MORE ARRESTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 158, 4 June 1940, Page 7

MORE ARRESTS

BRITISH FIFTH COLUMN, EX-CHAMPION BOXER, FORMER 8.8. C. EMPLOYEE. (linited Press Association—-By Electric Telegrapn—Copyright:) Received June 4, 9.45 a.m. LONDON, June 3, The former boxing 1 champion, Joe Beckett, and his wife, have been arrested under the Defence Regulations. Beckett is reported to have been connected with the British Union of. Fascists before the war, but he recently joined the local defence volunteers. Scotland Yard men have arrested 22-year-okl Frank Joyce, brother of William Joyce, who is believed to be “Lord Haw Haw” (the English announcer on the German short-wave station). A number of documents were found in liis house. Joyce was employed on the technical staff of the 8.8. C. till the beginning of the year, j. , ~ Another brother, formerly an Air Ministry clerk, is now interned. Beckett was one of the- famous boxers of the world in the period immediately following the Great War. On December 4, 1919, he fought Georges Carpentier for the .championship of England, the Prince of Wales being preseqt at .the match. Only two blows were struck, Beckett being knocked out a few moments after the fight started. Subsequently Beckett went to the United States, where he had a phenomenal financial boom, BRITISH SPIRIT. - GUARANTEE OF VICTORY. STORY OF BATTLE TOLD. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. June 2. Describing the sequence of events in Flanders in his broadcast to-niglit, the Secretary for War (Mr R. A. Eden) said that, at the call of the Ixingj of the Belgians, the B.E.F. advanced into Belgium and took up a position on the River Dyle. 'The'advance lasted a few days, but through events which they could not control the army had to come hack in less than half that time. “It did so ' with little confusion and few losses,” he said. Mr Eden continued: “So the B.E.F. found itself back on the Schelde with its strength in men .and material almost intact. Meanwhile, the German mechanised columns were pouring through the gap to the south, advancing across our lines of communication, and fighting very deep into our back areas. Desperate efforts were made to stem the tide. Units sent to France to supply some of the much-needed labour behind the lines were thrown into the fight and_ acquitted tlleihselves splendidly. Units were sent to hold the Channel ports in an effort to keep open the communications of the B.E.F. “The story of the battle for Boulogne has already been told. A small Allied force put up a magnificent resistance. In spite of repeated attacks by the enemv and a - continuoifs aerial bombardment, the garrison held 'out for several davs.. A summons to surrender was rejected by the' British' commander. His troops fought on to the end. - “We now know front certain information we have received that .this gallant, defence - drew off powerful German mechanised forces which must otherwise have been free to attack the flank -of the 8.E.F., at that time dangerously ' exposed. RAPID REARRANGEMENT. “While these events were taking place near our shores, the Expeditionary Force was fighting for its life in its retreat on Dunkirk. forces already encircled its western, flank and the collapse of the Belgian army left open a wide gap between its eastern flank and the sea. , “There was no time to be lost. Divisions were moved rapidly to hold the flanks, "and heavy fighting took place while the enemy tried desperately to cut off the Allied armies from the only base that was left to them.. Some troops marched 35 miles in 24 hours. The British brigades on the flanks stood firm despite the enormously extended frontage they had now to defend. At one time the Expeditionary Force of nine divisions was holding a front of 80 miles. They held on arid - they fought back. “On the west, British troops defended the narrowing gap to the sea. Day after day the battle continued and at the end of it they had fought themselves to a- standstill, but they held their ground, and by doing so they enabled the remainder of the Expeditionary Force to get clear. On the east, artillery coming into action against the enemy massing to attack inflicted, such casualties that the attack never developed. " “The stories of individual exploits at this time were legion,” Mr Eden said, and he instanced the case of a gunner who knocked out seven tanks and ' the brave action of an officer, “but the triumph is not the triumph of individuals, however gallant,” he added. “It is the triumph of an army. There is no braver epic in-all our annals. MORE ARMS NEEDED.

“A vital weapon to any army is its spirit. Ours lias been tried and tempered in the furnace. It has not been found wanting. It is this refusal to accept defeat that is. the guarantee, of final victory. _ _ “Our duty in this country is plain. AA 7 e must make good our losses, and we must win the Avar,” added Mr Eden. “To do that we must profit by the lessons of this battle. Brave hearts alone cannot stand up against steel. AVe need more ’planes, more tanks, more guns.

\ “The people of this country, must work as never .before. AVe must show the' same qualities, the same discipline, and . the same self-sacri-fice at home that tlie British Expeditionary Force has shown in the field. ■ /. ■ Z ■ '

“The nations honours with proud reverence those who fell that their comrades might win through. Z The innumerable ' actions, the countless deeds of Valour of tlie last weeks, cannot be recorded now. Each will have its place in history—soldiers, sailors, and airmen who gave their lives in helping—theirs is an immortal riiemory.. Their spirit must be our banner, their sacrifice our spur.”