MOST EXTENSIVE AND DIFFICULT IN HISTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1940, Page 6

MOST EXTENSIVE AND DIFFICULT IN HISTORY

Achievement That Will Surprise World WHEN FULL STORY CAN BE TOLD SOME DETAILS OF THE NAVY’S PART (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) RUGBY, June 3. An Admiralty communique states: “The most extensive and difficult combined operation in naval history has been carried out during - the past week. British, French and Belgian troops have been brought back safely to this country from Belgium and Northern France in numbers which, when the full story can be told, will surprise the world. The withdrawal has been carried out in face of intense and almost continuous air attack and increasing artillery and machine-gun fire. The success of this operation was only made possible by the close cooperation of the Allies and services and by the neverflagging determination and courage of all concerned. It was undertaken on the British side by several flotillas of destroyers and a large number of small craft of every description. The force was rapidly increased and a total of 222 British naval vessels and 665 other British craft and boats took 1 part in the operation. These figures do not include large numbers of French naval and merchant ships which also played their part. After further details of the small craft engaged, the communique goes on: “The withdrawal was carried out from Dunkirk and from beaches in its vicinity. The whole of the operations were screened by the naval forces against any attempt by the enemy at interference at s,ea. In addition to almost incessant bombing and machine-gun attacks on Dunkirk, the beaches and the vessels operating off them, the port of Dunkirk and shipping plying to anil from it, were under frequent shell fire.”