THE BIG DRIVE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1940, Page 5

THE BIG DRIVE

COUNTER ATTACK GENERAL WEYCAND'S DECISION. (Doited Preßa Association —By Electtii Telegraph— Copyright/. PARIS, May 22. The Prime Minister of France, M. Revnaud, in a broadcast statement, said: “1 have just seen General \Voy"lind, who lias returned from the front, lie told me: I have, full confidence, provided that everyone does his duty with' a ferocious determination.” LONDON, May 22. The French hold the river Aisne. reaching the north bank, and holding hack tne enemy. All bridges were destroyed and strong reinforcements are arriving. It .as undertood General Weygand lias made an important decision and liiat the greatest- counter attack m history- may later be expected. Hie recapture of Arras is involved. BiAisn troops at Cambrai smashed the Gciinan right flan a x„.ces m tnat locality: Oambrai is east of Arras, and has' been tile scene of a big battle. The British counter-attacked there successfully. TUESDAY NIGHT’S POSITION. • - -J LONDON, May 21. The German advance towards Calais and Boulogne legalhered swift momentum during the day, and to-night their salient lies like a broad bayonet pressed to the heart of England and France. The French military spokesman, luteon Tuesday night, said that the outcome can be awaited with confidence* despite the exceptional gravity of the situation. The spokesman did not refer to the situation at Abbeville, to which the Germans claim to have at the mouth of the Somme. In Loudon no official statement lias been made up to a- late hour this afternoon. on the German High Command communique claiming advances as far as Abbeville. This claim is received here‘with the greatest reserve, pending authoritative information. Authoritative Allied quarters tonight admit the peril of the hour, buc strongly temper the Berlin claims liiat the German forces are marching to the Channel from Abbeville, and are making a vast encircling movement, trapping a combined Anglo- ‘ I' leneh-Belgiau army. Til; situation is still obscure south from the British IT out. It is know u the German claims in this area are •based on the limits of the smaller mechanised detach men ts. German now-super headlines include: “Britisu troops Teeing to England Channel coast j cached.” ■ - » BRITISH SUCCESS AT CAMBRAT. LONDON, May 22. At Paris, the Military Spokesman stated that the British forces had strongly smashed the German right Bank hear Cambrai. BELGIAN COAL MINES FLOODED. LONDON, May 22. The Germans will not obtain much coal in occupied Belgium. Eighty per < cent, of the collieries were flooded bc- \ fore the German occupation. REYNAUD’S CALI, EOIt COURAGE. LONDON, May 22. M. Revnaud (Prime Minister) broad- • casting, said: “The civilian population must not be scared by the raids ot the German mechanised columns, which resemble the inroads of the cavalry of former days. The people must remain at their posts.” ORDERS TO FRENCHMEN. LONDON. May 22. M. Revnaud, broadcasting said: -‘Any slackening of speed of the volume of production would amount to a weakening of the national effort and wouid

impair the strength of the country. Orders to this effect have been issued lu the civil and'the military authorities. GERMAN ADMISSION. LONDON, May 22. A British United Press correspondent with the German Army reports as follows: General Yon Iteiehormu, the officer commanding the Sixth German Army, told neutral journalists that the fighting thus far has consisted only of preliminary encounters. | He added: “AVe have won the first 1 trick, but .we have not yet met the main body of the Allied forces.” GENERAL GIRAUD. LONDON, May 22. The fate of the French officer, General Giraud, is as yet unknown. The French spokesman is unable either to confirm or to deny his capture by the enemy. The spokesman admitted that some , members of the General staff have been j taken prisoners. ALLIES MUST HOLD OUT. LONDON, May 22. M. Rcynaud (Prime Minister), in a broadcast, said:—“lf we can hold out for one month—and We shall do so—then we shall have covered tliree-quar-ers of the road to victory.” THE BELGIAN ARMY. INCREASED TO ONE MILLION. , WELLINGTON, May 22. The Consul for Belgium,-M. Armand , Nilmtie. has received cabled ad- i vice that the Belgian Government is still in Belgium, where the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of National Defence are remaining, for the present, in close contact with King Leopold and his army. ; The Belgian Government is calling ii]) all men between the ages of 17 and 37 vearse who are not already serving, so as to bring the effectiveness of the front line forces to the strength of i one million, ALLIED ARMIES INTACT. (Per British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 21. News of the further penetration by! German mechanised units towards Channel ports, has heightened the sense of the gravity of the Allied sitution in the land warfare in the west, which ha» been growing here for the past few days. In this feeling of concern, there is no element- ot discour- 1 agement or depression. It is tempered by a eommonsense realisation that when Mr Duff Cooper said, to-night-in his broadcast “The Army of Great Britain and the lar greater army of France are still there, they are neither in retreat, lyir have they suffered losses.” he seized upon the most significant factor in the whole situation. It is realised in London that it is still far too early to say that,the enemy has, or can consolidate the gains lie has achieved, and that until lie can consolidate even less exposed positions in the salient, that lias boon created, the position he occupies is extremely dangerous. How lar the German claims to fie pouring divisions into this salient arc justified will only be shown by events in the next few days, hut it is felt in London that such claims are being made to create the impression, not founded on fact, that tin* area overrun bv German forces is now securely held h\- them.