British and Germans Locked in Battle

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 121, 23 May 1940, Page 7

British and Germans Locked in Battle

Allied Sources Strongly Temper Nazi Claims

PERIL IS REALISED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, May 21. Authoritative Allied quarters to-night admit the peril of the hour but strongly temper the Berlin claims that German forces are marching to the Channel from Abbeville and making a vast encircling movement, trapping a combined British, French, and Belgian army.

The British forces are strongly engaging the Germans on the northwest flank. The French, with General Weygand in direct command of the battlefield, occupy selected positions.

The Germans’ advance towards Calais and Boulogne regathered swift momentum during the day, and tonight their salient lies like a broad hayonat pressed at the heart of Engv ind and France.

The French military spokesman late to-night said: “Tho outcome can be awaited with confidence despite the exceptional gravity of the situation.”

He added: “Battle between the British and German forces has been joined. Another is still raging in the region of Cambrai, where the Allies are resisting magnificently.

He emphasised that only a few thousand German light units occupied Aicas and Amiens. He denied the German claim to have captured Rethel, on their southern flank.

The spokesman did not refer to the situation at Abbeville.