ENEMY THRUST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1940, Page 5

ENEMY THRUST

FRONT FROM ALBERT CANAL TO LONGWY LINE OF ATTACK FORESEEN. GENERAL GAMELIN’S TACTICS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, May 15. Pouring in through the breaks in Belgium’s advanced defences, the Germans have apparently established an extensive U-shaped front between the Albert Canal and Longwy. French military commentators say that the position is serious but not alarming. The French General Staff foresaw that line of attack and will reveal their strategy when the moment is op-

portune. The passage of the British and French armies to Belgium continues steadily. There seems no reason why General Gamelin should depart from orthodox tactics, which mean that the succouring forces would not be rushing up to intermingle with the defenders but would be establishing support positions, sending out advance parties and assisting the rearguard action till the defenders can retire to the main positions which their helpers have created.

The Havas Agency's correspondent with the Belgian army says that the Allied defences along the Meuse and Sambre rivers are very strongly organised, and should withstand the terrific German onslaught toward Antwerp, Louvain and Charleroi. The Germans are reported to have violently bombed Antwerp.

The British Ministry of Information yesterday stated: “Today's operations in Flanders have gone much according to expectations. The operations now in progress reveal that the enemy are about to put forth a supreme effort to break through the Allied positions and achieve a quick decision. The battle is now being joined, and'it is impossible at present to give a precise description of the situation as it exists tonight. The Allied troops are in good heart, and it may be well to recall the words which the British Commander-in-Chief used in his order of the day yesterday morning: ‘We are now on the eve of one of the great moments in the history of our Empire. The.struggle will be hard and long, but we can be confident of final victory.’ ” BACK TO THE ARMY FRENCH SOLDIERS ON FARMS. PARIS, May 15. A Defence Ministry communique orders all soldiers released for farming work to rejoin their units immediately.

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