; ducting operations south of the Somme. * a mm The Royal Air Force is concentrating on relieving the pres sure on the British Expeditionary Force in Belgium. In the Sedan area, medium bombers successfully attacked enemy aerodromes. In these operations, eleven enemy planes were shot down. 9 * * * An Admiralty communique Issued this morning states that the Royal Navy is giving all pos sible suppo.rt to the land forces on the Belgian coast and is inflicting heavy damage and cas ualties in the face of fierce opposition, chiefly from the airDuring these operations the destroyers Grafton, Grenade and Wakeful have been lost and one small transport of 600 tons de-< stroyed. The communique concludes: Operations are proceeding. • ® « » The Germans are making! every effort to destroy Dunkirk from the air and to prevent th& evacuation of troops. The town is still in Allied hands. Narvik has been captured British, Polish and Norwegian troops and the enemy is reported to be destroying communications in the retirement.