Hitler's Blitzkrieg

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1940, Page 7

Hitler's Blitzkrieg

WIDE FRONT IN BELGIUM AND HOLLAND

Very Serious Test of Allied Resistance

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.)

(Received May 14, noon.)

LONDON, May 13.

The enemy attacks in Holland and Belgium have been redoubled in violence, particularly in the region north of the Albert Canal and also between the canal and the lower Rhine, besides the region south-east of Tirlemont and in the Belgian Ardennes.

A correspondent with the British Expeditionary Force states: "Our advance forces are now in touch with the Germans, and a big and important engagement may be started in the next few days if events turn out as seems inevitable. No doubt the British Expeditionary Force will have to meet a formidable thrust." Hitler's blitzkrieg rages from North Holland to the Belgian Ardennes, 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 French advance forces have linked up with the Belgian defenders in an effort to stem the onslaught. v

Messages from correspondents with the British Expeditionary Force in Belgium are restrainedly confident, but emphasise 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 skilfutness of the Belgian and Dutch withdrawal tactics have taken off pace from the German penetration at several important points. The occupation by German mechanised columns ,of Langstraat, which is roughly north of Tilburg and west of Shertogenbosch, 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' motorised 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 from Longwy to the Moselle, despite intense bombardment.

The Royal Air Force bombed and machine-gunned German columns and brought down 12 German planes. It was officially announced in Amsterdam that French motorised troops intercepted and stopped the advancing Germans at Tongres.

The Belgian High Command states: "The Belgian troops everywhere have maintained their positions. Strong enemy motorised units again attacked the Belgian positions today. The Belgains are closely collaborating with the British and French troops."

The Brussels radio announced at 9 a.m. that 20 German planes were raiding western Brabant and that the air force was fighting the raiders. Streets round the capital are full of country carts, with women, children, and aged people sitting on the top of hastily collected belongings. It is understood that the United States Embassy will not in any circumstances leave Brussels. NAZI OUTFLANKING- CLAIM. The Berlin news agency claims that strong motorised troops effected a land junction with troops landed around Rotterdam, and that the Dutch fortification line has been outflanked. Amsterdam reports: The 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.

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.

Twenty German bombs fell south-west of Amsterdam at 7 a.m. in four groups. Unidentified planes flew over Holland between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. The strength of the first group is not indicated. The other groups consisted of 12, 16, and 17 planes respectively. At least 30 people are reported to have been killed and many wounded in the air raid this morning. Four heavy bombs,landed in the centre of the city, "Many British fighters are reported to be operating near Amsterdam. It is understood that the situation at The Hague is little changed.