THE NEWS BREAKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 133, 7 June 1944, Page 6

THE NEWS BREAKS

TELLING THE WORLD

A DRAMATIC BEGINNING

Rec. 9 a.m. LONDON, June 6. The most powerful throb of aero engines that ever beat over the city, as large forces of Allied bombers went out at dawn, gave Londoners the first hint that big events were under way: but millions went to work unaware that "D Day" had begun. ' Bustling activity, with American military policemen guarding the doors of the conference room, was the first intimation at the Ministry of Information that the invasion had begun. Specially accredited correspondents were summoned, and isolated from outside contacts. The bells in the Ministry sounded three alarms, after which the V signal was given, summoning all other Pressmen to the main hall, where the communique was read; then the news was flashed to the waiting world. A few seconds after 9.35, the 8.8.C. broke into the Home Service with the historic communique No. 1 from Supreme Allied Headquarters. Then for an hour listeners heard a dramatic series of statements, beginning with General Eisenhower's call to the people of Europe, and numerous repetitions of the news in almost every European language, with English translations. King Haakon appealed to the Norwegians to do everything to impede the Germans. M. Gerbrandy followed with a similar plea to the Dutch, emphasising, as King Haakon had done, that the appeal applied only to those not belonging to organised resistance movements which had already received their "D Day" orders. The British announcer then broke in to reveal that General de Gaulle had arrived in Britain with Mr. Duff Cooper and French political military advisers. The absence of French troops from the first wave of the invasion forces was in accordance with an Allied agreement to avoid the possibility of Frenchmen fighting against their countrymen. News of the second front was released in Moscow at noon and the news spread like wild-fire. People thronged the parks in front of loudspeakers eagerly listening to the latest reports. The German people were not told of the invasion until 11.40, when the German news agency put out the first story of the landings for home consumption. Mr. Roosevelt was asleep when the first news arrived, states a Washington message. America received the news of the invasion calmly. There were few demonstrations, says a New York message. The newspapers issued special editions, and radio stations pushed all their scheduled programmes aside and instead broadcast a continuous flow of news. Crowds lined up in the streets in front of loudspeakers. Mr. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, stated that the great liberating operations from the west may prove the decisive phase of the war against Germany. "We must not expect an early result and should be prepared for local reverses as well as successes. We have every reason for confidence. The hearts of all in Canada will be filled with silent prayer for the success of our forces and the speedy liberation of Europe." PETAIN'S INSTRUCTIONS. Marshal Petain, broadcasting from Paris radio, appealed to the French people not to aggravate their misfortunes by acts which would bring tragic reprisals upon them. "France has become a battlefield," he said. "The circumstances of battle may compel the German, army to take special measures in the battle area. Accept this necessity." He urged officials, ' railwaymen, and workers to remain at the posts where they serve the German military machine in order to keep the life of the nation. "Don't listen .to outside, voices," he concluded.