NAZI TECHNIQUE

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

NAZI TECHNIQUE

AERODROMES SUFFER. GALLANT DEFENCE. BELGO-DUTCH SPIRIT. (United Press Association—l3y Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received May 11, 8. a.m. LONDON, May 10. Tlie Ereucli military spokesman, in a statement, said the German attack against Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg was made along all three frontiers. There was nothing on the Erench frontier except lively patrol encounters on,a ten-mile front. The Germans attacked Belgium, Hollaiul and Luxembourg in the customary manner, , concentrating against the aerodromes to prevent opposing aircraft taking off.

The United States Ambassador in Belgium (Mr Cudahy) reported to V ashington that Luxembourg was invaded by land and air. He said that the , German attack was apparently general on the borders of Belgium. Holland and Luxembourg, and he added that ’planes were continuously bombing Brussels airport as he telephoned.

The Belgian Foreign Office announces: “The Germans invaded Belgium by air at about 5 a.m., attacking Brussels airport with bombs. All soldiers have been ordered to rejoin their units' immediately. The Prime Minister (M. Pierlot) and other members of Cabinet have gone to,see the King.” King Leopold has assumed supreme command of the. Belgian forces.

A Brussels message says it is estimated that a hundred German ’planes flew over the city this morning. The Brussels radio states, that there is fighting between the Belgian and German troops at Aaachen. The Defence Ministry says: One of our pilots brought down a Alesserschmitt 109, and another brought down two German ’planes. Anti-aircraft guns shot down four or five Messersclimitts and a Heinkel 101. INVASION OP HOLLAND. The Netherlands Army headquarters announced: “German troops crossed the frontier at 3 a.m. Germans attempted aerial attacks on several Dutch aerodromes, but the army and anti-aircraft guns . were ready for them.” The announcement adds: “The inundations are effective according to the plans, while our anti-aircraft guns, as far as is known,- have brought down six German ’planes. We will never enter into negotiations with the enemy. Our army is taking up defensive positions behind the flood system.”

The Netherlands Government Press Agency announced that Holland is at war with Germany. A member of the Government in a statement said: “Holland will not submit to such treatment, and she will accept the challenge.” The Netherlands Legation in London has issued the statement: “We are now allies of Britain and France.” A later report states that the legation announced: “Our appeal to Britain and France has been answered. Thej- are coming to our assistance immediately.” The momentous news that the first German troops had reached the Dutch coast came from Rotterdam direct. “German troops occupied tlie Waalhaven airport here after completely destroying the aerodrome hangars with a heavy bombardment. Enemy troops, despite an’ intense anti-aircraft fire, were landed by parachutes from large transport ’planes and overcame the Dutch soldiers.” DUTCH DEFENCES. The Dutch High Command first communique said: “Our troops have performed their tasks according to plan and have destroyed all bridges over the Rivers Maas and Yssel. Only in one section, namely, east of Arnheim, have the Germans penetrated about ten miles into Dutch territory and reached Yssel. It is authoritatively stated that about 200 German parachute troops, wearing British uniforms, landed at The Hague airport. Others wearing Dutch uniforms landed at Dordrecht, also in the Dutch Frisian Islands.” At Rotterdam the Dutch have set fire to the sector of the city held by the Germans and are now closing in on it. STRONG RESISTANCE. The Dutch Army’s second communique states that the Dutch troops are offering strong resistance on the Yssel and Maas Rivers, and are maintaining their positions at. Delfzijl. Four German armoured trains were successfully attacked, and one was blown up. Troop transports landed on the Maas River and troops armed with machineguns came ashore in rubber boats and disarmed the Dutch soldiers guarding a bridge. They took the railway station and shot dead a police inspector and killed and wounded other police attempting to resist. The Dutch, however, are completely .in control of the right bank of the river, and all drawbridges have been opened to prevent the Germans from crossing. Barricades have l>een erected in the streets and the Germans are using abandoned tranicars as shelters. “We shall resist the Germans to our last drop of blood,” declared a Dutch radio . station, summoning Dutch Territorials. An Amsterdam report says the Government is taking extraordinary measures to deal with Nazi subversive elements. Three Nazi printing houses have been'razed to the ground. A London Air Ministry report states that Royal Air Force machines have undertaken offensive operations against the aerodromes occupied by the. enemy in Holland.