Evening star., 1940-05-13
Nazi Drive Halted French Claim;
Liege Citadel Taken> Reich Says;
Churchill Wins Unanimous Vote
Great Bottle Of
West Started,
Puris Asserts

ITALY STRENGTHENS FRENCH
border positions. calls more re-
servists; students halted in march
on French and British Embassies.
Page Az
BRITAIN AND HOLLAND reassure
Japan on status quo in Dutch
East Indies. Page A
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, May 13-French mill
tary spokesmen declared tonight
that the German advance
through Southern Holland and
Belgium appeared to be checked.
The great battle of the west" has
started, the spokesmen said, but it
still is in a preliminary stage. He
explained this meant the advanced
allied motorized forces and allied
aviation were supporting the Belgian
and Southern Dutch armies and had
slowed up the Nazi "blitzkrieg'
swoop. They were giving battle
pending the early arrival of the
main allied forces which were said
to be nearing the line ahead of
schedule" ..
An official French compilation said
the Germans lost 400 airplanes in
the first three and one half days of
the drive against the Lowland
countries.
This figure, it was declared. in
cluded "a shot down by French anti
aircraft guns and 88 by French and
British airplanes in France and Bel
gium.
Fifty German planes were de-
stroyed on the ground in airdromes
in the Netherlands while the others
were shot down by the Belgians and
by allied and Netherlands air forces
in the Netherlands and Germany, it
was added.
Deny Liege Captured.
A French War Department spokes-
man said at midafternoon that so
far the only fort in the fortified zone
around Liege that has fallen to the
Germans is Eben Emael.
The spokesman declared that in
Holland "the interior situation is
much improved" He admitted,
however. that some German forces
had driven through Luxembourg
and, at some points, were fighting
on French territory.
But the fighting there, he said,
was between advance motorized
forces on both sides, and the main
German and allied armies nowhere
have come into contact as yet.
Summary of Situation.
He summed up the situation at
midafternoon as follows:
Holland-No further reports since
news that the Germans had sue
ceeded in piercing Dutch defenses
on the Ijssel The interior situation
much improved, with most German
parachutists mopped up.
Belgium - The fortified zone
around Liege holding out well. Only
fort fallen to the Germans is Eben
Emael, where the Albert Canal joins
the Meuse
toward Tongres and Hasselt from
Maastricht has been greatly ham,
pered by allied aerial operations.
The column heading toward Tongres
was stopped by mass assault by
French armored cars last night.
This was the first time French and
German armored cars came into
nf {y1 Ia
South of Liege the Germans are
striking hard through the Belgian
Ardennes in a due west direction.
The Belgians are withdrawing
slowly, periodically halting to offer
a fight supported by allied aviation.
Fighting on French Soil.
Luxembourg - French advance
cavalry detachments, having retired
to the French-Luxembourg frontier.
main forces are now in combat
from the Moselle to Longwy, which
the French hold.
The line of battle is at some
points in Luxembourg and some
points on French territory.
France-A full German division
which was hurled against French
position Immediately to the east of
the Moselle yesterday has been
stopped completely. On the Lor-
raine front German attacks proved
to be localized operations in the
Forbach region and Orenthal salient.
French advance posts fell back
and Germans did not push the at
tacks further.
Nazis Double Attack.
Germany pushed her attack
against the Netherlands and Bel
gium with redoubled violence as
French reinforcements rushed to aid
the besieged Lowlands, the French
nigh command reported in a COM
munique.
The enemy attack was reported
10 De particularly severe in the ie-
elon north Of the Albert Canal, ap-
parently IN an effort to widen the
oreacn already forced in the canal
1ortlncatlons which make up a vital
part OF Belgiums defense system.
Inc Germans also threw heavy
eo!lceatratlons into the sector south
east OF I1rlemont. which is only Is
miles east of Brussels.
Parls third air rail alarm in little
more tnan "A hours ended without
lncloent at 2:5l pm. The capital
was on the alert for 81 minutes. No
planes were heard and M anti
aircraft fire was unloosed
French planes zoomed ou., 81
vancing German columns during
the day and night, bombing and
machine-gunning them time ans
(See PARIS, Page A-31