Dutch Withdraw To The Water-Line

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 196, 15 May 1940, Page 9

Dutch Withdraw To The Water-Line

The Amsterdam radio gives the following outline by the Dutch Commander-in-Chief, General Winkelman, of the position in Holland: The northern provinces are fully in the hands of the enemy, but efforts being made to take the enclosing dam of the Zuyder Zee have so far been frustrated. Rotterdam, except the part cn the south side of the River Maas, is in Dutch hands. The position in Brabant Province is uncertain. The Province of Z land is in Dutch hands. The Dutch frontier troops have been withdrawn to the water-line. The air defence organization is still working, despite the losses that have been sustained. “The struggle is difficult, but the fight is worthwhile,” General Winkelman added. "This is a fight for our existence and for the freedom which was won centuries ago by our Prince of Orange. The German advance confirms the view that the objective in the first phase of the attack is a thrust to the sea from Foyerdam to Zeebrugge. More parachute troops are being landed and further precautions are being taken at The Hague. A Dutch Army communique issued last night from Langstraat stated: “The enemy has reached Moerdyk bridge and crossed Hollandsch Diep.” Moerdyk bridge is the principal link between North and South Holland and also between Holland and Belgium.

The principal advance by the Germans in Belgium reported yesterday was to Saint Trond south of the Albert Canal. The Germans claimed to have crossed the canal near here. A claim that they had entered Liege though surrounding forts were holding out was denied. A German claim to have linked up with the parachute trpops at Rotterdam was also denied by the Dutch authorities

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright.) LONDON, May 13. Hitler’s blitzkrieg rages from North Holland to the Belgian ArdOines, with less intense manifestations in other sectors. The invaders are concentrating the full fury of their attack in the northern districts of North Brabant, a province of Holland, and also in the Belgian provinces of Limburg and Liege, where the British and Breach advance forces have linked up with the Belgian defenders in an effort to stem the onslaught. The main battle between the two heavy forces on the two sides has not yet been joined. A correspondent with tiie British Expeditionary Force states: “Our advance forces are now in touch with the Germans, and a big and important engagement may be started hi the next few days u events turn out as seems inevitable. No doubt the Britisli Expeditionary Force will have to meet a formidable thrust.” British and French advanced motorized units have also engaged the enemy in Holland. Messages from correspondents with the B.E.F. in Belgium are restrainedly confident, but emphasize the extreme seriousness of the test to which the lightning war is putting the Belgians and also their Allies. It is impossible to assess the position along the almost continuous line of the German attack, but it is inferred from various Allied communiques that the bravery and skill of the Belgian and Dutch withdrawal tactics have taken off pace from the German penetration at several Important points. The occupation by German mechanized columns of Langstraat, which is roughly north of Tilburg and west of s’Hertogenboseh, is probably the most serious development in Holland. The Dutch admit the occupation of Langstraat, which comprises a series of villages along the Maas River.

The German official news agency goes much further, claiming that the invaders’ motorized troops have effected a junction with parachute forces in Rotterdam, “thus outflanking the so-called Dutch fortifications and dominating the region between Moerdijk and The Hague.” The German High Command claims that troops entered the town of Liege, and that the swastika is flying over the citadel. Some other forts, it is stated, are still holding out. It is reported in Paris that military sources state that all the Liege forts are holding out except one.

There is no appreciable change on the Western Front from Longwy to the Moselle, despite intense bombardment.

The most serious situation at present is in the district south of the Albert Canal. The Germans are throwing most of their effort, through Hie gap Which they early forced in the Belgian defences at Maastricht

The Belgian High Command states: “The Belgian troops everywhere have maintained their positions. Strong enemy motorized units again attacked the Belgian positions today. The Belgians are closely collaborating with thfe British and French, troops.” It adds that a village held by the Germans was recaptured. An Amsterdam report states that vital defences of Holland so far are not endangered. Dutch troops are resisting on positions to which they were assigned. Parachutists everywhere are being rounded up by the police and shot down point-blank. One parachutist who came down in Amsterdam, and two others captured a lorry and shot two policemen before being shot. The invaders are frequently aided by men of the “fifth column.” Searches are being carried out in many houses. It is officially announced in Amsterdam that French motorized troops intercepted and stopped the advancing Germans at Tongres. The Dutch Army announces that there are still Germans on the southern bank of the Maas at Rotterdam, but they are without artillery. The Dutch air force has been active against enemy objectives.

It is understood that the situation at The Hague is little changed. The Supreme Command has imposed a curfew from 8 <p.m. to 8 a.m. daily over practically the whole of Holland except Rotterdam and The Hague. LATER. The Germans claim to have occupied half of Holland. In this connexion the Amsterdam correspondent of “The Times” observes that the province of North Brabant has always been considered indefensible, also the two northernmost provinces of Groningen and Friesland, the speedy occupation of which Berlin is boasting about. The Dutch forces, after delaying the Germans crossing the River Yssel, withdrew to their main defences. The Germans are now nearing the inundations protecting Amsterdam. The Dutch admit a withdraw with slight losses at Yssel Lake (the northern part of the Zuyder Zee). 11. is expected that the Germans will attempt to cross the inundated zone south-east of Amsterdam. Therefore, they are fiercely bombarding the communications between that city and the strongly-fortified town of Amersfoort. 'Die violence of the German drive to Brussels is being ferociously maintained. Tiie spokesman at the French War Ministry explained that the Belgian. French and Dutch troops are falling back strategically before the German advance. The scale upon which the rival air squadrons are contesting for supremacy is matched by the tremendous use of tanks. French sources tonight reported a battle Jn Belgium involving between 1500 and 2000 tanks. The French night communique says: “German, troops today continued mass

attacks in Belgium and Holland. “in Holland they made some advance, specially on. the lower reaches of the Meuse. Position in Belgium. “In Belgium, in the region of Saini Trond, French counter-all acks inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. Tiie (Jertnans made a particularly important effort in the Belgian Ardennes, where they achieved some progress. Our light mechanized units, having fulfilled the delaying action with which they were charged, fell back on the Meuse, which the enemy readied at one point. “The enemy exerted strong pressure at Longwy, but bis attacks were repulsed, similarly to those launched east of the Moselle and in the region of the Saar.

“Allied and enemy aircraft continued to support their land forces, attacking the adversary’s columns. Fifteen enemy aircraft were shot down during these engagements. Behind the lines, enemy air action, though repeated, caused only damage of little importance from a military viewpoint.” It is learned that tin: Germans are nowhere nearer tlftin 35 miles to Brussels,