BOMBERS RAID BRUSSELS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 138, 11 May 1940, Page 7

BOMBERS RAID BRUSSELS

ALLIED TROOPS IN BELGIUM TERRIFIC BATTLE OVER MONS Deceived May 11, 8.20 a.m. LONDON, May 10. The Australian Associated Press learns that British troops have taken over the British Embassy at Brussels. British troops are seen in the streets. The French Premier (M. Keynaud) has announced by radio that French troops entered -Belgium between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. to-day. The British Foreign Ministry states that the Germans penetrated a few hundred metres into Belgium, where they halted. The Belgians are entrenched behind their demolition lines, namely the first line of destroyed bridges and road barriers. About twenty were killed in the morning’s bombing raids • on Brussels and many buildings were destroyed and set on fire. Numerous German ’planes were again over the city at p.m. A terrific air battle occurred over Mons, several German ’planes being shot down. RAIDS IN HOLLAND. Calmly and resourcefully Holland joined the Allies just before dawnf The events leading up to the appeal to Britain and France for assistance began dramatically at a.m., when heavy anti-aircraft gunfire awakened the res,dent.: oi! Amsterdam Between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. continual salvoes burst around German ’planes flying over the city m groups thiee, five, ten, or more. One tremendous explosion drowned the noise of the antiaircraft guns when Sclnpol aerodrome was blown up. boon after dawn the Dutch radio announced a whole series of landings by German parachute troops,,also the whereabouts of eSfmy bombers, indicating that the Dutch .information system / was working efficiently. A report from The Hague, says the Germans, aiming at the Ho'uses of Parliament, dropped incendiary bombs, which set fire to a nearby building. Hundreds of German planes about 4 a.m. took Rotterdam completely by surpnse. EXEMPLARY CALMNESS. a British Official Wireless report says events in Holland . £ i •I™ h-ive been under constant review- to-day by the Britkh'Staisters and, following two morning Cabinet meetings, a third was held late in the afternoon, K, low ritopuition: preserve exemplary calm. There were no signs of'panic. . ~ nut ward sign of excitement was the 111 Pa Sith ivhffih the latest editions of the newspapers eagerness with ™ c inevitable in the circumstances, there were snatchedyup. A . . reports of the effect of the has been some exagge n l thdt t} ie Belgian Ambassador, bombings. It was at Leopold sought Lord Halifax for t’he British guarantee, to Belgium to be put into, e#e °Lrd Halifax wantonly imposed upon t e - ;. ' i an assured the Ambassador that The Foreign Secretary also taken tQ ren(ler assistance the necessary steps had alreac y to Belgium.