BATTLE FOR ROTTERDAM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24296, 13 May 1940, Page 7

BATTLE FOR ROTTERDAM

ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS

LANDING BY PARACHUTES

(United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, May 11. (Received May 12, at 9 p.m.) The Germans again launched mass attacks by parachute troops all over Holland this afternoon, concentrating on western seaports, from which they have been driven out. This morning they are concentrating on Rotterdam, and according to the latest report several parachutists reached the centre of the city and occupied the Stock Exchange and other buildings. They are also in possession of the marine barracks. Several fires have broken out in the old city and heavy fighting is in progress. Parachutists are also landing in the south and north-east of Rotterdam in an attempt to isolate the seaport and penetrate the rear defence lines running south of Rotterdam to the North Sea. At least 67 planes dropped troops, while more than 100 German bombers and fighters were active. The Amsterdam radio announced that six planes dropped parachutists from 600 feet above Rotterdam. Three others disgorged soldiers near Rotterdam shipyards and others landed in the suburbs of Rotterdam,-Waalhaven, Dordrecht, Hoogewaluwe, Schoonhoven, The Hague and Wassenaar. ' • To-night Dutch observation corps continue to report fresh landings of parachutists. Military sources in Paris declare that German troops crossed the Maas and cap tured Maestricht. Arnhem is also reported to be occupied. A message from Brussels states that German air activity over Belgium diminished at 1 a.m., but was renewed at dawn. British residents have been warned to leave Belgium with as little luggage as possible. The Belgian Army still holds “the line of destruction,” which is considerably in advance of the main lines of defence. A Belgian communique states: “Our army contacted the enemy and fighting is occurring on Albert canal, the Meuse, and Ardennes. Large enemy forces, supported by planes And tanks, attacked the Maastricht region and succeeded in gaming a foothold on Belgian defensive positions. Our troops in Luxemburg continued movements according to plan and vigorously held up the invader. Our positions around Liege aie intact.” . . o. A night communique issued in Paris says: “Our troops continued to advance rapidly. Belgium is being assisted by Allied troops. The enemy continues to attack violently. We quickly drove off lively local attacks westward of the Moselle. German planes continued to bomb French territory, but achieved negligible results. Our Air Force violently retaliated against aerodromes and important military objectives. “ The Allied Air Forces shot down 36 planes over Belgium and France. One of our pursuit planes alone shot down 11 enemy planes yesterday and five to-day. It is now estimated that the Germans have lost more than 200 planes since the invasion.” It is understood in London that “ Cobber ” Kain shot down at least five German planes in yesterday’s air battles above Belgium and France. Official circles describe the attack on Waalhaven as the heaviest aerial bombardment since the outbreak. Earlier it was reported by Dutch official circles that the Dutch had retaken Dordrecht and Waalhaven from the Germans, but a later message described this as apparently premature. A Dutch army communique said: “British planes repeatedly bombed the sole aerodrome in German possession. German troops advanced from the aerodrome to certain points, but we are taking action to eliminate them.”