The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-04
Battle Of Dunkirk Is
Ended Or Very Close
Continued From Page y


OF fire from artillery naval guns,
and airplpnC5. But the dispatches
said that the French naval officers
under AbriAl, despite thto dust and
smoke from raging fires, maintained
their calm, and appeared ~ gpic
and span as the French STAFF ON.
GERS used 10 do when they visited
the muddy trenches OF the last war.
British fighter planes darted In
among attacking German bombcrs,
scattering them In fight.
London reported that tho Ger
mans had reached the fringe OF
Dunkirk town and brought up ar
tillCry which was laying n terrible
curtain OF fire Just of the docks, 40
that each ship which left had 70
ru nthc gauntlet.
Sinking Of One Boat
Survivors reaching the English
port told how the BOLTON steamer
Brighton Queen, with troops aboard,
sank amid u hail OF airplan0 bombs
a8 u left for It's second trip back.
Lewis gunnerB on the steamers
decks fred 70 the last, II was said,
but when tho Brighton queen, IN
old English excursion steamer,
reached tho open goa, Us paddles
churnirg, the German planes con.
centrated fire on II, hit u, and sent
10 settling,
There was ono lifeboat for all
aboard. The order was given every
man for hims0lf' and ~ one sur
viVor expressed ", oil aboard step
ped of the boat Into the water, iD
deck level with the 500.
Transports B0mbarded
Az n eouthoast English Port, June
4 49, (UP) So German troops have
reached the ffingeB OF Dunkirk and
are pouring artillery shells into Al.
lied transports which are evacuating
the last OF the Allied northern army,
II WAS reported today.
The admiralty had disclosed earlier
that almost 900 British vessels OF
every description had helped remove
tho Allied troops from FLANDERS and
II was said that when the full story
OF this removal could DO told " Will
surprise the world"
The Allies first went into the port
OF zeeburgg6 and ruined " for Cor.
man use by sinking q number OF Voss
sells loaded down with concrete
blocks,
Then tho rescue feet, summoned
hurriodly from many ports on tho
English coast, began gtGanlng across
the channel, forming almost o con.
tinuous line. While the smaller boats
dashed close 10 tho French shore
line, the big guns OF the naval ships
blasted NJ the advancing 0ermafg;
anti.alrcraft guns blazed away at
b0mbcrs; and British fighting planes
engaged German fighters.
Tho withdrawal required several
days and SILL was IN progress today
under almost continuous German or
attacks and heavy artillery and ma
chine gun fire. King George had
said In o message 10 Prime Minister
Winston Churchill that the success
Of the withdrawal WAS greater than
we had dared hope"
Event for History
The admiralty said the evacua-
ton waB the most extensive CONF
bincd operation In naval history.
Blk dcstroycrs. eight trawiers, Ave
ninesweepere, three drift6rs or patrol
boats and ono damaging (buoy
placer vessel were lost IN tho evaC.
uatl0n.
"T'he success OF the operation was
made possible only by the close co.
operation OF the Allies and their
services and by an ever unhagging
determination and courage OF oil
concerned" the admiralty said In
London.
1T was undertaken on the British
side by several fotilIas OF destroyerg
and large number OF small craft
OF every description. The force was
rapidly increased and total OF 222
British naval vessels and 666 other
British craft and boats took part In
the operation. The rapid assembly
OF over 600 small craft OF oil types
was carried out by volunteers"
Fisherman, yachtsmen, zach
builders, yacht clubs, river boatmen
and boat building and hiring Arms
manned their craft and volunteer
chews and rushed them 10 the as
sembly point, although they did not
know for what purpose they were
required.
dThey operated successfully day
and night under the most difficult
and dangerous conditions. The I'd.
niraIty cannot speak too highly Of
the services OF 81 concerned"
NasIs Bay 1ts Over
Berlin, June - lUP)--0erman
troops have entered the city OF Dufs
kirk, seized Fort LOFTS and brought
the battle for tho French channel