BEFORE THE DAWN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1940, Page 6

BEFORE THE DAWN

DUTCH TAKE INVASION CALMLY MANY GO TO WORK AS USUAL ACTIVE DEFENCE MEASURES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, May 10. Calmly and resourcefully, Holland joined the Allies just before the dawn. The events leading up to an appeal to Britain and France for assistance began dramatically at 2.45 a.m., when heavy anti-air-craft gunfire awakened the residents of Amsterdam. Between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. continual salvoes burst around German planes flying over the city in groups of three, five, 10 or more. One tremendous explosion drowned the noise of the antiaircraft guns when the Schipol Aerodrome was blown up. Soon after the dawn, the Dutch radio announced a whole series of landings by German parachute troops, also the whereabouts of enemy bombers, indicating that the Dutch information system was working efficiently. Later the wireless announced that Holland and Belgium had appealed to Britain and France, and also that the Dutch were determinedly resisting the invaders. The atmosphere changed miraculously. British and French people shook hands with Dutchmen in the streets. Then came an astonishing demonstration of Dutch self-control. People streamed off to offices and factories, men, women and girls pausing only to snatch up special editions. Patrols and guards at strategic points rapidly increased during the morning. Barricades were erected across streets and air raid shelters were opened. The invasion did not prevent housewives carrying out their morning routine of beating carpets and washing steps outside houses, but busloads of children departed from Amsterdam. The Stock Exchange has closed and the banks are paying out only the equivalent of £7. On the eve of the invasion, all airfields were evacuated and the . Dutch air fleet was scattered along the country roads in order to deprive German bombers of targets. Enormous cement cylinders, stone blocks and disused motor cars covered the runways of the deserted airports to prevent planes landing. The Dutch mined 100 miles of roads and tanks guarded broad roads, aiming to prevent the Germans landing on them.