ON THE DUTCH COAST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1940, Page 5

ON THE DUTCH COAST

GERMANS AT ROTTERDAM TROOPS LAND BY PARACHUTE. AERODROME DESTROYED. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, May 10. The momentous news that the first German troops have reached the Dutch coast comes from Rotterdam direct as follows: —"German troops occupied the Waalhaven airport here, after completely destroying the aerodrome and hangars with a heavy bombardment. Enemy troops, despite intense antiaircraft fire, landed by parachutes from large transport planes and overcame the Dutch soldiers.” SURPRISE ATTACK ONE BANK OF RIVER HELD BY GERMANS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day 8.20 a.m.) ROTTERDAM, May 10. Hundreds of German planes about 4 a.m. took Rotterdam completely by surprise when troop transports landed on the Maas River and troops, armed ■with machine-guns, came ashore in rubber boats, disarmed the Dutch soldiers guarding the bridge and took the railway station. They shot dead a police inspector and killed or wounded other police attempting to resist. The Dutch, however, completely control the right bank of the river. All the drawbridges have been opened to prevent the Germans from crossing. Barri-i cades have been erected in the streets. | The Germans are using abandoned I tramcars as shelters.