ALLIES SEND AID

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

ALLIES SEND AID

BRITAIN REMAINS CALM PROVISION FOR EVENTUALITY Received May 11, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, May 10. The British public learnt the first news of Hitler’s latest aggression from a 8.8. C. bulletin at 7 a.m. The news spread like wildfire. ' After momentary dismay, Englishmen regained their customary poise, of wkicli the Prime Minister gave the most striking demonstration. Accompanied by his wife, Mr Chamberlain walked in St. James’s Park for 20 minutes and returned to Downing Street before 10 a.m. “His Majesty’s Government and the French Government are taking immediate steps to come to the assistance of Holland and Belgium with all the means at their command,” says an official statement. “At the same time it must be recognsed ■ that Germany has once again gained a military advantage by taking the. initiative in attacking neutral countries. “The Germans.have attempted to justify this act of aggression by alleging that Holland and Belgium have not preserved their neutrality. This allegation of course, is .completely false,” adds the statement. “On the contrary, it is wellknown that both Holland and Belgium deliberately elected to pursue a policy of the strictest neutrality and have consistently declined even to concert with the Allies for military measures for their defence. “Nevertheless, the Allies, -who have taken all possible measures to provide for this eventuality in case of need, are now putting them into effect w T ith the greatest possible, speed.” '.I WAR CABINET MEETS'. The British War Cabinet met at No. 10 Downing 1 Street at 8 a.m. Ail members were present, and also tiie beaus of the three Services. The First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (Admiral Sir Dudley Pound) before entering said, “Well, it lias started at last!” The meeting lasted do minutes. A Paris message states that the War Office announces that a plan for an advance in the event of an enemy invasion of Belgium is being carried out. No mention of Allied troop movements will be allowed. Germany had presented the three States with memoranda declaring that the Allies were intending to attack through those countries. The British Home Office announces that everyone throughout Britain should be on the look-out for parachuting troops. It is officially-stated that arrangements have been made to assist the. evacuation of British subjects from Belgium and Holland. The Belgian and Dutch envoys visited the Foreign Office to-day. , • >. ■ A Government announcement asks British people to forgo their Whitsuntide holidays and remain at work, and to avoid all unnecessary travel. The Ministry for Home Security warns the Civil Defence and A.R.P. services to be on'the alert. The public must carry gasmasks and ascertain the nearest shelters and first-aid posts.. A New York message says Dr. Goebbels, broadcasting, accused Belgium and Holland of “conniving in a plot to start a revolution iff Germany amhmaking hostile utterances against Germany in the Press and by prominent in public life.” A Rome message'states that the Italians first heard the news of the invasion at 8.20. Some officials of the Press Ministry declared they were unaware of the news, but Mffssolini is believed to have been told early in the morning.