How News Went Forth

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1944, Page 6

How News Went Forth

LONDON. June 6

The most powerful throb of aero engines ever, beat over the city as large forces of Allied bombers went out at dawn and gave Londoners the grst hint that big events were under way, 'but millions went to work urv aware that "D Day" had begun Bustling activity, with American military policemen guarding the doors of the * conference room, was the first intimation at the Ministry for Information that the invasion had begun. Specially accredited correspondents were summoned and isolated from outside contacts.

The Ministry bells sounded three alarms, after which the “V" signal was given, summoning all other pressmen to the main hall, where the communique was read and then the news flashed to the waiting world. A few seconds after 9.55 a.m. the 8.8. C. broke into the home service with the historic communique No 1., from Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force..

Then, for an hour, listeners heard a dramatic series of statements beginning with General Eisenhower's call to the people of Europe and numerous repetitions of the momentous news in almost every European language, with the English translation thereof. European Leaders Speak King Haakon appealed to Norwegians to do everything to impede the Germans. The Netherlands Prime Minister (M. Gerbrandy) followed with a similar plea to the Dutch, emphasising like King Haakon, that the appeal applied only to those not belonging to organised resistance movements which already had received their “D Day" orders. A British announcer then broke in to reveal that General do Gaulle, had arrived in Britain with Mr. A. Duff Cooper and French political and military advisers. The absence of French troops from the first wave of invasion forces was in accordance with an Allied agreement to avoid the possibility of Frenchmen fighting against their countrymen. News Hunger In Moscow

News of the second front was released at Moscow at noon. The news spread like wildfire. People thronged the parks in front of microphones, eagerly listening to the latest reports. The German people were not told of the invasion until 11.40 a.m. when the German News Agency put out the first story of the landings for home consumption.

President, Roosevelt was asleep when the first news of the invasion arrived. says a Washington message. The Canadian Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) stated: “The great liberating operations from the West may prove the decisive phase of the war against Germany. We must not expect an early result and should be prepared for local reverses as well as successes. We have every reason for confidence. The hearts of all in Canada will be filled with silenet prayer for successes of our forces and the s speedy liberation of Europe, j “Marshal Petain, broadcasting over I Paris radio, appealed to the French I people not to aggravate their misI fortunes by acts which would bring upon them tragic reprisals. “France has become a ESTtlefield. The circumstances of battle may compel the German army to take special measures in the battle area. Accept this necessity.” j Fetain urged officials, railwaymen j and workers to remain at their posts i where they could serve the German | military machine in order to keep the i life of the nation. “Don’t listen to outside voices,” Petain concluded. Up To Schedule At Ottawa, Mr Mackenzie King told the House of Commons that Canadian invasion forces had gained the initial objective and were making good progress. President Roosevelt told a Press conference in Washington that the invasion was up to schedule. President Roosevelt today wrote a special prayer in which he invoked God’s aid in attempts to secure victory for the Allied forces of liberation. Mr Curtin, in a statement, said: “Great events are taking place \yhich cannot be encompassed by mere words. The, prayers and hopes of every Australian, will go with the Allied forces in their liberating march.” American Calm America received the news of the invasion calmly. There were few demonstrations, says a New York message. Newspapers issued special editions and radio stations pushed all scheduled programmes aside and broadcast instead a continuous flow of news.

Crowds in the streets lined up in. front of loud-speakers.