DELAYED REPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23687, 20 June 1940, Page 9

DELAYED REPLY

MOTIVE OF ENEMY REVENGE INDICATED LAST ARMISTICE RECALLED LONDON, Juno 18 The German radio announcer today reminded listeners of the "humiliating negotiations" over the armistice in October, 1918. He said the German mission was kept waiting for five days for a reply to the German Army's appeal, then, 34 days later, the mission was told that the final tex-ms would be negotiated over the heads of the Army.

The Germans were forced, he said, to continue fighting for 34 days.

"We remember all that now and must not be moved by the lamentations of the French leaders," the announcer added. "If M. Baudouin, Foreign Minister, meant that the French had not yet given up the battle, then the French Government must bear the responsibiltiy for further bloodshed.

"M. Baudouin wants to make the world believe it is only the French Army that has been beaten, and not the French Navy and Air Force. If M. Baudouin's words mean that France does not want to stop fighting on all fronts, then we say the German Army will continue the struggle until France's leader and the new system are destroyed." The German news agency says it was France's ambition to carve up Germany, whose victory will be based 011 reality entailing the political and military destruction of those who have sworn annihilation of Germany.

MILITARY COLLAPSE

GERMAN ARMY VERSION

100,000 PRISONERS CLAIMED

LONDON, June 18 The Berlin High Command communique states: "The military collapse of France continues rapidly. We crossed the River Orne, between Caen and Maus, and - have reached the Loire, above Orleans, as far as Nevers, southeast of which we are also advancing. "In tho Maginot Line region the Germans captured the fortresses of Dijon and Belfort, and occupied Le Creusot, where the principal French arms factory has fallen into German hands.

"Over 100,000 prisoners, with full equipment, and many divisions and fortresses have been captured. "Yesterday the air force attacked Rennes railway station, where entire trains were blown up and troops were thrown into panic. "The air force also made the greatest attack since tho outbreak of the war against enemy transport ships at the mouth of the Loire. A large tonnage was destroyed or damaged, including two transports of 30,000 tons each, partly loaded. Nine ships were sunk and others burned out, or capsized, as a result of explosions." The Berlin radio stated that French units in the Maginot Line had desperately but unsuccessfully counterattacked in an attempt to break through the German ring. Some 20,000 French were taken prisoner .