Dutch Meet Invasion Calmly And With Resource

Northern Advocate, 11 May 1940, Page 9

Dutch Meet Invasion Calmly And With Resource

Dramatic Story:

(Received 1 p.m.) LONDON. May 10. THE GERMAN RADIO PERSISTENTLY APPEALED TO THE BELGIANS AND DUTCH NOT TO OBSTRUCT THE INVADERS. One broadcast specifically appealed to the Belgians, saving: “ Lay down your arms. “Wo only want to cross Belgium." (‘almly and resourcefully, Holland joined the Allies just before dawn. Tile events leading up to her appeal to Britain and France for assistance began dramatically at 2.4;> a.m., when heavy anti-aircraft gunfire awakened residents of Amsterdam. Between 4 a.m. and (i a.m. continual salvos burst around Gorman planes flying over the city in groups of three, five, ten or more. One tremendous explosion drowned the noise of antiaircraft guns when the Schipol aerodrome was blown up.

Scries of Landings Soon after dawn the Dutch radio announced a whole series of landings by German troops by parachute, also the whereabouts of enemy bombers, indicating that the Dutch information system was working efficiently. Later the wireless announced that Belgium and Holland had appealed to Britain and France, also that the Dutch were determinedly resisting the invaders. Tire atmosphere changed miraculously. British and French shook hands with Dutchmen in the streets. Then came an astonishing demonstration of Dutch self-control. People streamed off to their offices and factories, men. women and girls pausing only to snatch up special editions of the papers. Normal Routine Patrols and guards at strategic points were rapidly increased during the morning, barricades were erected across streets and air-raid shelters were opened. The invasion did not prevent housewives carrying out their

morning routine, beating carpets and washing steps outside their homes, but bus leads of children departed from Amsterdam. The Stock Exchange was closed. Banks are paying out only the equivalent of £7. On the eve of the invasion all airfields were evacuated and the Dutch Air Fleet was scattered along' country roads in order to deprive the German bombers of targets. Miles of Roads Mined. Enormous cement cylinders, stone blocks and disused motor cars covered the runways in the deserted airports. These would prevent planes landing. The Dutch mined hundreds of miles of roads. Tanks guarded broad roads aiming to prevent the Germans landing on them. Hundreds of German planes about 4 a.m. took Rotterdam completely by surprise, states a message from that city. Troop transports landed on the Maas River and troops armed with machine-guns reached the shore in rubber boats, disarmed Dutch soldiers guarding the bridge, took the railway station, shot dead a police inspector and killed and wounded other police attempting to' resist. - E®:tch Destroyer Shells Germans. Air raid alarms continued throughout the day, but no bombs were dropped on the city. The Germans here first seized the River Maas, and the Bourse, the railway station, and also an important bridge. They established a strategic machine-gun post in the business area on the north bank, and occupied houses on the south bank. The Dutch have now apparently ousted them from most of the positions, and surrounded the remainder, i They captured at least 40 Germans. A Dutch destroyer steamed up the river, backed into the harbour basin, and shelled the German machine-gun posts. German planes four times attempted to bomb the destroyer, without result. Holland Shares in Common Cause. Dr. van Kleffens, Dutch Foreign Minister, in a broadcast said: “Holland is fighting hard, and not without success. She has a vast Empire overseas, and considerable resources which she now puts at the disposal of our common cause—the destruction of the Germans’ spirit of wanton aggression.’’ Dr. van Kleffens was coming to London in a seaplane when it was forced down in the sea near Brighton because of a shortage of petrol. He reached the shore in a dinghy. Fierce Fighting In Air. It is reported from Brussels, that bombs fell in a thickly populated area near the centre of the city. Two people were killed and 52 injured. Land fighting is developing on the frontier. It is estimated in Brussels that 100 German planes flew over the city during the morning. Tire British Foreign Office learned by telephone from Brussels that the morning's bombing lasted 90 minutes, after which there was complete calm. It is stated that damage was slight. Several houses were hit, and ft factory set ablaze in an outer suburb, j

About 20 were killed in the morning’s bombing, says another Brussels cable. Many buildings were destroyed and set afire. Numerous German planes were again over the city at 6.25 p.m. Aerial Battle Over Mons. A terrific air battle occurred over Mons, where several Germans were shot down. The Belgian Defence Ministry says: “One of our pilots brought down a Messerschmitt 109 single-seat fighter, and another brought down two German planes. “Anti-aircraft guns shot down four Messerschmitts and five Heinkel H.E. 111. K’s.” Mental Hospital Bombed, A mental hospital at Morstel, near Antwerp, has been bombed and _ set aflame, and several railway stations in central Belgium have been destroyed by bombs.