March of Events

Northland Age, Volume IX, Issue 65, 24 May 1940, Page 3

March of Events

Tuesday Information received in New Zealand late last night indicated that no great change has taken place on the Western Front within the last 24 hours. The Germans appear to be throwing all their heavy equipment into the battle and reinforcing it by aeroplanes. French “seventy five 1 ' guns, firing over open sights, inflicted terrible losses upon the enemy. The French admit the fall of St. Quentin but say that their troops have repulsed the Germans and driven them back across the Aisne. The enemy is still trying to widen his base and has been repulsed in most cases though there is heavy pressu-o or. the northern side of his salient. The position on the other fronts is unchanged. Nazi sources close to Hitler believe that he will try to occupy the Channel ports and demand that Britain surrender. If Britain refuses he will launch an air attack. The Belgian army has withdrawn intact after withstanding furious onslaughts by the Germans. Biitish forces pay high tributes to the effectiveness of their tactics. The Royal Air Force patrolled Western Germany all last night, taking action against military traffic. Oil stores were heavily bombed, much damage being inflicted. Added precautions are being taken in Switzerland. These include the closing of all telephone kiosks, forbidding foreigners to carry arms, and creating an Industry Guard to prevent sabotage and treachery from within. The Germans have withdrawn light tanks and armoured cars from the immediate region of the Swiss frontier. It is authoritatively stated in London that General Weygand is now Chief of the French General Staff and Commander -in - Chief of all theatres of operations. This, it is said, establishes General Weygand’s seniority to Marshal Gamelin as originally understood. The French newspaper “L’Ordre” says the appointment of General Weygand fulfils all the political conditions for victory. The Press generally approves wholeheartedly. All Paris newspapers will consist of a single sheet as from today. The former leader of the Indian Congress Party, Jawaharlal Nehru, says that the launching of a civil disobedience campaign when Britain was engaged in a life and death struggle would be an action derogatory to India’s honour. Wednesday No serious change in the situation has been reported during the night in spite of numerous enemy engagements in which a strong attempt has been made to drive through to the Channel ports. Bombing attacks have continued to be carried out on enemy communications and oil stores. A British war correspondent with the British forces in Belgium said yesterday : Fighting desperately, British troops once more stand with their backs to the Channel. If ever Britain needed the stubbornness that made her famous at Waterloo, she needs it now. It was stated later in the report however, that the British line had not been “dented” and that the enemy advance appeared to be losing momentum. Important measures are being taken in France to speed up the war. Strong warnings against taking any notice of rumours which are not officially verified have been given to the populace for this is an enemy method of causing evacuation of districts not threatened and dislocating industry. ' Severe penalties which are applicable to deserting soldiers will also be applicable to workers leaving factories without instruction. French Ministries no longer communicate by memoranda as personal contact is more efficient. All persons, whether soldiers or civilians, arrested in the act of committing military crime or crimes against the State will be tried by court martials. No appeal will be allowed. Information received is that Canada is greatly widening her war plans. From the financial side she had spent 275,000,000 dollars up to May 15. Naval expenditure amounted to 100,000,000. Thursday News comes today of the most sensational event in British history. Making a record passage through Parliament, later to be passed without division in the House of Lords, there has come The Emergency Powers and other Acts which amount to complete conscription of all the resources of Britain. “At this grave moment,” says The Times, “this united nation feels no hesitation or misgiving, although the new Act comes near to suspending every essence of the Constitution which has taken 1000 years to build. Our ancient liberties are in pawn for victory and nothing less than the destruction of Hitlerism can redeem them.” Every branch of life will be touched by the new Act. A seven-day week will be worked in ordnance fac-

tories. Railways will run weekday schedules throughout the weekends. The Trade Union Congress has declared there will be no haggling over anything necessary for victory. The Trade Union Movement pledges its hard-won liberties in the fight for the liberty of the nation itself.

Every private interest must give way to the urgent needs of the community. Excess profits will be taxed 300 percent. The Government has complete control of all property and all persons, the country’s finances and all banks. The Minister for Labour is empowered to direct any person to do anything required. This applies to all. The Minister prescribes remuneration, hours and conditions. “We cannot know what the next few weeks, or even days may bring,” says Mr. Attlee, “but whatever may come, we shall meet it as British people have in the past met dangers and overcome them . . Industry is to be carried on, in effect, for the community and not for private profit.” On the Western Fx-ont the Allies are hitting back blow for blow. This xvar is a fight at the fastest mechanical pace that can be devised. It is open warfare, with no single front but a dozen isolated ones. Arras has been retaken by the Allies but they admit the peril of the enemy advance even though it is doubtful whether he can consolidate his gains. The advance towards Calais and Boulogne lies like a broad bayonet pressed at the heart of England and France.