IN DUTCH UNIFORMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1940, Page 5

IN DUTCH UNIFORMS

ENEMY PARACHUTISTS LANDED AT MANY POINTS. • AIR & LAND FIGHTING. ' By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON. May 10. Amsterdam reports that six German planes bombed Welschap airfield (south-east of Tilburg). Three German planes attempting to land at Souberg in Zeeland (south-western Holland) were fired on. Parachutists landed near Delft, 13 miles from The Hague, and a further 100 landed near Dordrecht. Schipol aerodrome was heavily bombed at 4.20 a.m.; three columns of smoke are visible, and it is believed the damage is very heavy. Parachutists also landed at Rotterdam’s airport, Waalhaven, and also at Rozenburg and Hoogezwaluwe (nearby islands). Fifty Heinkels were sighted over Sliedrecht (on the Rhine south-east of Rotterdam), flying at 1000 feet. Numerous planes were sighted over Slamen, flying westward. A number of parachutists .descended at Maarden, Sliedrecht, and other points. Fifty German planes were sighted over Nijmegan, and others over the Denhelder naval base. The Dutch are fighting parachute troops at various points. The Dutch radio warned the people that some parachute troops are wearing Dutch uniforms. An air battle is in progress over Amsterdam, with fighting planes diving on German bombers. Schipol has been heavily damaged by the bombing raids, in which more than 50 Heinkels took part. Parachute troops dressed in Dutch uniforms have been captured on the outskirts of The Hague. The Amsterdam radio states that new large formations of planes are constantly arriving from Germany. The Dutch radio at 9.30 a.m. announced that the Germans had reached Ysel River. BOMBING RAIDS ON DUTCH & BELGIAN CITIES. Daventry reports that an official Dutch communique says: From 3 a.m. German troops crossed the frontier and at the same time attacked airports. Inundations had been effected according to plan. Six German planes are believed to have been brought down. Rumours that German troops have tried to land at Shilos aerodrome have been received and troops have been sent to that area.

Belgium’s resistance is proving effective. The Belgian Ambassador in London, in a speech said: "We have been invaded and when we fight we fight like blazes.”

Many airports in Belgium were attacked, in particular those at Brussels and Antwerp. In Brussels some bombs seem to have fallen wide of their mark. One fell in the centre of the capital and fires have broken out in some suburbs. After this raid Brussels was declared an open city and no troops are allowed to pass through it. Forty planes participated in the raid on Antwerp where anti-aircraft guns went into action.

The railway station 25 miles southeast of Namur has been bombed and is reported to be in (lames.