DUTCH TANKER SUNK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24326, 17 June 1940, Page 7

DUTCH TANKER SUNK

FOUR MEMBERS OF CREW LOST CAIRO, June 14. An unnamed Dutch tanker was sunk in the Mediterranean. Four members of the crew were lost. Several mines, some of which are off the Egyp ian coast, have been swept up.

“A DEAD CITY ” RETREAT FROM PARIS NAZIS IN COMMAND CELEBRATIONS IN GERMANY PARIS. June 14. The Paris bridges are intact, but the French blew up big armaments factories in the suburbs. The radio commentator says the relinquishment of Paris gives more room and suppleness to the movement of the army, which is ferociously continuing to resist the German pressure. It is impossible to prophesy what will happen to Paris now. The opinion is expressed that it would cease to be an open town if the Germans attempted to use it as a recuperative centre for German troops. il is doubted here whether the Maginot Line could be used to attack forces in its rear. Soon after the announcement that the Germans were marching .into Paris listeners in London heard a German programme on the wavelength of the station Radio-Patis. A British Official Wireless message states: The utmost sympathy is being expressed in all quarters in London for the French nation in the grief it must be feeling at the necessity to abandon .Paris, of which every Frenchman is so justly proud and fond. Reports state that Paris was a silent town when the Germans marched in. All shops and house windows were shut, and no one but the police and civil gua:ds were in the streets. Meanwhile the French Army had fallen back on either side of the city to a line running well south. The Maginot Line A Berlin communique from the Fuhrer’s headquarters states: “The complete collapse of the entire French from between the Channel and the Ma.inot Line at Montmedy has nullu flee, the original intention of the French command to defend the capital, consequently the French proclaimed Paris an open city and abstained from defending it. The victorious German .troops are-now entering the city.” Hit'ler has ordered the ringing of bells for 15 minutes to-day and the beflagging of the country for three days. Police and civil guards closed the gates cf the city against evacuees at midnight. This step was taken in view of enemy pressure, particularly in the \ astern suburbs. The French Army has fallen back on either side of the city to a line well southward. The German advance guards began to move forward, and it was to avoid the possi. bility of collision and confusion that orders were given that no more people would be allowed to leave the city after midnight. Every Shop Closed Paris is a dead city. Every shop is closed, and no one is seen in the streets except police and civil guards, who are without weapons, and are a purely civic body. German troops are now occupying vantage points and walking the streets of Paris. There is no news in London from Paris except a brief message from an American journalist saying that small groups of people sat in the terraces, boulevards, and cafes as the German columns rolled past the Arc de Triamphe. After reading the communique announcing the taking of Paris, the Berlin radio announcer said: “We are now going to play ‘ The March. Into Pans,’ which was specially composed for this occasion."