INVASION BY AIR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 111, 11 May 1940, Page 11

INVASION BY AIR

Aggression Hits Belgium

GERMAN TROOPS OVER FRONTIER

(By Telegraph- Press Association —Copyright.)

LONDON, May 10.

The Belgian Foreign Office announces: "The Germans invaded Belgium by air at about 5 a.m., attacking the Brussels airport with bombs.

"All soldiers have been ordered to rejoin their units immediately. The Prime Minister (M. Pierlot) and other members of Cabinet have gone to see the King."

King Leopold has assumed supreme command of the Belgian forces. The King and his family are remaining in Belgium. Belgium asked for British and French assistance, which was immediately granted.

The Brussels correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency says that German forces are moving forward in an attempt to cut off means of communication between Belgium and France.

The casualties in the firsWGerman air raid on Brussels are reported in London to have totalled 400.

The Belgium wireless reports that the Germans bombed two points 25 miles to the south and east of Brussels.

A Brussels message, states that general mobilisation was proclaimed at 4.30 a.m. The people were warned to look out for parachutists and saboteurs. After the Brussels airport was bombed ambulances clanged through the streets continuously. The local anti-aircraft guns ceased fire at 7 a.m. Trains ran without interruption, and dispatch riders dashed through the city.

Brussels reported that a state of alarm was announced and a censorship instituted early this morning. An official spokesman stated that the situation was not clear, but there was no question that Evere, outside Brussels, was bombed, and several houses were destroyed.

A Belgian wireless proclamation announced that Germany made no demarche before the aggression.

The Government appealed to England and France to implement their guarantees, and King Leopold lodged a protest in Berlin. The broadcast added that the Germans came. across the frontier at four points.

Cabinet has been sitting since midnight.

A Paris message says it is officially stated that the Belgian army is resisting the invasion. Meanwhile reports from Belgium are not connected, but they state that, parachutists came down at Nivelles (south of Brussels), Saint Trond, and elsewhere. Scons of planes were flying over Brussels and most other districts amid very- heavy antiaircraft fire. Antwerp' and Jemelle were reported to have been bombed.

Jemelle is reported to be in flames, The station was wrecked. ■•-'■■

points at. Etterbeek. A bomb hai fallen in. the Place Madou, near the: centre of Bi^ssels, causing "fire, damage, and casualties. All .Germans living.in Brussels have been arrested.. ' Several air fights took place above Tournai, accompanied by heavy anti-aircraft fire.

The German Ambassador called on M. Spaak at 8.15 a.m. and handed him a memorandum aimed at justifying aggression. The Foreign Minister (M. Spaak) 1. told the German* Ambassador that this was the second time since, 1914 that neutral and lotcu Belgium had been invaded. \

The Brussels radio states that fighting between Belgium and German troops is taking place at Aachen.

, It is also stated that Germans crossed the Maas at several points, and reached the Albert Canal at several places.,

This time the crime was even greater, since no Note of protest had been presented to Belgium, which had learned cnly by the. assault on itself that the Belgian-German Pacts had been broken. ... M. Spaak summoned Parliament. At Brussels bombs fell on a thicklypopulated area near the centre of the city. Two persons . were killed and 52 injured. Land fighting is developing near the frontier. .: "' It is estimated that a hundred German planes flew over Brussels -this morning, ' The Foreign Office learned by telephone from Brussels that this morning's bombing lasted for an hour and a half, after which, there was complete calm. It is stated t':?t the damage was slight. Several1 houses were,hit; and a factory was set on fire in an outer suburb. -..-.■ •": ; TERRIFIC AIR BATTLE. About .20 people v.-^s killed in tl:'3 morning's bombing: of Brussels. Many buildings were destroyed or set on fire. Numerous German planes were again over the city at 6.25 p.m. A terrific air battle occurred over Mons, and several German planes <wera shot down.

A mental hospital at Morstel, near Antwerp, was bombed.and is in flames. Several railway stations in central Belgium have been destroyed by bombs.

Thirty-seven planes bombed Antwerp and destroyed a military . hospital. Several buildings in Brussels "wera ruined. _

The Minister of Defence (General Denis) informed the Belgian Parliament that the German advance aaa been checked at all points. German bombings of Belgian aerodromes were unsuccessful as Belgian planes had been removed a few hours previously.

The Berlin news agency states that the Germans captured Malmedy and Vitry, in Belgium, and also the Dutch "fortress of Maastricht, near the border, and the bridges west vof the town, taking 3000 prisoners.

A Brussels report states that M. Degrelle, the Rexist leader, M. De Clercq, the Flemish Nationalist leader, and two Flemish Nationalist, deputies have been arrested. . ,