THE MAIN DRIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 112, 13 May 1940, Page 9

THE MAIN DRIVE

ENEMY ATTACK

APPARENTLY IN BELGIUM

SIGNIFICANCE NOT , YET CLEAR -

LONDON, May 12

Tonight's Belgian communique refers to encounters at most points along the frontier, but the troops stood their ground in spite of attacks by armoured units supported by aircraft, A German attempt to cross the

Albert Canal in boats failed, and they also lost a number erf tanks in a counter-attack by the French.

Tonight's French communique says that German pressure continues 10 miles inside the Belgian frontier. It also confirms tLat, the Allied Air Forces are harassing the Germans by attacking bridges and bombing troop columns.

Further south in Belgium there have been violent encounters, and the French communique says that righting continues on the Luxemburg frontier. Events are developing south of Luxemburg, and at the northern end of the original Maginot Line fighting began late in the night and the German artillery is keeping up a violent fire.

Experts in Paris describe this as the first serious offensive on the Maginot Line, but its significance remains yet to be seen. The. main drive of the German attack still appears to be directed in the region of the Albert

LONDON, May 12.

Canal and the Meuse. It seems that the invaders are trying either to turn the flank of the Maginot Line or to drive a wedge through to the sea between Holland and Belgium.

The Belgian Foreign Minister said that events are developing just as was expected by the Belgian General Staff, and that since last night the situation had been more or less stabilised. There have been German attacks on French advanced posts, but on the eastern part of the front, from the Saar to the Swiss frontier, there is nothing to report. German- aircraft have been very active over northern, northeastern, and eastern France, but they were vigorously attacked by ground deferfces and Allied aircraft. During the day 30 German machines were shot down over France. ]

There is news of the fighting in Holland* today. The only official report comes- from French headquarters, which says that the situation has improved, and the Royal Air Force is giving strong support to the Dutch defences.

Earlier today it was stated in Paris that the Dutch were still holding up the Germans along the line of the water defences. The same source said that the Germar had made little progress west of Arnhem.

Tonight, the Belgian Prime Minister, in a broadcast to the Belgian nation, said that the response of the Allies had been immediate and very satisfactory. He appealed to the public to be calm and firm.