BRITISH ARMY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1940, Page 6

BRITISH ARMY

POSITION IJL •BELGIUM. i _ . ; GOUT LINE INTACT. (United. Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). '■ - - (Receive this day at 10.30 a.m.) • LONDON, May 19. The “Sunday Times’” correspondent from headquarters of the R.E.F. says the British Army found itself exposed overnight to the grave danger of a flank encirclement, after the German thrust between Namur and Sedan. The German advance northwards would have menaced communications to northern France and the Channel ports, hence the withdrawal which was accomplished so swiftly • and skilfully that the enemy had no wind of it in time to interfere. British aircraft kept off the enemy reconnaissance planes. This withdrawal is in no way comparable with the retreat from Mons,- or the German incursion in l9iß. The British Army then fought desperately from bad positions with depleted forces, and the French ,were equally spent and exhausted. To-day the British Army is intact. Apart from relatively unimportant, defence works, the lines of resistance are behind the present line. The Gort Line, on which the army worked hard all the winter is strong. AVe hold 'behind it all the ground and the cominaiid of the sea, and Channel crossings can be made with a degree of safety never approached in the last war.