IN GOOD ORDER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20262, 1 June 1940, Page 11

IN GOOD ORDER

ALLIED FORCES INCESSANT FIGHT PRESIDENTS PRAISE NEW GLORY ACHIEVED BRITISH AIR PROWESS TOLL OF NAZI PLANES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. May 31, 3 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. The French official evening communique states: “Amidst the incessant fight our troops in the north are carrying out with vigour and in good order the movements decided on by thie High Command. On the greater part of the Somme the fighting is being carried on with favourable results. There is no change in the situation on the Aisne and on the north-eastern front. “A party of French infantry commanded by Sergeant Guillet brought down with machine-gun fire a Heinkel and a Junker within the past two days.’’ The. Paris correspondent of the British United Press states that two divisions of General Prioux’s army are reported to have reached Dunkirk. The President of France, M. Lebrun, sent a message to General Blanchard stating: “While the French troops under your orders, in full collaboration with the British Expeditionary Force and with the help of the Allied navies are fighting a battle which will be placed in the foremost ranks of ■ military history, I send the grateful greetings of the country. - All Frenchmen unite in the expression to you of warm admiration of the great courage 1 and fierce energy of our soldiers and the new glory with which they are adorning our flags.’’ Tremendous R.A.F. Effort The tremendous effort of the Royal Air Force to assist the beleaguered British Expeditionary Force is described in an Air Ministry announcement which says that the main forces of the British Expeditionary Force are concentrated on relieving the pressure on the Allied flanks. Fighters, in a magnificent series of actions, repeatedly broke up formations of German bombers and fighters, inflicting severe losses, states the Ministry. Royal Air Force medium bombers attacked transport columns and armoured units and destroyed bridges and gun emplacements. Operations by heavy bombers followed at night. Coastal Command and Fleet Air Arm planes bombed the French and Belgian coasts. Fifty-two of the. flying personnel of the Royal Air Force have received awards for gallantry. The Air Ministry further announces that the latest reports show that at least 77 enemy aircraft were destroyed by. British fighters during the day. Fleet Air Arm

Referring to operations, continued all day. the Ministry states that all the British aircraft returned. One attacking Messerschmitt was shot down Aircraft of the Coastal Command and the Fleet Air Arm shot down two enemy aircraft and damaged two others. Ten of these aircraft are missing, but the crews of at least three have been rescued. Fuller reports have now been received of the operations on Monday in the Sedan area. Medium bombers operating from France attacked a number of enemy aeroplanes, causing extensive fires in hangars and the surrounding buildings. They also successfully bombed supply depots and a train." All the aircraft returned. On the same day British fighters on offensive patrol in this sector shot down 11 aircraft and damaged three more. It was on this occasion that one ot the British auxiliary fighter squadrons engaged a formation of 22 enemy bombers escorted by 20 fighters and shot down nine bombers and one fighter without loss to themselves. f :--" r A : ■ ■