GERMAN ADVANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23662, 22 May 1940, Page 9

GERMAN ADVANCE

CLAIMS BY BERLIN OCCUPATION OF LAON ARRIVAL AT THE SOMME By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, May 'JO The German communique to-night says German troops stormed Laon and the swastika was hoisted over the town hall. Troops also advanced south-west and reached the Oise and Aisne Canal. The official agency says: "The pursuit of the enemy is-continuing. Our forces and dive-bombers repulsed French armoured attacks north of Laon and destroyed 50 tanks. "Strong German forces advanced along the Aisne." The German High Command states: "We are continuing to pursue the enemy rearguards in Belgium. Wo crossed the Dendre River and reached the Upper Scheldt. British troops, by forced march, are seeking to reach the Channel ports. "At Maubeuge and southward of Valenciennes we repulsed attacks by the Franco-Belgian Army, which suffered heavily. Further to the southwest our mechanised units reached the plains of the Somme, a battlefield of the last war. on the road between Cambrai and Peronne.

"The inner belt of the Liege forts and all the iorts of Nanuir, except one, are in our possession. "The German Air Force successfully attacked enemy communications and aerodromes, sank two destroyers off the Belgian coast, seriously . damaged a French torpedo-boat and destroyed three merchant ships." • The communique claims that the Allies on Sunday lost 14-3 aeroplanes, of which 95 were shot down in aerial combat. Thirty-one German machines are •missing. British aircraft on Sunday night repeated their raids on Western Germany, says the communique, and caused a number of civilian casualties. A war prisoners' camp was the only military objective hit, and a number of prisoners was killed.

EARLIER CLOSING ORDER TO ITALIAN SCHOOLS GERMAN OFFICIAL IN ROME (Received May 21, 5.110 p.m.) HOME, May 20 The Italian Ministry of Education has ordered all schools to close down for their holidays on .May ;31 instead of June 30. The Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, has gone to Albania, ostensibly

for an inspection of public works which are under construction. The Jeacler of the German Colonial League, General Hitter von Ifipp, has arrived in Home.

ALIENS RESTRICTION

British Wirelnss LONDON, Mn.v 20 An order made to-day by the Home. Secretary, Sir John Anderson, prohibits aliens of nil nationalities from possessing firearms, ammunition or explosives without a special permit.