davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21
Hitler Makes Greatest
Coup Since War Began
,contlnued From Page u

their drive toward the French capital at the moment
A. German forces pushing through Belgium IN pur-
st of the retiring British army engaged In battle with the
enemy east of Client and further southwards on tne
Scheldt River.
Most Sensational News
The German high command communique the
most sensational issued in II days OF blitzkreg warfare
through the low countries and in northern France because
L confirmed seemed 70 mean do s ss and that
the British Expedonay Force was IN greatest DANGER o
destruction.
How Parachutists Work
Evidently determined to force decision in btzkrieg
time as well as manner the Germans used their parachut
lists for the first time yesterday military spokesman
disclosed .,,-.. -..u..., 49,.
seeking to race ahead OF the tanks and help the parachu
lists to occupy strategic points and rail centerS
French Evacuate Laon
1t was admitted that the French had evacuated Laon
rs miles southeast OF ST. quentin and oO miles from FarS
-Four words were censored)
The German advance continues in a northwesterly
direction the army spokesman said with fighting IN the
cambraisomme River area and particularly in the Peronne
region northwest Of ST. Quentin.
Motorcycle Troops On Roads
Motorcycle troops reported darling over roads
and level fields in all directions trying TO establish points
far In advance OF the slower mechanical forces which
already had been regarded moving with true bZkreg
speed Apane activity reached Yesterday what military
German planes 1t said bombed railroad stations, rail-
roads air fields and channel ports but sustained consider
able losses
French, British Planes Busy
French and British air forces were as active French
planes bombed German mechanical motorized and troop
columns nictng heavy losses 1t was said and wrecking
columns British planes almost continually bombed
German lines and Rhineand roads and military objec
tives In Germany
British Communque
This mornings French high command communicate
No 521 OF the war, said:
Despite many engagements the night did not bring
any important change In the situation which remains con-
fused between the Somme and Cambria region
Of the 'front.' principally on the Aisne In the region Of
Rethe.
"our air force continued Its intense night lombard
ment OF the enenYs lines"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21
Heinzen Story
OF War Horrors
CONTINUED From Page -

when tank forces meet. The main
German army rides In trucks 20 TO
40 miles behind the tanks, and the
Allied armies for the main have
retreated In good order before the
tanks, leaving always an interval
OF @ few miles.
But now the Allies are fighting
back. striking into the German
flanks particularly while the Ger.
mans, determined 10 keep on, pierce
dccper-and the Allies say more
dangerously to thcmselves--ln the
Picardy plains, the motorcycle
troops and other motorized cavalry
sometimes racing ahead OF the
tanks,
Naxls Use 3 Divisions
The Germans throw as many MS
five division, $4,000 men, into &C.
ton TO take one single French pill
box. They marched through q MUIR
derous fire from pill boxes over an
entire secto: and occupied the pill
box which contained one machine
gun and the seven dead men Of Its
crew.
Against the tanks only artillery
and opposing tanks are useful now.
The French, according 10 reports,
have taken an enormous toll from
the Germans. Their 75-millimetre
guns NOW down tank after tank.
and always there are more tanks 10
come.
The Job OF the Allied tanks and
artillery, attempting TO halt the
Teutcnic juggernaut, Is one OF ter
rible difficulty because the 5000
German planes In the operation fly
daringly tree-high, In front OF the
advancing tank to machine gun
defenders.
Great tanks Of 10 tons come spit
ting fire from two turret guns and
four to six machine guns. AS soon
as one of them Is damaged or runs
out Of fuel or ammunition 1t Is turn
ed off the road and another takes
its place.
Little Flame Fighting
There Is little fighting between
airplaneT. The German bompers
come unprotected by fighters and
depend on only their own speed ard
armament to get back. Such fights
as they are rarely seen aground be-
cause they take place at 10000 feet
or SO, often. Pilots say that any
thing below 10000 feet Is danger.
ously low for present day fighting.
A pilot may go into dive of 5000
to 10000 feet as a normal vancouver.
A pilot who has TO bail out" Of
fighter has often to turn his plane
upside down, and by pushing with
his hands squeeze out Of his narrow
cockpit, to drop sometimes 5000 feet
before he Is clear of the battle and
can pull his parachute rip cord.
/ talked to French pilot who
bailed oIt at $4,000 feet and lost
consciousness until he passed
through a rain cloud. The cold wa
ter revived him as a shower bath
might have done. Another pilot told
me that after dropping 5000 feet
like q olummet he had been able,
after pulling his rip cord, to light
q cigarette on the way down.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21

It Is o question which Is harder
on the fighting men, the tanks or
the planes which pull out OF power
dives with force which II seems must
tear o man apart.
After O few hours In the din and
heat OF tank the men are worn
out Yet the men In this battle, some
OF them, have been fighting for days
from sunrise 10 shutdown.
Not infrcquently they faint away
inside the steel walls, the air satu-
rated with powder smoke and the
fumes Of gasoline and burning heavy
oil.
Frequently Stunned
Frequently the crews are stunned
when a direct hit from some close
range gun rings their tank like q
bell. Their danger Is that q machine
gun or anti-tank shell will pierce
the sides. In that case, they usually
die, because gas fumes are ignited.
I was with the last troops In CAM
brai when the Germans were head
cd In Its direction from the Sambre
river, before we were recalled, and ]
saw an average sized city evacuated
Of all civilians within six hours de-
spite the destruction Of Its one rail-
road by dive bombers.
Cambria is typical OF hundreds OF
towns and villages In the fighting
zone. After q 20 year respite from
the World war, and OF painful re-
building.
In the World war Cambria was oe-
stroyed. Almost nothing was left OF
1t but church steeple rising stark
ly from an unacceptable mass OF
bricks and rubble.
Air Raid Shelter
When the blitzlsrieg started this
time, an air raid shelter trench was
dug In q tiny triangular park.
1t was dug through five feet OF
broken plaster and rubble. At that
depth the diggers uncovered the
sidewalk and paved street of the
city Of Cambria of 1914, as effec-
lively II not as deeply as one of an
ancient civilization which might 3:
uncovered in the Near East.
! went as far as ] could toward
the approaching German tank col
unlns. I was not permitted to go to
the front. But I could tell where
operations were ahead by the mass
ing Of Allied and German planes
They clustered above the battle and
above the approaching columns.
Returning Allied aviators report
ed that German tanks and armored
car columns were filling every road
through the Ardennes forest and
down the Mouse and Sambre rivers
valleys.
The German columns made 80
miles an hour when there was no
opposition, the aviators said.
Dive Like Hawks
Allied borbing planes dived one
after another, like hawks after their
prey, bombing roads and bridges 10
halt the tarks. But each Il me q
bomb tore Q great funnel shaped
hole in 4 road, wiping out four OF
five tanks, the others would simply
detour around the obstacle.
Ahead ami alongside the tanks
ride German motorcycle troops
scouts and traffic policemen COM
bined. When the planes bomb Q
read, the motorcyclists step on the
gas. find detours. and lead the tanks
There Is very little 10 see except
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21

The historic town hall and the
CATHEDRAL had suffered little dam
age. Some university buildings were
damaged. But the famous library
had been ruined by fire. Its walls
still smouldered. II must be counted
q total loss along with Its 100000
books.
The origin OF the fire could not
be Observation-Disclosures II was start
ed by bombs or, as some Germans
alleged, by the British before they
evacuated.
The city Is now under the admin
istration Of German colonel and
troops and labor corps men. They
have removed the dead from the
ruins and have started TO clear up
such wreckage as obstructS army
traffic. Water and electricity sup
plies remain cut of.
Now the people are starting TO re.
turn to the city and q university
professor has offered to act as mayor
and form q municipal council.
| NesuHuuk HteAukeeb
Three returning refugees we saw
were q priest, o housewife and O
workman. They refused 10 talk, say
Ing they had left at the start.
The commandment told US that he
had advised oil returning refugees
to resume their normal l,ves.
He said he had asked for rein
forcements TO police streets, and that
he expected them at any time.
We visited the old town hall which
apparently had been used as British
headquarters. inside the beautiful
council chamber and other paneled
rooms were mattresses and rough
pillows were fresh blood stains. Two
British officers had died on the floor,
we were told.
First correspondents TO Join the
German forces In Belgium, we left
the German frontier yesterday
morning and now, In Brussels, we
have seen what the German blitz-
krieg means.
At the start we were told how to
duck In case OF an airplane bom.
bardment.
We crossed into Holland and
looked for signs OF war. There were
hardly any. Later we saw @ few Dill
boxes and houses pock. marked by
bullets. At Maastricht, where there
Is @ Dutch pocket extending into
Belgium, steep spans OF the Mouse
bridge had been blown up but Ger
man engineers had repaired them,
An ofiicer said they did 1t In an hour.
Crossed Pontoon Bridges
Meantime the German infantry
and light transport crossed the river
on pontoon bridges.
AT Lowenhoven, on the Belgian
side OF the Thewilhelmina canal, we
saw the first signs OF real fight
where the Germans had captured a
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21

The German statement that the
channel had been reached climaXed
II Gays Of warfare through the Low
Countries and In northern France
and made the Allied position seem
dangero',s--if not more dangerous
than at any time during the
World war
The Germans still are not as far
advanced In French territory as
they we're at the high mark OF the
World War, when they surged 10
the suburbs OF Paris. But they have
achieved the capture OF a channel
port, whlci they failed 10 do
throughout the World War, and
they have moved with far greater
speed. 49,.
Furthermore, from Amiens, the
Germans are In O position 10 STRIKE
southward toward Paris at any time
they can consolidate their positions
In the north. Ard II they succeed
In bringing together their vast pin.
GERS operations against the Allied
armies In Flanders the entire chan
mel coast will be IN their HANDS
with England only O rev minutes
away by a!rplane
Isolated Nail Tanks
The British said that a number OF
Igolated German tanks were believed
TO have gotten as far as Amiens on
the River Somme, but that no Dig
German columns had penetrated
the area. Experts said that the
German effort now was directed
toward the French ports Oh the
English channel In an attempt 70
drive O wedge between Allied iorc.
es In Belgium ard the main Allied
armies Il. northern France.
But British military quarters pc
lieyed that the mass OF German IN
fantry had not progressed far In
TO the bulge" and that German
mechanical units which had, were
in danger from the French coun-
ter-attack.
The situation on the main fight
Ing front was described as more
confused than ever"
Everybody Is behind everybody
else Or IL front Of them, whichever
way you look at It," II was said.
'The Germans might say that
forces have reached Amiens While
the French might say that German
forces pushing towards Amiens
have been cut off.
Call Them Maraudcrs
There Is no doubt that bands OF
German tanks are marauding IN
northern Frarce and doing tneir
best TO spread alarm among tne
civil population but the more they
stretch out the more they become
vulnerable to counter-attack."
In the battle Of the Somme, Ger
many brought parachutist troops
into action for the first time IN
France, and sent motorcyclists rae
ing into tn fight In an attempt, in
cooperation with the parachutists,
to seize railroad stations and other
key points far behind the Allied
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21
Conn, Busy with Plans


Hartford, Conn. May 2i-(UP)--
Support Of President Roosevelt's
national defense program proceeded
along o broad front today In Con-
necticut.
Leading industrialists, summoned
to q conference with Governor Bald
win TO mobilize their resources be-
cause OF the important part the state
will play In carrying thep Ian 10
completion, were concerned priinar.
lily with overcoming q possible skilled
labor shortage.
Although discussions with the
governor yesterday were of the
record" II was understood q general
agreement was reached to expand
the governors recently inaugurated
job-training program. Coudses, pro-
viding 200 hours OF general shop
practice now are operating in five
areas. Opening Of additional schools
was proposed To boost the present
enrollmen TOT $50.
Connecticut anticipates q food Of
orders to Its aviation, precision tool
brass, munitions, textiles and allied
industries as soon as final approval
Is given the presidents plan.
Tomorrow the governor will con-
fer with mayors Of 20 leading indus
trial cities and state military and
police ofiicials to prepare Q protec-
tion plan for communications, sup
plies and transportation facilities.
Meanwhile, arrangements for plac-
ing 26 state armories under continual
armed guard, were completed to-
day. The purpose Of the guard, ac-
cording to orders from the adjutant
generals ONCE, was to prevent
sabotage, fires or theft and lettering
on state and federal property.
Also from the adjutant general
came an order forbidding resigna-
tons from the national guard as q
precautionary measure necessary
throughout the country In troubled
times"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21

(ConClnueu from rage ~
preme Court Of the United States II
the case Is carried that far by any
of the defendants.
The appeals Of the fourteen de-
PENDANTS are expected to be heard
by the justices OF Connecticut's
highest court at It's October term.
It will be impossible to reach the
cases before that time as the de-
PENDANTS must have the evidence In
the case printed and submitted 70
the high court by virtue Of Q court
ruling that the typewuatten svi-
dence. which the defendants tried
TO have accepted by the high court
woul dnot suffice. The printing will
take several weeks, as the record 4
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21

saving herself had TO cope with the
problem Of 100000 refugees, who
were streaming down from Holland
Belgium, Luxembourg and northern
France In endless flow.
Italy Has Black Out
Rome, May 2i-(UP)-The first
anti-air raid and blackout drills In
Italy since the beginning Of the to-
tai war start today In Rome and In
the principal Industrial and ship
ping centers.
The war ministry announced that
drills would be held today, tomor-
row and Thursday at Rome and
TERM, rich Industrial city 30 miles
north OF the capital. Intensive drills
will be hell In the northern cites
Of Milan, Genoa and Turin, near
the French border.
Premier eenito Mussoloni receiv-
ed his chief OF staff. Gen. Pietro
Badoglio who reported on his recent
inspection Of Italy'S western from.
tier Notifications.
Newspapers commenting on the
speech rade Sunday by Foreign
Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano at
Milan emphasized his warning that
Italy's participation In the war was
inevitable but they did not specu-
late regarding the date Mussolini
was 10 Give the "word,'
well informed sources In Buda-
pest reported Russian troop move.
ments In the Vicinity OF Bessarabia,
Rumania, Russian circles did not
deny the report)
The war ninistry's announce
ment followed O pro-Japanese DEM
onstration by $4,000 persons crowd
ed In Venice Square TO greet the
Japanese commercial and friend
ship mission which arrived from
Naples yesterday Thousands Of Ital-
ians jammed the streets around the
railroad station and followed the
Japanese 10 the square, shouting
viva Italy and Japan" Some car
ried anti-British posters and many
shouted Down with the Allies"
British Battleship Sunk
Berlin, May 2i-UP)-A British
battleship OF the resolution class,
20, $50 tons, two other warshlps and
three merchant ships were damaged
by German bombs off Narvik, Nor.
way, yesterday, the Germand high
command claimed today. In addi-
ton, II was said, heavy British
cruiser was bombed land probably
was abandoned"
AT Narvik air force fighting units
interviewed effectively In land fight
Ing on May 20 and relieved pres
sure cn our troops" the high COM
mand said.
"An attack on parts Of the Brit
lSh fleet operating off Narvik
brought great success. One battle
ship, probably OF the resolution
class, was hit by two heavy bombs
In the rear OF the front gun tower.
"A hit with a bomb Of heavy cal
ibrc was scored Oh heavy cruiser
between tho mast and forward
smokestack. Strong smoke and cx-
plosions we observed on both war;
ships. II Is very much expected that
at least the heavy cruiser had 10 be
abandoned
I'm addition two Warships and
three merchant ships were damaged
by bomb hits"
PIC KUP 3
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21
POLICE ASSIGNED
TO PARK DUTIES

Patrolman Peter Griffin has been
assigned to cover Hayden park on
Grove street from 3 to IL o'clock
daily, Superintendent of Police will
liam J. Roach said today.
The chief also said that PATROL
man John Carmody has replaced
william Barton at Fulton park.
Ofyicer Barton Is assigned TO street
duty.
An oficer Is being provided for
Fulton park Saturdays and Sundays
during the baseball season, Super
intendent Roach added.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21

fetal circles said that only the
military measures usual In the
month OF May are involved" The
war office published new regula-
lions making the construction OF
bomb proof cellars compulsory In
new buildings, and providing for an
air raid protection organization In
Budapest.
London, May 2l.-(UP)--The ad.
miralty announced today the loss OF
the British Cruiser Effingham,
OTTO tons. The vessel struck an un-
charted rock off the Norwegian
coast and Asnk. There were no cas-
ualties, The Effingham, a cruiser Of
the Birmingham class, carried
normal complement OF 7l2 officers
and men. A total loss, the Effing-
ham was the first cruiser admitted
lost by the British since the start
OF the war.
Six German merchant ships tot
aling about 10000 tons were listed
by the admiralty today as believed
TO have been sunk during the past
week.
The list included the steamer
Campinas, 4,54l tons, which struck
mine on May 10.
In addition there were five other
vessels totaling about $4,000 tons
which were listed as having been
sunk as result Of submarine opera
tons.
Belgian Govt.
Paris, May 21.--(UP)-The Span
ish Ambassador to Belgium, Eduar-
do Aunos, and members of the dip
lomatic corps formerly at Brussels
arrived today at Lislieux, 95 miles
west Of Paris, where the Belgian
government will establish residence.
The Belgian government was re-
ported to have fled to the seaport of
Ostend, midway between the Dutch
and French borders, after the fall
OF Brussels Saturday. This was not
confirmed and just where the Bel
gian government Is functioning at
present Is to know
In the event OF q German sweep
to the channel. the Belgian govern
ment would be cut off from direct
communication with France, II II
were In Ostend.
(Authorized German quarters TO-
day claimed that German planes
had bombed ostend)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21
sum is NEAREST STAR

Being only 100000 miles away.
the sun Is our nearest star. The
nearest Of the bodies We commonly
call stars. ana which are identical
with our own sun. is the star Prox-
ina Centauri, which Is about u.s.
000. 900 .OO0. 900 miles distant.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21

the longest In any case In the states
history.
As already reported the record
contains millions Of words and will
cost the defendants ct least $4,000
to pay for the printing.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21
Britain IIustling

britain HuStIing
London, May al CUP - War
Secretary Anthony Eden told the
House OF Commons today that de-
Tense measures against invasion by
German parachute troops are being
taken with great rapidity."
Addressing House reconvened
after the Whitsuntide recess, Eden
said volunteers were being organic
ed to deal also with fifth column
elements in the event the threaten
ed German blitzkrieg against Bri.
tain materializes In the near future
I'm Berlin the Germans claimed
their troops had reached Abbeville
on the French side of the English
Channel, 10 miles from Hastings on
the English sideJ
First of the newly organized vol
unteer corps patrols, dubbed the
"parashots," will go on duty tonight
In the Chatham area where i'm
portant naval bases and dockyards
are situated.
The patrols, recruited from ele-
ments Of the population familiar
with firearms--World War Veterans
gamekeepers, lords of country man.
ors--werc equipped with service
rifles and ammunition but had no
uniforms.
Admiral Sir II. j. Studholm-
Browning was in command of the
Chatham defenses.
Russia May Intervene
Budapest. Hungary. May 81. -
(UP)-Reports of Russian troop
movements near the Bessarabia
District Of Rumania and Hungary's
Province Of Carpatho- Ukraine
strengthened the belief in Balkan
capitals today that Russia was pre-
pairing to intervene should the wal
spread to Southeastern Europe.
Well informed quarters suggested
that the troop movements involved
several divisions. Russian circles
here did not deny the reports.
The Balkans, particularly Ruma-
MIA and Jugoslavia, were nervous
but 1t was generally believed that
nothing was likely TO happen III
this region unless italy entered the
war. In Budapest. It was felt that
Italy's decision might be made
within a week or 10 days.
Meantime, Hungary continued
military precautions, although Of