ROYAL NAVY’S GREAT WORK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 140, 14 May 1940, Page 7

ROYAL NAVY’S GREAT WORK

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph..-Copyright..) Received May 14, 9.55 a.m. • LONDON, May 13. A correspondent with the British Expeditionary Force states: “Our advance forces are now in touch with the Germans. A big and important engagement may be started in the next few days if events turn out as seems inevitable. No doubt the British Expeditionary Force will have, to meet a formidable thrust.” The vital defences of Holland are so far not endangered, with the Dutch troops resisting on the positions to which they have been assigned. . The Belgian High Command states that the Belgian troops everywhere have maintained their positions. Strong enemy motorised units again attacked the Belgian positions to-day. The Belgians are closely collaborating with the British and French troops. 1 The British Admiralty has announced that despite repeated bombing attacks, strong naval forces have been operating continuously off the coast of Belgium and Holland since May 10. The Allied land . operations have been supported and enemy troops landing from the air on aerodromes and beaches have been bombarded. Refugees have been evacuated and brought to England.

FRENCH TO RESCUE. .From Amsterdam it is. officially stated that French motorised units, have intercepted and stopped the advancing Germans at Tongres. Parachuters everywhere are lieing rounded up by the police, who shot down point blank one parachuter who -'came down'in Amsterdam. Two others captured on a lorry shot two policemen before being shot. The invaders are frequently aided by members of the “fifth column.’’ Searches are being 1 carried out in many houses. The Supreme Command lias imposed curfew from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily over practically the whole of Holland oxoept Rotterdam. Twenty German bombs fell southwest of Amsterdam at 7 a.m. The German News Agency claims that strong motorised troops have effected a land junction with the troops landed round Rotterdam and that the Dutch fortification line has been outflanked. LIEGE HOLDS OUT. Paris military sources state that all the Liege (Belgium) forts are holding out, except one. The Berlin High* Command, on the contrary, claims that German troops have entered the town of Liege and that the swastika is flying over the citadel. Some other forts are still ' holding out. The German , News Agency asserts that fifty Allied ’planes were brought dwown during ’ the morning. The \ German High Command said ten French prisoners will be shot for every German parachute troop shot. The streets round Brussels are lull of country carts, with children, women, and elderly persons sitting on top of their hastily" collected belongings. It is understood the United States Embassy will not, under any circumstances, leave Brussels.