TROOPS FOR FRANCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 168, 15 June 1940, Page 7

TROOPS FOR FRANCE

SECOND B.E.F. DESPATCHED SUPERIOR EQUIPMENT (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.) Received June 15,, 10.25 a.m. a LONDON, June 14. Trains crowded with members of the Second B.E.F. and convoys of lorries miles long, with new equipment, Have been converging on an English port in the last few days. Thousands of men have already been transported, including many who a fortnight ago were on the beach at Dunkirk. They arc forming- the backbone of a new large force which the British are rushing to France’s aid. The units are drawn from all parts of Britain. The new B.E.F. has certain forms of equipment which cannot be described in detail, but it is unquestionably superior to that of the First B.E.F.

STEADY STREAM. Ever since the B.E.F. was OA racuated from Dunkirk the members of the new 8.E.F., together with their supplies and equipment, lia\ r e been arriving at a British port < and embarking again for France. From dawn till dusk trains have been arriving, and men Avitli guns of every type, armoured vehicles, supply and transport vehicles, and equipment of all kinuts have been sent across the Channel at night in ships gathered from half the ports in Britain. Since the troops have arrived back from France much valuable training has been put in, and correspondents who have been witnessing their departure have expressed the highest opinion of their appearance and of trie material with Avhidi they are equipped. The utmost sympathy' is being expressed in all quarters in London for ihe French nation in the grief it must be feeling at the necessity to abandon Paris, or which every Frenchman is so justly proud and fond. Reports state that Paris Avas a silent town when the Germans marched in. All shops and house windows were shut- and no one but the police and Civil Guards Avas in the streets.' Meanwhile the French Army had'fallen back on either side of the city to a line running well to the south. RESISTANCE TO UTMOST. A Paris message stated it is understood that the Council of Ministers decided to continue resistance to the utmost. The Council approved the text of M. Reynaud’s broadcast. From Washington it is reported that a conference of Senate and House committees unanimously agreed to a Bill, in the first plape granting the President authority to trade-in surplus military equipment; thus making it aA'ailable to the Allies; secondly,_ removing the limit to the aiithorised number of army Avarplanes and pilots; thirdly; authorising the President to place an embargo on shipments of Avar supplies and machine tools from the United States; fourt lly, giving the President 66,000.000 dollars in appropriations and the same amount in contract authorisations to procure strategic materials and train civilian personnel. The report of the conference Avill be returned to both Chambers, and its acceptance is considered certain.