NO ABATEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1940, Page 5

NO ABATEMENT

IN VIOLENCE OF BATTLE

SECRECY AS TO ALLIED MOVEMENTS.

REQUESTHMBY FRENCH

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. May 25.

It is authoritatively stated that the situation remains very grave and most confused. There is no news indicating that the situation is any better, but there is no need to lose confidence.

The French High Command has specially requested that nothing whatever be said regarding the Allies’ present movements. There is little doubt that a large number of German tanks are behind the northern part of the Allied lines, though it is impossible to estimate how large. The absence of news is likely to continue for some time, and self-denial in the matter of news is part of the contribution the public must make toward the outcome of this battle.

The French military spokesman said that the battle for Flanders is continuing with full violence. The French are holding off German detachments at St Omer, and fighting continues at Boulogne and Abbeville. The Allied breach in the Bapaume-Peronne area is not yet closed, but troops are closing in a pincer advance. CLAIMS BY THE ENEMY The correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain with the German western armies said that the Com-mander-in-Chief of the German army in the Antwerp sector, General von Kuechlen, when interviewed said: “I am rapidly pushing to Ostend via Ghent and Bruges. A stern battle continues at Ghent, and the Allies are resisting bravely. My present task is to get control of the Ghent Canal.” Today’s German communique states: “We have now definitely encircled the Belgian army, parts of the First, Ninth and Seventh French armies and the bulk of the British Expeditionary Force. We captured Ghent and Courtrai and crossed the Lys River. Between Roubaix and Valenciennes we are attacking the French frontier fortifications. Southward, between Valen; ciennes and Vimy on both sides of Douai we are advancing to the northwest. We captured Vimy Ridge and also took Boulogne after a grim fight against land and naval forces. We have hemmed in Calais. German troops ! hold the heights between Lillers and St Omer and as far as Gravelines. The amount of booty and number of prisoners are constantly increasing. We repulsed several weak attacks on the southern front. Southward of Sedan we stormed an important height and held it against strong counter-attacks. “Our planes attacked troop concentrations and columns, bombed French and Belgian quays, oil tanks, shipyards, and docks and destroyed or seriously damaged a destroyer and seven merchantmen and transports,” the German communique adds. “Our artillery sank another destroyer.” Concurrently with the issue of the German communique, it is authoritatively stated in London that a co-ordi-nated Allied effort can still retrieve the situation.

FRENCH GENERALS FIFTEEN DISCHARGED FROM COMMANDS. OFFICIAL STATEMENT. » PARIS. May 25. It is officially stated that 15 French generals have been discharged from their commands. They include army and army corps commanders, several divisional commanders, and also directors of services of large units. The communique making’ the announcement stated: “These changes resulted from the military operations now proceeding.”