VIGOROUS RESISTANCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 158, 5 June 1940, Page 8

VIGOROUS RESISTANCE

NAZI ATTACKS ON DUNKIRK FRENCH STAND GROUND ((United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 3. “The enemy to-day continued to attack with ferocity our positions around Dunkirk, where they encountered vigorous resistance and unceasing counter-attacks by our troops, the French Navy, like the British Navy, is co-operating under enemy fire in the defence of Dunkirk, and has successfully proceeded with the embarkation of troops ordered by the Conimand, giving throughout an example of the greatest bravery, states the French evening communique.

NAZI REINFORCEMENTS. ‘‘The enemy to-day, without success, launched a local attack against our advanced posts in the region of St. Avoid, He is bringing up reinforcements on the right bank of the Aisne, and is making closer contact with our positions to the west of the Saar. ,“Last night our bombing aviation attacked numerous air fields as well as lines of communication. Paris and the Paris region were attacked early this afternoon by a considerable bombing expedition strongly protected by German fighters. This expedition came up against the defence of our fighters and anti-aircraft batteries, which inflicted on it heavy losses Most of our pilots were equipped with the most modern machines. According the first information to hand 17 enemy ’planes were brought down and have already been counted.” DEFENDERS IN DANGER. As the strength of the defenders of Dunkirk diminishes owing to the withdrawal of many of the rearguard troops the peril of those remaining increases, hut the “fortified camp” is still holding up a great force of attackers. French military circles to-night stated that the Dunkirk garrison yesterday repulsed the attackers at all points, while to-day the Germans made only slight progress at the price of enormous losses. Fighting of almost. unprecedented ferocity was raging all day. Meanwhile the wounded on the beaches are more rapidly treated and taken off. NAZI BARBARISM. The men evacuated to-day report, a decrease in the German dive-bombing attacks at Dunkirk, states a London message. One boat loaded with (French soldiers was aground for several hours, offering a perfect target for German bombers, but none appeared. A young Frenchwoman arrived alone among a crowd of French soldiers landed to-day. Her coat was torn by shrapnel. She said not a building was standing in Dunkirk or Malo-les-Bains, near Dunkirk. Civilians ‘were living in cellars. The streets were littered with dead bodies which could not be removed. 'A thousand small incendiary bombs caused the chief destruction. * Meanwhile examples of German ruthlessness are pouring in. A noncommissioned officer described a devilish attack on twenty soldiers attempting to escape in a large rowing boat from Dunkirk. The German airmen first futilely bombed the boat and then unsuccessfully machine-gunned it. Then they dropped petrol into; which they fired tracer bullets. The boat was ablaze immediately. There was no escape for the occupants.