GRAVER THAN EVER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1940, Page 6

GRAVER THAN EVER

POSITION IN NORTHERN FRANCE ACCORDING TO LONDON SOURCES. FRENCH REPORT INSISTENT . ATTACKS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 27. Well-informed sources in London tonight described the situation in Northern France as of increasing gravity. Tonight’s French communique states: “German attacks were carried out in the north against the Belgian army between the North Sea and the Menin region. “British troops successfully attacked against superior forces in the region of Aice, on the Lys. “Our troops brilliantly conducted local actions at the Somme, supported efficiently by aircraft. “The Germans attacked insistently eastward of the Aisne. The infantry and artillery engagement begun last night continued for the greater part of today. The Germans paid a high price in the engagement, but we maintained our positions.”'

GERMAN REPORT CLAIM THAT BRITISH FORCES ARE HEMMED IN. BOMBING OF CHANNEL PORTS. (Received This Day. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON. May 27. A German communique states: “We are continuing our attacks in Flanders and Artois. Northward of Menin we deeply penetrated enemy positions and advanced close'to Ypres. The German Air Force again facilitated the army’s advance in concentrated activities against the area in which the enemy is hemmed in. Our planes attacked aerodromes in the vicinity of Paris, and roads and railways southward of Rheims, and destroyed twenty planes on one aerodrome. Enemy losses yesterday totalled 73 planes. “Our Air Force also attacked ports on the Belgian and French coasts and set fire to docks at Dunkirk.

“We heavily repulsed attacks by French colonial troops north-eastward of Lens. “A German armoured car near Boulogne set fire to an enemy destroyer. German air attacks against Channel ports still in enemy hands are foiling British attempts to rescue the hemmedin troops and evacuate them across the Channel.

“Fifteen German planes have not returned from oprations yesterday. “We landed parachuters at Narvik.”

The communique claims that several Allied warships and transports were damaged by bombs and adds that Allied planes again carried out indiscriminate bombing in Western Germany, in which no damage was done.