MAIN ENCOUNTER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 141, 15 May 1940, Page 7

MAIN ENCOUNTER

not yet commenced. BELGIANS’ BRAVE STAND. (British Official Wireless.) Received May 15, G- 29 ain - RUGBY, May 14. The present phase of the struggle in Belgium is recognised in J covering action, the blunt , ;. n b e i„„ borne bv the heroic Belgian Army pending the'main cimduntei between the German .and Allied Loops, which cannot he said to have j g The Germans were able Tot choose Uu-'ir own moment lor t 'c aUac M < Belgian neutrality precluded any aci

vance contact between the Allied and Belgian High Commands. The full weight of the Allied support in terms especially of mechanised troops could not he brought to bear on the early phase of the opeiations. It will, however, thanks to the determined’delaying tactics,of the Belgians, be available in the critical stage ot the battle now developing. The creation in Britain of a force to be known as the “Local Defence Volunteers” was announced to-night bv the War Office. Open to British subjects between the ages of 17 .and bo and accustomed to the use of firearms, the Home Defence Forces will be supplemented. from a source hitherto untapped, and the service will be. voluntary and unpaid, , . It is pointed out that the need is greatest in the small towns’ and villages,' and sparsely populated areas.