Evening Star Newspaper, May 15, 1940, Page 4

Allies Mass in Southwest Belgium for Last Stand in Low Countries Biggest Battle of War Imminent as Nazis Push Westward British and French Air Arm Declared in Better Shape to Meet Invaders By DREW MIDDLETON. Associated Press Foreign Correspondent. WITH THE BRITISH EXPEDI- TIONARY FORCE IN BELGIUM, May 15 (passed by field censor). The full power of the German arm- ies swept southwest today toward the tiny triangle of Belgium where the allies were massed to make their last stand in the Low Countries after the collapse of Dutch resistance. The biggest battle of the war, and perhaps its most decisive, appeared imminent. The Nazi armies, screened by armored cars and light divisions and accompanied by thousands of parachute troops, sped toward the British and French bat- tle positions. Allied Air Arm Improves. ‘The situation is probably as grave as that of 1914. The Germans in five days have forced the Dutch to their knees, overrun large sections of Belgium and opened the way to the vital channel ports from which their strategly may dictate the long- awaited blow to England. The situation seemed lightened by only one factor—the rise to power of the allied air arm, which has been fighting the Germans to a standstill. It was admittedly too early to gauge the results of yesterday’s air battle, but Royal Air Force pilots and gunners felt today that both their fighters and bombers came off best in the battles which brought down almost a dozen German bomb- ers, spread high explosives on Ger- man troop concentrations, bridges, depots and railheads far into the Third Reich’s hitherto inviolate ter- ritory. Troops Calm Under Fire. ‘Tommies followed orders calmly, going about their tasks as if the whine of German shells and the thunder of Nazi bombers did not exist. But their faces were traced with lines of anxiety. The German Army—unchecked after eight months of war—might still be in Berlin instead of a few short miles away. Privates idled, smoking cigarettes in the sunshine by the side of powerful tanks and field guns. Others ate off tables pulled from bombed and deserted houses whose inhabitants had long since fled.” Town Empty of Civilians. In flelds churned by four days of movement of men and machines, soldiers = slept with helmets over their faces. Streets of a nearby town were empty of civilians. Hobnailed boots of sentries struck hollowly. Even the troops were under cover. Snouts of anti-tank guns appeared at every corner, but to the casual eye the town appeared to be held by only & handful of men. Near one of the anti-tank guns were two bombed houses. In one the family’s breakfast still lay on the table—half eaten slices of bread, half filled cups of coffee. On a wall, at a crazy angle, hung 8 picture of a young man in the ‘World War uniform of the Belgian Army with the inscription “Mort Pour La Patrie” (died for his coun- try). Bodies Sprawled in Sun. Farther on, past the British lines, lay some of the Belgian dead. (Part censored) here a caisson had been blown up. In the sun, now growing higher and hotter, lay the shattered bodies, sprawled grotesquely as though embracing the soil they had rushed to defend against the invader. “It-ain’t very pretty,” said a Brit- ish artilleryman wryly. ‘We turned away and walked back past laughing boys who were playing cards, past silent sentries looking forward to where—screened by its own and the British mechanized cavalry—the German Army was gathering for the first real blow against the British forces. On every road there were Belgian refugees—old and very young, the lame, the blind, the weak. Refugees Don’t Look Back. Old bicycles, oxcarts and donkey wagons were their conveyances. One woman was pushing a baby carriage containing a fat, smiling baby and a pile of household goods. Another wore absurd bright red slippers with fluffy pompoms as she trudged through the heat and dust. A British officer estimated he had seen at least 70,000 in two days of travel. They never look back, he said, and I nofi:eeg the same thing. They just tram on. Ayhalge, florid man sat beside a bicycle, crying. He had to leave his magnificent Belgian police dog behind, he said. When we came that way again he was gone and the dog lay on the doorstep lookipg up the deserted street for his van- ished master. Showers Tonight Due ToCheck Heat at 88 Clouds which will release showers tonight and tomorrow morning are likely to check the heat at 88 de- grees today, according to the ‘Weather Bureau. Yesterday thermometers reached & peak of 92 degrees at 6 pm,, ap- parently causing heat prostration to two men. George F. Downing, 98, of 3408 Oliver street N.W., top- pled while crossing Connecticut avenue at Morrison street, but was taken home by a motorist and re- fused medical attention, police re- . Prostrated in a park at Fifth and E streets N.-W., was Clin- ton Crawford, 42, of the 1100 block of Sixth street SE. He was treated at Casualty Hospital. Coolest temperature today was 64 degrees at 6 am,, but by 9:30 the sun drove it up to 78 degrees—the same as yesterday. Reinbow Veterans to Meet Represgntative McInvale, Demo- crat, of Alabama, will be the guest of honor at & supper-meeting of the District Chapter, Ratnbow Division Caitol Pork. o Bominated, ) O R PARIS EPERNAY Z SEINE R, < 2o r:-/'v e e — Miles \ THE EVENING THE HAGUE RUSSELS \ [ 7/ = CLt Y STAR, WASHINGTO AMSTERDAM ALBERT CANAL ,‘\ ‘ ur fi 5 IEI.FOR'.I' MULHOUSE] BASEL Ry 5 o BERNE L GENEVA N\ v GENEVA'SWITZERLAN an’ 0 SAROBER. 2\ _LAKE OF T IR\ CONSTANCE ZURICH \\\ SN - D NAZI PUSH CONTINUES—Germans today occupied The Hague (1) after the Dutch gave up every- where except in Zeeland Province (2). England shuddered at the menace of aerial attacks (3). Allies claimed the Nazis were suffering severe losses at Liege (4), but that the heaviest German drive was at Namur and Sedan (5). The Germans crossed the Meuse at Sedan and were halted. Battle front (dotted line) extended to Longwy (6) and the comparatively quiet Maginot-West Wall area (7). The Little Maginot Line, along the French-Belgian border, is indicated by crosses. At Lake Constance Germans practiced pontoon crossings of the Rhine (8) and massed troops. The Swiss were mobilized for a possible German drive around the Maginot Line. French Attack on Maastricht Believed Likely by Maij. Eliot Counter Blow Might Break Nazi Drive If Air Superiority Is Not Too Great By MAJ. GEORGE FIELDING ELIOT. The fears expressed in yesterday’s articls on two points have proved but too well founded. 1. The Germans have broken through the main Dutch positions before Utrecht and there is nothing to show that any inundations in this area were carried out. This seems certainly due to fifth column work. 2. A fast-moving German mech- anized column has penetrated the gap between. the Dutch and Belgian defense positions, south of the Maas, Shrough the provinces of Lim- burg and Noord Brabant, and has made contact with the German air troops south of Rotterdam. These two occurrences have brought Dutch resistance to an end, save in the province of Zeeland and the western part of Noord Brabant, where allied reinforcements are re- ported as arriving.: The strength of the German forces here is not clear, and it is not yet certain whether Zeeland can be saved or whether Antwerp can be protected from a direct attack from the north. Certainly, as pointed out yesterday, the preservation of Zeeland at least from German inyasion i3 well worth a determined allied effort, since it is here that the Germans would find the most effective air and sub- marine bases for operations against the British Isles. Main Battle Aleng the Meuse. Meanwhile, the main battle is de- veloping along the Meuse between Liege and Sedan, with the Germans arriving at the river line in consid- erable force. The forts of Liege, at least in part, appear still in Belgian hands. There is nothing as yet to indicate any German crossing of the Meuse south of Liege. The Ger- mans are in Sedan, where their southward advance has been stopped by the fire of the main French de- fense line; the loss of the town itself is of no great military' importance. The chief feature of interest in the German advance to the Meuse is ['the rapidity with which they pene- trated the wooded and hilly region of the Belgian Ardennes, where special defense measures and spe- cially trained troops were supposed to be able seriously to delay any in- vader. North of Liege the German mech- anized units which crossed at Maas- tricht and near Eben Amael and forced the Albert Canal between Hasselt and Liege have penetrated deep into Belgium and have fought a desperate battle with French mechanized elements in the vicinity of St. Trond. The Germans are reported advancing botd north and south of the canal, but their prog- ress appears to be meeting with in- creasing tion. A number of possibilities are now to be envisaged. Yesterday atten- tion was invited to the difficulty of ascertaining the German objective. It is simply to make sure of their grip on the Netherlands, and then to assall Great Britain by sea and b ] DANCE WITH GLEN %umn “:‘fi: i MILLER| air? Or does the Germany Army think f{tself, with its superior air force, capable of trying for a knock- out blow against the allied armies in Northern France? Or, the Nether- lands being largely overrun, do the Belgian coast and perhaps even the Channel ports (Dunkerque, Cal- ais, Boulogne) become further Ger- man objectives in their attack on Great Britain? Counter-Measures Certain. There is no way to tell. But of one thing we may rest confident— the French general staff has not been taken by surprise and is even now concerting counter-measures. Upon the nature and fortune of these counter-measfires will rest, in large part, the outcome of the next few days' fighting. What may hap- pen is: 1. Stabilization on the Meuse. This would leave a sharp allied salient thrust, out between the Meuse and the Albert Canal, even if the German mechanized elements now in this area can be driven out. 2. Stabilization on the line Ant- werp - Namur - Sedan. This is a shorter line, weak in its northern half, and depends on the firm hold- ing of the fortress of Antwerp, and to some extent of Zeeland. 3. A German break-through clear to the Belgian coast, driving the allles back to the French frontier fortifications all along the Franco- Belgian frontier, and imperiling the Channel ports. Or a break-through at Sedan might be attempted. 4, It 1s possible that the French are now collecting a mass of ma- neuvers in Belgian Flanders, with the mission’ of striking eastward from a takeoff line Antwerp-Brus- sels directed upon Maastricht. This move, If successful, would imperil the whole of the German forces now in the loop of the Meuse. It is by far the most likely develop- ment, provided always (a) that Ger- man air superiority is not so great as to prevent its getting under way; (b) that the allies, having regard to their Italian anxieties, have enough troops to spare to make it strong enough. For the moment, the Germans have attained none of their objec- tives. They have conquered most of 100! LY §1 A FREE ESTIMATES Pennsylvania th St the Netherlands, but they do not have the vital province of Zeeland, the possession of which could be their only motive for invading the Netherlands. They have penetrated into Belgium, but they have neither destroyed the Belgian army nor have they reduced to complete pos- session the key position of Liege. They have widened their front as against the French by adding to it the section between the Moselle and the Meuse, but they have inflicted no serious defeat on any large French force. In other words, they have advanced, they have gained important new, positions, but they are far as yet from any knockout blow, save against the Dutch army; they have added 15 Belgian divisions to the sum total of their enemies and their further accomplishments remain for the future to disclose. They are probably able to put into the line on the western front a total of 60 to 80 infantry divisions and 10 mechanized divisions; the allies should have here about 70 infantry divisions (assuming say 20 held on the Italian frontier) and 10 to 12 mechanized or partly mechanized divisions. The Germans do not, therefore, save in the air, possess the degree of superiority necessary for a great decision. Can their air advantage, plus their really wonderful co-ordin- ation, speed and boldness and their behind-the-lines technique give them a decisive victory? This is the question that must be in all minds. He would be a bold man who would try to answer it categorically, Yet one may venture this far with as- surance: The French Army and its excellent staff are not standing idly by while the Germans roll forward to a new series of effortless con- quests. Of all the possible German maneuvers against France, the at- tempt to repeat the 1914 swing through has certainly received the greatest share of attention from the French war plans section. We should keep that in mind for the next few days. Objective Still in Doubt. It will not pay to be over-optimis- tic, and I do not mean to deny that the Germans have accomplished much. and may accomplish yet more. Whether their ultimate objective is g sl AL S e FORD ENGINE HEADS WELDED WELDIT, INC. 516 Ist St. NW. ME. 7944 GCAN NOW HAVE THAT MODERN INLAID LINOLEUM ___foryowr KITCHEN s .00 PER WEEK and Sealex Inlaid Linoleum _ EXPERT WORKMEN. Linoleum Co, DI 674 Luxembourg Seizure By Nazi Fifth Column Bared by Refugees Royal Family Narrowly Escapes Capture in Flight to France By WILLIAM BIRD. ON THE LUXEMBOURG FRON- TIER, May 15.—N.AN.A. by Radio). —Of all the small states that have been overwhelmed by the German war technique, none merits more sympathy than Luxembourg. This principality has been more defense- less than any other, its army con- sisting of just 250 policemen. This writer has known Luxem- bourg for many years as & qulet, peaceful country of superb scenery, with no possible interest in taking sides between rival powers. Almost under my very eyes, Lux- embourg has been brutalized, its citizens reduced to near slavery and its ruling family, which endeavored to maintain an even balance be- tween belligerents, forced to flee. Chauffeur Saved Rulers. While I waited here on the Lux- embourg borders Monday the Arch- duchess Charlotte and Prince-Re- gent Felix managed by daring ma- neuvers of their chauffeur to get over the frontier into France. Sev- eral other automobiles which were following them with members of their household were machine- gunned by Nazi sympathizers, who, with extraordinary foresight, had been posted in advance along all roads leading out of the country. The German fifth column tactics in Luxembourg will seem incredible to people who have not, as I have, talked to refugees. Germany’s in- vasion by air began at about 6 o'clock on the morning of May 10. By 7 o'clock, throughout Luxem- bourg, in every village, groups of civilians began to spring up armed with automatic rifles. Along every road leading out of the country peo- ple trying to flee into France were stopped and turned back. On many roads, trees were felled across the highway so that Luxembourgers might not seek haven in a friendly country. France’s army on this frontier had been prepared for this move for eight months, but owing to the al- lied policy of avoiding unnecessary infringment of neutral rights, the French were several hours late in responding to the German attack. The Germans had obtained more than three hours’ start before the French were given orders to start. Germans in Civilian Clothes, ‘When the first cavalry contingents entered Luxembourg they quickly captured several machine guns manned by Germans in civilian clothes and using weapons of the latest German model. Shortly after- ward they were confronted by con- tingents of parachute jumpers, dropped from German airplanes and equipped with automatic weapons, who apparently had been sent chiefly to prevent Luxembourgers from fleeing into France. People may wonder why the Lux- embourgers who wanted to leave their country should not have been —_— the allied armies or Britain's sea communications is not yet certain. “The latter seems still, on the basis of available evidence, the more likely of the two, but even so the Germans may try to drive on for the Belgian coast and the channel ports, and will certainly do their best to take Zeeland. In some or all of these efforts they may succeed. If they take the Channel ports, the situation passes from grave to desperate for the allies. If they are halted anywhere short of that, they have won much, but not yet attained a decisive vic- tory. If they are counter-attacked and driven back so that they gain none of these three objectives, they have suffered a severe setback for which the possession of most of the getherlnnds will be poor compensa- on. These are the “capabilities” -to which, of course, must be added | those in more distant theaters—an attempt to break through the Magi- not Line elsewhere, or a drive through Switzerland—perhaps with Italian co-operation. The work of a military commentator is not that of & prophet; he can only point out what may be done, not what will be done. That knowledge time alone can bring. (Copyright, 1940, New York Tribune, Inc.) ' Your RUGS Need Cleaning & Cleanliness is the first Il?l'lll?l‘ h;?lth. nnid‘“n ould apply especially to your floor coverings, which should be always kept only sanitary, but bright, luxurious and beautiful. So make Ollll' l;ome t‘:;le:n and ovely by sending your workmanship is Washin, are attractively low! Phone District 6878 ALL WASHED RUGS We Safely Store Your Rugs. While in Our Plant | Experienced Rug Cleaners for 16 years. Diener’s expert service costs no more. One trial will show" your rugs. Rugs Fully Insured. amazing results in Free Estimates. Orientol ond Domestic Regs Repaired A to Diener’s today. Diener’ r:s:n's finest—and th DIENER S Floor Covering Department Salesrooms and Display Department ; . 122122nd MAY 15, 1940, German Trains For Chile Lost In Sea Mystery The whereabouts of the Norwe- glan ship Belray, which sailed from Genoa nearly three months ago for Valparaiso, with a cargo of railway material purchased in Germany, still remains a mystery, according to a report received by the Commerce Department from the American Embassy at Santiago. Soon after the outbreak of the European war, ar- rangements were made between the Chilean and British governments to permit the transport to Chile via Genoa, of railway material which Chile had bought in Germany before the war started, In accordance with this agree- ment, the Belray left Genoa on February 27, with a cargo reported to consist of 6 Diesel electric trains, and complete equipment -and re- placement for these’ trains. On April 4, the Belray passed through the Panama Canal and headed down the coast. Four days later, Germany invaded Norway, and from that date no word has been re- celved from the ship, and all at- tempts at radio communication have failed. Chilean authorities believe that one of three things may have hap- pened. First, the captain of the Belray, uncertain of the status of his ship and fearing capture, may have taken his vessel into some out- of-the-way port. Second, the British may have taken the Belray. Spokes- men for the British government deny this, according to reports from Chile. Third, the ship may have foundered. The value of the Belray's cargo is estimated at $1,000,000, United States currency. The Chilean rail- ways are in urgent need of the new equipment. The apparent disap- pearance of the ship has therefore given the Chilean authorities much concern. permitted to do so by the Germans and why, indeed, these latter had taken such pains to prevent the migration. Unquestionably, what | Germany sought most in Luxem-' bourg was not the strategical ad- vantage, because there is none worth mentioning, but principally the man | power and the inhabitants’ personal possessions. Germany needs workers, especially | on the farms, and also any gold and silver that may be had. | When the Archduchess Charlotte’s car was ordered to stop by Ger- man fifth columnists, her chauffeur simply rushed on, probably being well informed of what was happen- ing. ’ French Capture Parachutists. Among the Germans’ first acts when the invasion began was to send parachute troops into Luxem- bourg. The French cavalry forces which entered soon afterward, cap- tured several of these groups. They immediately discovered they were all officers. They were sent simply to command fifth column elements already on the ground. Although the French Army has made no substantial resistance to the occupation of Luxembourg, it has known for a long time that Germany was preparing for this move. Arrangements had already been made to receive Luxembourgers who wished to take refuge in France | but due to the fifth columns block- ing the roads, it is now believed! that only about 10,000 managed to escape. | Most of these are now in Metz, | Longwy and other towns near the Luxembourg frontier, from which they will be evacuated to other parts i of France. t By allowing thé Germans to come | through Luxembdurg to the French | fortified positions, France has every advantage she held before, with the added fact that the battlefront is now much longer. Germany's notorious lack of | trained reserves will make this ex- tended front trebly difficult to man, while France has at present more thoroughly trained men under arms than she can provide with useful military missions. PIANOS for RENT| New full keyboord spin- ots ond small uprights, only $5 monthly. Grond pianos, $9 monthly. AH the money you pay as rental applies on the purchase price if you, decide to buy later. National 4730 KITT’S 1330 G Street eir prices GLUE SIZED FREE! \ Nov! Don't deley— Phons District “',. A Y 4ot : v Red Cross War Drivé For $150,000 Here Gains Momentum Henry F. Grady and George Vass Named To Key Campaign Posts The $150,000 war relief fund drive of the District Red Cross—a part of the $10,000,000 national campaign— gathered momentum today following the appointment of leaders in two key positions in the drive. Henry F. Grady, assistant Secre- tary of State, was named vice chair- man in charge of the Government departments late yesterday, while George Vass accepted charge of solicitations in the city’s financial institutions. The appointments were made by Bruce Baird, District cam- paign chairman. In announcing the vice chairmen, Mr. Baird emphasized that all funds collected in the drive will be applied wholly and exclusively to war relief work and no part used in the regular Red Cross activities nor to meet the expenses of the campaign. Taylor Ordered to Brussels. The American Red Cross, mean- while, ordered Wayne Chatfield Tay- lor, head of its European mission, to proceed to Brussels immediately to map out a relief program for Bel- gium. At the same time the British Red Cross was asked by cable to purchase $50,000 worth of the most urgently-needed hospital and medi- cal supplies for rush shipment to Belgium and the Netherlands Red Cross Societies. Previously the American Red Cross had announced a cash con- tribution of $100,000 to the Belgian organization, _including 40 ambu- lances and a number of field am- bulances being purchased in the United States. To date the Ameri- can Red Cross has placed orders for 150 air-cenditioned ambulances and 100 auxiliary hospital trucks for use in Belgium, the Netherlands and other war zones in Europe. Mr. Taylor will go to Brussels by way of Paris, where he also will ascertain the needs of the French Red Cross, he informed national headquarters by trans-Atlantic tele- phone yesterday. Landon Joins in Appeal. More than 400,000 surgical dress- ings were in a New York warehouse today, ready for shipment by the first available boat to the Low | Countries, it was announced. Former Gov. Alfred M. Landon of Kansas joined in the appeal lakt night for contributions to the $10,-. 000_.000 campaign “to meet the needs which are each day increasing with frightful rapidity.” His statement was released through the St. Louis office of the Red Cross. A pledge of co-operation of the American Hebrew Congregations was received from the president, Robert P. Goldman of Cincinnati. The Hawaiian Red Cross Chapter also called its full support and co- operation. —— More than 100 students from Manchukuo are studving in Tokio, Japan. Colored Cadet Companes Hold Drills Tomorrow Colored cadet companies from Dunbar, Armstrong and Cardozo - High Schools will hold their 48th annual competitive drills at Griffith Stadium beginning at 9 am. to- morrow and climaxing with a review at 4:30 pm. Col, Harry O. Atwood, professor of military science and tactics, said the drill routines would stress ge- fense' against airplane attack and other innovations of modern war- fare. Reviewing guests of honor will be captains of winning companies of former years led by Lt. Benjamin ‘Washington, now on the faculty of Armstrong High School, whe had the winning unit at the first drill in the Metropolitan Baptist Church in 1893. The three battalions have been rehearsing daily for the drills, which last year were won by Cardozo. 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