CAVALCADE OF TROOPS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 139, 13 May 1940, Page 8

CAVALCADE OF TROOPS

\ ALLIED AID TO BELGIUM

ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES (United Press Association.'—By EJectric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, May 10. Allied liaison officers arrived at Brussels at noon. The inhabitants cheered when they sighted the Allied flags. A British war correspondent at a French and Belgian frontier post, describing* the.'arrival of the British Army, says tanks, armoured cars, , motor transports, and motor-cycle troops are sweeping* into Belgium in an unending cavalcade.

AIRPORT RECAPTURED. Holland’s Commander - in - Chief (General H. G. Winkelman), in the order ot the day, says: ‘.‘Germany’s surprise attack can be considered a failure.” The appearance of Spitfires’ over The Hague aroused tremendous cheering. The Hague has- not been raided since early this morning.' The Waalhaven airport is reported to be again in Dutch hands. Fierce fighting continues against a batch of Germans at Dortrecht, and another batch’ installed in a factory at Delft has been surrounded. The Schipol Aerodrome (Amsterdam) was not damaged as seriously as was at first believed. Neighbouring villages have been evacuated. A long procession of carts. lorries, and even perambulators, laden with luggage and household treasures, is trailing the roads to Amsterdam. FRANCE IS READY! The French Premier (M. Revnaud). in a broadcast, said: To-day our soldiers of liberty went across the frontier into Belgium. Free men and women throughout the world hold their breaths. Will bestial force conquer? ‘‘To-day Hitler has thrown off his mask. His attack is obviously against France, it is an old account to be settled—an account oftinentioned in ‘Mein Kampf.’ France, calm and strong, has leapt to her feet. This is the hour I We prepare for battle! “There are grave thoughts m all French homes at the hour when youth risks its life, but a common ideal, a common wish, a common determination prevails. France is ready.’ GREAT BRITISH ARMY. MOTORISED FORCES’ HELP. LONDON, Mav 10. A great British Army is still moving into Belgium to-night and, although the exact limit of the advance cannot be stated, it is proceeding according to the plan for co-operation with the French Armies. Eight air raid warnings were sounded to-day, but the Germans mainly attempted to attack airfields because Royal Air Force fighters are providing a sure safeguard for the advancing troops as they roar along Belgium’s cooblcd highways. Not a single man is afoot. The troops reflected their relief from the long period of inaction. Tommies cried “Berlin or bust I” to cheering civilians. ITAZI AIR TRANSPORTS. Members of the It.A.F. this morning saw numerous German air transports flying to The Hague Irom Utrecht. One pilot counted 50 Junkers, each capable of carrying a score of fully-armed soldiers. The air transports landed on a beach a few miles north from The Hague and on roads on the outskirts of Rotterdam. At least 100 of these ’planes were seen in the air and on the ground. The German News Agency, in a special announcement, stated: “Three enemy ’planes have bombed the open town of Freiburg (in South-Western Germany) and killed 24 The German air force will reply in the same way. Henceforth fivefold the number of German ’planes will attack a French or British town for every planned bombing raid on the German population.”' It is learned in London that the German bombing of Brussels was indiscriminate. The latest casualty list gives 92 killed and 61 injured in Brussels and suburbs. A Berlin, message states: “Germany has refused to accept the ‘impudent and stupid’ protests from the Belgian and Dutch Ministers, and has told the Ministers to apply for their passports.” A Belgrade message says the German frontier has been closed at Marihor. Budapest reports that the Germans have closed the Hlingaro-German frontier. From Paris it is stated that the Brenner frontier h.as been closed, it is believed owing to sabotage by Austrian raihvaymen. R.A.F. IN ACTION. Paris officials estimate that there have been at least 1000 German ’planesl over Belgium, Holland, France, and Luxembourg throughout the day. B.E.F. headquarters state that R.A.F. bombers and fighters cooperating with the B.E.F. to-day attn<*k“d German troops on the march. The enemy lost many ’planes during these operations apart from the mach ines shot down in other engagements. It was the 11-A.F.’s first- day of real action and activity ranged from Holland to France. At least 30 German ’planes were shot down by Allied ’planes over France alone. It is estimated that the German raids throughout France during the day caused 40 deaths. Quick and severe punishment- met the German squadrons attempting to bomb aerodromes and other objectives in the zone of the R.A.F. advanced striking force. The main German attack came soon after dawn. It was effectively frustrated by smooth and rapid cooperation between the British and French air forces and the ground deicncGs SEVERE PUNISHMENT.

The German raiding flights crossed the frontier at a great height, coming down low before the actual attack. Everything considered, the results were negligible and there was no serious damage or casualties at any British aerodromes. Most of the bombs were of small size. The enemy everywhere was met by intense anti-aircraft fire and British and French machines engaged the raiders. The series of combats occurred over a wide area between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. The German .’planes generally were more numerous, but the enterprise, and daring of the Allied pilots counterbalanced the odds I' ive Dornier» were shot down earlier in the morning. Four were badly damaged One patrol of Hurricanes later claimed three Dormers The fighting continued throughout the day, resulting in further German losses.