UNENDING CAVALCADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 111, 11 May 1940, Page 12

UNENDING CAVALCADE

British Army's Entry to Belgium

ENEMY'S SURPRISE ATTACK A FAILURE

Fierce Fighting in Holland

(U.P.A. and Official Wireless.)

(Received May 11, 1.30 p.m.)

LONDON, May 10.

Allied liaison officers arrived in Brussels at noon. The inhabitants cheered when they caught sight of the Allied flags. A British war correspondent at a Franco-Belgian frontier post, describing the arrival of the British Army, says that tanks, armoured cars, motor transports, and motor-cycle troops are sweeping into Belgium in an unending cavalcade. The appearances of Spitfire 7 planes over The Hague aroused tremendous cheering. The Hague has not b'ien raided since the early morning. The Waalhaven airport is reported to be again in Dutch hands. Fierce fighting continues against a batch of Germans at' Dortrecht, and another batch installed in a factory at Delft; has been surrounded. The Schipol aerodrome was not damaged seriously, as was at ftrst believed. Neighbouring villages have been evacuated. ' :

A long procession of carts, lorries, and even perambulators, laden with luggage and household treasures, is trailing along roads to Amsterdam. .

The Dutch Commander-in-Chief, General Winkelman, said in an order of the day: "Germany's surprise attack can be considered to be a failure."

The Dutch Foreign Minister, Dr. van Kleff ens, in a broadcast speech, said: "Holland is fighting hard, and not without success. She has a vast empire overseas and considerable resources, which she now puts at the disposal of our common cause—the destruction of the Germans' spirit of wanton aggression."

The Belgian Foreign Minister, M. Spaak, said: "We had - hope until the last minute. Last night, however, at 9 o'clock we learned that German troops opposite the Belgian frontier had started marching. Then we understood. At 4 o 'clock this, morning- we learned that two Dutch aerodromes had been bombed. A few minutes later we saw from a window of the Foreign Office the first German bomber circling over Brussels." , The great British Army was still moving into Belgium to- ' night, and although the exact limit of the advance cannot be stated, it is proceeding according to the plan for the co-opera- * tion of the French and British armies.

Eight air raids were sounded during the day,, but the Germans mainly attempted to attack air fields, because the Royal Air Force fighters were providing a sure safeguard for the advancing troops as they roared along Belgium's cobbled, highways, not a single man being on foot.

The troops reflected the relief from the long inaction. Tommies cried ' 'Berlin or Bust to cheering civilians.