BRITISH DIVISION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 167, 14 June 1940, Page 7

BRITISH DIVISION

PARTLY ISOLATED. NUMBER TAKEN PRISONER. Received June 14, 9.13 a.m. LONDON, June 13. The War Office announces: “One of our divisions which was operating with its left flank on the north coast of Normandy had its communications cut by the German forces which had penetrated the line further south. Part of this division, together with other Aided troops, was eventually surrounded by superior forces. The attempts to evacuate these forces by sea were only partly successful and it is feared a, number have been taken prisoner. The remainder of this division has been embarked and has again landed in France.” Official quarters in London, commenting on the above announcement, state that this division at the end of May took up a position on the French left flank on the Lower Somme. They were acting under French orders, and retired according .to General Wevgand’s plan. In conjunction with the French they made an attack on May 28 to reduce the Abbeville bridgehead, but, unfortunately, this w T as with only a partial success. Afterwards, when two armoured German divisions penetrated in the Poix area in the direction of Rouen, this British division withdrew slowly with the French to the line of tlie River Bresle from which, after a stand of a few days, it made another strategic retreat and again stood firm. From that point bnwards exact information is not available, but it appears certain that two brigades from this division went back to assist the French troops in the defence of Le Havre. RETREAT CUT OFF. The remainder, who stayed with the French in the north, found that tlieir retreat south-west towards Rouen was cut off by the German armoured forces. ‘ They therefore retired to St Valery where with certain French troops they were surrounded. Alto-, gether about four German divisions, including one armoured, division, attacked them. There is a rocky coast at St. Valery which was not experienced at Dunkirk, with its wide flat beaches. Bad luck played a part in the partial of the evacuation for on the night when the re-embarkation was to take place h thick sea fog enveloped the area, and it was found impossible to take off more than a comparatively small number. The brigades of the British division which *td been ordered back to Le Havre were re-embarked and landed again in France. The Germans claim to have captured “incalculable booty” in making prisoner part of the British division. Actually the loss of equipment was not important. The Berlin News Agency states that the Allied troops which had been pushed back to the Channel coast have now been completely cut off in a situation similar to Dunkirk. Desperate efforts are being made to evacuate ; these troops in troop ships, small steamers and fishing-boats to avoid annihilation HAZARDOUS CROSSING. An official observer with the British Expeditionary Force in France says that the British units are taking their share in combating the German advanced forces which have crossed the Seine. During the last stage of the action in which the Germans crossed the river some of our detachments swam from the north bank to the south bank under heavy fire. Officers and men also took boats loaded to the gunwales with wounded across the river, using only pieces of wood as paddles. The wounded were carried ashore while shells shrieked overhead from German batteries Which had been hurried to the north bank. Bombing and low-diving machine-gun attacks increased the hazards of this passage across the river. There have been many acts of individual heroism during the hold rearguard actions against the advancing Germans even after mined bridges were blown up. The, enemy at one point drove ■ a herd of cattle before them in order to conceal their approacli have suffered heavily in all these actions. Our heavy ma-chine-gun fire is particularly effective, and a company of a London machinegun battalion alone fired no fewer than 28,000 rounds during one attack .in which wave after wave of German infantry were mowed down under the ceaseless fire.