Evening Star Newspaper, May 10, 1940, Page 1

Weather Forecast Fair tonight; tomorrow cloudy, followed by light showers; little change in tem- perature; lowest tonight about 50. Tem- peratures today—Highest, 66, at 1 p.m.; lowest, 48, at 6 a.m. - From the United States Weather Bureau report. Full details on Pl(:'A-!. s Late New York Markets, Page 20. 88th YEAR. No. 35,073. The Foeni WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION o Star WASHINGTON, D. C, 'FRIDAY, MAY- 10, 1940—FIFTY-EIGHT PAGES. ### ‘From Press to Home Within the Hour’ Most people in Washington have The Star delivered to their homes every evening and Sunday morning. (P) Means Associated Press. THREE CENTS. 70 NAZI PLANES SHOT DOWN, DUTCH CLAIM; ALLIES IN BELGIUM; CHAMBERLAIN RESIGNS + Hitler Hurls Troops Into Low Countries; Leopold Leads Army Airports and Cities Bombed; Germany Carries Air War To England and France By the Associated Press. LONDON, May 10.—Adolf Hitler, proclaiming the be- ginning of a fight which “decides the fate of the German nation for the next 1,000 years,” hurled his forces into the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg today. : The Netherlands and Belgium mustered their full strength against the invaders and called for help from the allies, who said it was being sent “with the greatest speed”; tiny Luxembourg’s | government was reported to have fled. In the Netherlands, where flood waters were sent raging into strategic regions, the Germans used flat-bottomed boats to span inundated areas. Warpianes bombed airports and other objec- tives or landed troops by parachute. Fleet units struck along the | coast. The Berlin radio announced the occupation of The Hague, the seat of the Netherlands government, and parts of Rotterdam. Queen Wilhelmina broadcast a “flaming protest against the un-| exampled violation of good faith.” Leopold Takes Command. Belgium ordered general mobilization and King Leopold took | active command of the 600,000 troops as his father did before him | in the World War. German warplanes raided Brussels, killing two children and wounding of 50 persons. One report said German infantry had been halted at least temporarily at the frontier while a British-French army was re- ported in Paris to be moving rapidly across the Belgian-French border to meet the invaders. Germany carried the air war into the French interior and into England, where four incendiary bombs were reported dropped at Chilam, near Canterbury, 40 miles southeast of London. Germany caught Great Britain in the midst of a cabinet crisis over the failure of the allied Norwegian campaign. Parliament, in recess until May 21, was expected to be recalled, perhaps next Tuesday; Whitsuntide holidays were canceled. Full Allied Help Pledged Britain promised full allied help to the invaded neutrals and announced her “protective” occupation of Iceland, North Atlantic island tied through the Danish throne with Denmark, to prevent German seizure. Switzerland, nestling in her mountains between France and Germany, ordered complete mobilization. Germans closed the German-4 Hungarian frontier. Italy took Germany’s action as another in which allies were “beaten once again in swift- ness.” Nazi Objectives Uncertain. A Paris military spokesman said the Germans must have one of two military purposes in mind. Pointing out it was difficult at the moment to determine the exact Nazi objectives, the spokesman said they are trying: ¥ 1. An operation to gain control of a long strip of coastline facing England, or 2. “A vast strategical hmovement of invasion comparable to and in- finitely larger than that carried out _ by the German troops across Bel- gium in 1914.” “Most Gigantic Battle” Foreseen. In the latter case, he said, “we Glass Favors Helping Allies in Every Way Short of Sending Men By the Associated Press. Senator Glass, Democrat, of Virginia proposed today that the United States supply to the allies immediately “every as- sistance short of actually send- ing over an expeditionary force.” “Germany ought to be wiped off the face of this earth,” the 82-year-old Virginian told re- porters. $10,000,000 War Relief Drive Begun by Red Cross are at the beginning of the most gigantic battle of all time.” Germany’s sudden expansion of the war’s scope, close on the heels ~of her occupation of Denmark and conquest of two-thirds of Norway, gave & mew line-yp to the allied powers which now include the British and French empires, Poland, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands. French dispatches said cities in France which had been bombed in- cluded Nancy, Lille, Lyon, Colmar, Pontoise and Luxueil. At least two goldiers were killed at Lyon and several at Nancy. ‘The British government ominous- ly warned that “it must be recog- nized that once again Germany has gained a military advantage by tak- ing the initiative in attacking neu- tral countries.” France has several million men (S8ee LONDON, Page A-5) 5 Nazi Bombers Downed By British in France By the Associated Press. LONDON, May 10.—The British Royal Air Force shot down five German bombers in “successful” re- sistance against ‘Nazi attacks on British air bases in France, the Air Ministry announced today. “In the early hours this morning enemy aircraft unsuccessfully at- tacked several airdromes occupied by the R. A. F. in France,” said a ministry communique. “R. A. F. fighters engaged the enemy and it is already known that five enemy aircraft were shot down” German bombers, timing their at- tack to coincide with the drive into Belgium and the Netherlands, raided the Thames Estuary below London and the southeast coast of England. ‘They were met by the heaviest bar- rage of anti-aircraft fire heard in the district since the war started. There was no reports of damage. ‘The loud drone of planes aroused an east coast town early today and violent gunfire at ses shook the town for about an hour. .Many persons went to shelters although there was no raid warning. A By the Associated Press. A $10,000,000 war relief drive was announced today by ‘the American Red Cross. Chairman Norman H. Davis said that the expansion of the European war into Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg meant that large relief funds would be required if the Red Cross was to mitigate the suf- fering. Reporting that authorization for the drive was voted by the Red Cross Convention meeting here earlier this week, Mr. Davis said: “The hour has struck, with a threat of ensuing suffering and horror to be endured by women and children, and the aged, such as the human mind never has conceived. “I urge all sympathetic Americans to respond quickly and generously to this appeal by making immediate contributions to their local Red Cross chapters.”. He said each of the 3,700 local Red Cross chapters had been advised of its quota of the $10,000,000 to be raised. ' Prospects of U. Unchanged, Says Roosevelt By JOHN C. HENRY. Expressing his full personal sym- pathy for the plight of the neutral Lowland nations invaded today by German forces, President Roosevelt told his' press conference that he still saw no change in the prospects of the United States becoming em- in Europe’s war, Looking slightly . weary from a night of telephonic consultations and a mid-morning conference with diplomatic and defense advisers, the Chief Executive cited approvingly a curt pronouncement of Queen Wil- helmina to the effect that she and her government will do their duty in the face of sudden attack upon & scrupulously neutral nation. “Personally,” he said, giving cor- respondents permission to quote him directly, “I am in full sympathy with the very excellent statement that was given out, the proclama- tion by the Queen of the Nether- A Churcmamed Prime Minister In Crisis Laborites Agree To Serve in New Government BULLETIN. LONDON, May 10 (®. —Winston Churchill to- night succeeded Neville Chamberlain as Brit- ain’s Prime Minister. By the Asscclated Press. LONDON, May 10.—An end to Prime Minister Chamberlain’s gov- ernment appeared foreshadowed today in the midst of Germany’s new blitzkrieg by the decision ol’ the Labor Party’s Executive Com- mittee to join a cabinet “under a new Prime Minister.” | Mr. Chamberlain will broadcast | a message to the nation at 9 pm. (3 pm, E. S. T) tonight, it was| announced shortly after he had| conferred with King George VI. In Paris Premier Reynaud an- nounced a reorganization of his cabinet to face the intensified threat of Germany's drive to the west. M. Reynaud’s office announced the reorganization had been ac- complished with the inclusion of two extreme Rightist ministers in the new cabinet. (The announcement followed an earlier statement that the resignations of 13 undersecre- taries of state had been ac- ch?ted.fi r. Chamberlain, after three meetings with the war cabinet, drove to Buckingham Palsce for an audi= ence with King George. The action was interpreted immediately as in- dicating that he had resigned and Winston Churchill was being asked to form a new government. The Labor Execuilve Committee announced s unanimous decision to take “their share of responsibility as a full partner in a new government under a new Prime Minister who would command the confidence of the nation.” Mr. Chamberlain emerged with only an 81-vote margin in the House of Commons Wednesday at the end of a two-day debate on the failure of the allies in Norway. Immediately after the decision was announced, Clement R. Attlee, leader of the opposition in the House of Commons, and “Arthur Green- wood, his deputy, who conferred last night and today with Mr. Chamber- lain, returned to London for a fur- ther conference with the Prime Minister. Sir Archibald Sinclair, leader of the Liberal Party, was said by in- formed sources to have indicated willingness to join a coalition gov- ernment in' the face of the crisis faced by the allies. The recall of Parliament, possibly next Tuesday, was considered cer- tain. Parliament had recessed only yesterday for 12 days. German Scuttling Attempts In Willemstad Thwarted By the Associated Press. ‘WILLEMSTAD, Netherlands West Indies, May 10.—Attempts of the crews of three German vessels to burn or scuttle their ships here were frustrated today and one German who resisted Netherlands authorities was Teported killed. - Soon after word was received that Germany and Holland were at war the Patricia and Alemania were set afire by their crews, but quick action by firefighters controlled the flames. Sea cocks were opened by the crew on the Henry Horn, but the authori- ties closed them. The vessel was left listing. : g Other German vessels in the harbor were safe. German crews were picked up and sent to Bonaire. S. Involvement lands. Let it go at that. “It is worth reading.” Border Resistance In Low Counfries Broken, Germans Say Hitler Takes Personal Command of Forces In Invasion (Text of the German memo- randum to Belgtum and the * Netherlands on page A-4.) By the Associated Press. BERLIN, May 10.—The German high command announced tonight that German troops had broken porder resistance on the Belgian- Netherlands-Luxembourg front. ‘The communique stated: “German troops at 5:30 a.m. went over the Dutch, Luxembourg and Belgian borders. Enemy oppositjon in the border area was broken everywhere in the first attack, in the closest collaboration with the air force.” Adolf Hitler sent his troops into Belgium and Holland shortly before dawn and personally took command of military operations. By noon the German radio an- nounced that The Hague, Nether- lands capital, had been occupied by German forces. The announcement said detachments of the German Navy occupied the capital at noon. A fort nearby also was reported seized. (A dispatch from The Hague - two hours after the Berlin radio’s announcement said that German leafiets dropped in The Hague by plane told the residents today that strong German forces have surrounded the city and that re- * sistance is insanity.”) Command Communique. ‘The high command communique, issued daily, was datelined this time from the “Fuehrer's headquarters” and said: “In view of the immediately im- pneding extension of the war area by evening onto Belgian and Dutch territory and the threat to the Ruhr territory connected therewith, the German Western Army at daybreak May 10 started over the German western borders along the broadest front for attack. “Simultaneously, the air force at- tacked an enemy airport with great success and strong units have taken a hand in land fighting in support of ground troops. “To conduct general operations of the defense force, the Fuehrer and supreme commander has gone to the front.” (The Chicago Daily News For- eign Service reported German forces were landed along the Dutch coast at dawn this morn- ing from a fleet of transports under guard of Nazi warships and the whole Dutch coast was occupied by noon, it is claimed here—under the very noses of the British. The Germans then laid mines along the coast to " hamper allied operations in those ‘waters. (German forces were ferried in'" hundreds of flat-bottomed “I am making herewith a flaming protest against this unexampled vio- lation of good faith and what is considered decent between civilized nations,” Queen Wilhelmina as- serted in her statement. Asked directly if he would care to comment at this time on American chances of remaining out of the war, Mr. Roosevelt first replied that he would not because it would be speculative. He hastened to add, however, that this reply should not be interpreted to mean that he be- lieves we will get in. motorboats across the regions which the Dutch had flooded as & protective measure. Each boat accommodated 16 men.) “Darted” Over Borders. Steam-rolling its way into Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg by & com- bination of the land and air forces that proved so effective against Po- land, Norway and Denmark, the armed forces of the Third Reich, under Adolf Hitler’s personal direc- tion, “darted over Germany's west- “I see no change,” he finally de- | communique clared, with reference to previous country is unlikely to volved. Mr. Roosevelt’s most specific dec- laration on this issue was contained (Bee 3 A A ! Cudahy Partially Deafened As Bomb Fell Near Embassy Envoy to Belgium Almost Knocked Down, State Department Told By GARNETT D. HORNER. John Cudahy, American Ambss- sador to Belgium, was partially deafened and almost knocked down by the force of & bomb which fell 300 feet from the United States Embassy #n Brussels, the State De- partment was informed today. Mr. Cudahy reported by telephone to William C. Bullitt, American Am- bassador to France, who relayed his report from Paris to Washington. The telephone conversation took | place at 11:15 am. Belgian time. Mr. Cudahy said one of "his ears was deafened by the explosion of the bomb near the Embassy and that it still was deaf as he talked. A number of windows in the American Embassy were shattered, he added. German forces at that time al- ready had overrun the whole of Lux- embourg and all of Limberg, & prov- ince of Holland, Mr. Cudahy re- ported and there was heavy fighting in various parts of Belgium. Windows Shattered. Windows in the American Lega- tion at The Hague also were shat- tered by the force of German bombs exploding near it; Géorge A. Gordon, American Minister .to' the Nether- lands; reported to the State Depart- JOHN CUDAHY. ment at noon (Netherlands time). Mr. Gordon said one bomb fell just behind the Netherlands Foreign Office while he was there. The Legation windows were shattered by another bomb falling near the general staff headquarters which is in the im- mediate vicinity of the Legation. Three airplanes were seen shot down within an Hour from the chan- (See CUDAHY, Page A-2) German Land Forces Halted Near Border, Belgians Announce Kin§ Assumes Active Command of Army. as Father Did in 1914 By the Associated Press. “BRUSSELS, May 10—The Ger- man land forces have been stopped within a few hundred yards of the frontier after entering Belgium as part of . Adolf Hitler's “Blitzktieg” against the low countriés, the Foreign Ministry announced today. Defense Minister Gen, Henri Denis told' the Chamber of Deputies that, at noon the Germans were halted everywhere on the Belgian defensive lines., He said he was “convinced the Germans failed to obtain their first objective and failed to gain the initial success they expected.” Premier Hubert Plerlot told the House that King Leopold III had expected to make an address, but had taken his place as commander in chief with the army in the front ‘lines. Belgium met the German invasion | Belgit had asked her old allies of 1914 for aid against the new German inyasion. Brussels was bombed this morn- (See BELGIUM, Page A-2) Belgian and Dutch Staffs In Berlin Are Guarded War Bulletins NEW YORK, May 10 (.—Two squadrons of Naszi planes, loaded with seldiers, were said to have made a “daring attempt to cap- ture Queen Wilhelmina,” an at- tempt which evidently “has met with failure and sudden death for the perpetrators.” BERLIN, May 10 (#).—An of- ficial mn::mmt tonight said almost 1 “enemy” airplanes either had been: shot dewn in_ serial battles or destroyed on the " ground. Sevem German airplanes ‘were reported missing. BERLIN ().~The Berlin. radio announced tonight that German troops had taken Maas- tricht, Holland, and Malmedy, Belgium. The Nazis crossed the Maas River with a few men on the west Dutch-German frontier at several points, the announce- ment said. 1 . Recapture of the important Dutch airdrome near The Hague from German invaders was re- ported by Dr. Alexander Loudon, Netherlands Minister to the United States, after a lengthy conference with President Roose- velt at the White House early Nazi Ambassador Visits Premier Molotoff By the Associated Press. MOSCOW, May 10.—Count Pried- rich Wernsr von Der Schulenburg, German Ambassador to Russis, vis- ited Premier Vyachesloff Molotoft %.l:fnb::m:‘d; regarding X the meeting. Rumania Closes Ports Troop Train Blasted, Resistance Declared Strong Along Rivers Invaders Dropped From Air Fight Way Into Part Of Rotterdam " ROTTERDAM (#).—Germany’s plane and para- chute troops, attempting to fight their war through Rotterdam, were driven back into a dangerous position late today by the attacks of reinforced Dutch troops and the pounding of Dutch artillery. Strong detachments of Netherlands marines made repeated rushes into the enemy positions on the Riyer Nieuwe Maas and the fighting war fierce. Dutch incendiary shells set fire to the Jarge Maas Hotel from which the Germans were operating on the left bank of the stream, which divides Amsterdam. The fire spread rapidly, threatening the thin German lines. By the Associated Press. AMSTERDAM, May 10.—The Netherlands officially an- nounced today that her defense forces had shot down at least 70 German planes, blown up a German armored train at Venlo and were offering strong resistance along rivers just inside the Eastern part of the country from Germany. The armored train, described as one of four “successfully attacked,” was reported blown up while attempting to cross the Maas River bridge at Venlo, on the border between the Province of Limburg and Germany. : The announcement said Netherlands troops offered resistance to the invaders on the Ijssel and Maas Rivers, a short distance within the Netherlands, and maintained positions at Delfzijl. A German army of the air spanned the strong land and water-line defenses of the Netherlands today and, landing by parachute and in huge seaplane transports at the western side of the nation, fought its way into part of Rotterdam. The troops occupied Rotterdam’s Waalhaven Airport after first leveling it with a tremendous aerial bombardment, alighted on the Nieuwe Maas River, in the center of Rotterdam; occupied 2 big bridge across the river and captured the Maas railway station in the city. Heavy fighting now in going on in Rotterdam. The Germans on the left bank of the Maas so far have been unable to cross be- cause of the stubborn Dutch resistance. Troops trying to advance along the left bank of the river from ‘Waalhaven Airport also were said to have been checked. German Land Army Stoutly Resisted. On the other side of Holland, across the main water line now fed by wide-open dykes, the Netherlands’ first-line defenders were resisting a German land army which entered the country along the Rhine and swarmed ahead some 15 miles to the vicinity of the Ijssel River, near Arnhem. ‘The amazing methods of aerial warfare enabled the Germans to circumvent the entire Netherlands water and land defense system and move into Rotterdam, scarcely more than 100 miles from the British coast and the home of 600,000 people. Rotterdam was taken completely by surprise at 4 am. (10:40 pm, E. S. T.) by the roar of hundreds of German planes over the city. Virtually the entire population streamed into the streets in nightclothes, - The Waalhaven Airport, south of the city, was converted into a series of craters by air bombs and the hangars knocked to the ground. F Although anti-aircraft batteries kept up a constant barrage, the Germans succeeded in landing their men by parachute and overwhelming the Dutch defenders. . A Barricades Are Thrown Up in Streets. Barricades were thrown up in the streets of Rotterdam. The Germans were using abandoned streetcars for shelters. The Germans who landed -in the river had both light and heavy machine-guns. They easily disarmed the few Dutch soldiers guarding the big bridge and took the railway station on the left bank with little trouble. A police inspector who was near the station drew a revolver and was shot down immediately. Other police were killed or wounded in trying to resist. In Amsterdam, only an-hour-and-a-half motor trip northeast of Rotterdam the stock exchange was closed and Dutch Nazi and Communist newspapers were shut down by government order. War News ITALY NOT YET READY to enter war, diplomats feel; “allies beaten again in swiftness” only Italian comment. Page A-2 NAZIS CAPTURE ROTTERDAM airport with parachute troops, and flerce battle rages as Dutch pre- vent invaders from crossing Nieuwe Maas River. Page A-1 TRUCE IN BRITISH cabinet crisis appears certain, brought by war developments, and Laboe party leaders virtually decide to join Chamberlain cabinet. Page A-1 JAPAN FOLLOWING POLICY of “strict non-involvement” in Neth- erlands Indies; Dutch put islands under martial law. Page A-5 GENERAL MOBILIZATION or- dered by Swiss government after air battles with Nazi planes en route to bomb French towns. Page A-¢ GERMAN PLANES raid far into France as troops pour into Low Countries in new “blitzkrieg.” Page A-8 “indig- pacts THE NETHERLANDS 18 nant” in denying it had any against Germany. Page A-12 Schiphol Airport, about § miles south of Amsterdam, was bombed heavily at dawn, but Amsterdam; capital and largest city of.the Netherlands, with a population of nearly 800,000, was not attacked. 15 Persons Wounded. Fifteen persons were wounded, five seriously, at Schiphol and houses about the airport were wrecked. Anti-aircraft fire and fighter planes met the attackers and shell bursts were clearly visible from buildings in Amsterdam. Many German planes flew over Amsterdam, but there were no bombs to drive the population fo the shelters, all built above, rather than below, the water-soaked ground. Defense guns ringing the city were in action from 3:30 am. to after 7 am, but German planes wers over the country as early as 2 am. Allied Planes in Aethn..’ The Netherlands sought "strong allied assistance as soon as the in- vasion began. The first sign of pledged allied aid was British and French