DESPERATE FIGHT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20260, 30 May 1940, Page 8

DESPERATE FIGHT

RESISTING NAZIS TOMMIES’ STORIES RETURN TO ENGLAND GERMAN BRUTALITY ATTACKS ON REFUGEES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Mav 30. 1.50 0.m.) LONDON, May 29. Grimy and weary afler a fortnight of continuous marching and fighting British troops on their arrival at a south-east port from Flanders gave stirring accounts of desperate fighting against the furious German offensive Three wounded German prisoners were among them. One German said: “What can we do? We have to obey or die. We have been brought up to it since we were children.” The burden of the Tommies’ stories was Germany’s colossal sacrifice of soldiers and ruthless attacks on refugees. “The Germans came over in masses like automatic men to certain death." declared-a British private. “They were mown down in hundreds without gaining anything. Then •we would counter-attack. Piles of German dead blocked.the bridges behind which we established machine-guns. “German planes flew over systematically, every .15 minutes. They, suffered terrific losses.when the .Royal Air Force fighters got busy. Our .pilots completely mastered the Germans and brought them down in dozens.” Protective Screen These .troops embarked .. under .. .a protective screen of Allied, fighters. Some had to swim to the boats. They had been lying on a beach throughout yesterday,'outside a town which, was without light or water and with fires raging in the streets as wave after wave of German bombers attacked. They were also shelled by heavy artillery. Allied planes brought down 20 German planes over this beach. One of their last sights was.the Belgian troops in, a • condition shouting,. “guerre fini” and. throwing aside rifles and burning ,their stores. All the Britons declared that, bthe Royal Air Force performed prodigies hourly. He also paid glowing- -tributes to the navy’s skill and sangfroid under heavy point-blank fire. . The troops said .that the German attacks on civilians were deliberate. “You would,think the sights we saw would melt a heart .of stone,” said, a young soldier. “What sort of men can mow down civilians with guns from planes and smash over them in tanks? “On one occasion we were in a-con-voy approaching cross-roads when a swarm of. Belgian and French refugees approached us on the other road. Suddenly nine Messerschmitts appeared. They ignored us and attacked the refugees.". .