Evening star., 1940-05-27

I Germans have succeeded in
crossing the Lys at several
points, . Ministry Of Informa-
tion spokesman said tonight.
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, May 27.-The Allied
armies Of the north fell back to-
day under mass Nazi attacks RI
valing in violence the German
World War assaults on Vardun
and took their stand on a new
line defending the English
Channel.
Adolf Hitler speeded his cam
paign to crush the French, Brit
ish and Belgian forces in Flan-
ders. Into the drive for a quick
decision his commanders threw
the old infantry and artillery as
well as the new dive bombers and
armored columns.
The French last night withdrew
to new positions In the Valenciennes
sector to strengthen their lines while
the Germans threw men and ma
terial against the Allied armies
around Menin in Belgium.
The battle continued today, with
the Allies reported checking the
German offensive On the new front.
The French said they had taken
up prepared positions west Of the
Scheldt River as the Germans men,
aced their left flank. The Nazis
struck hardest In the Menin area,
IS miles northwest of Valenciennes.
The French high command de-
clared the Germans attacked with
out regard to losses" and added that
the situation Is not unfavorable''
for the Allies.
3 NAiis Forces Pouring In. I
The Naxts lnleashed long lines of
gtay-clAd infantry ana hundreds cf
tanks, tuns and bombing ana hgft-
i1t planes Upon the Allied positions
which stand between them and the
few English Channel ports remain
ing In Allied hands.
To the south. masses Of Naxi
troops and war supplies continued
to pour through the 20-mile Ger
man corridor between Bapaume and
Peronne. They were rushed to the
sector north Of Boulogne, whose
stoutly- defended citadel finally fell
today before the invaders.
It appeared that the Germans
were attempting to cut the Allied
Army Of the north In two by ham.
mering through their lines to make
connections with their forces In
northwestern France which the high
command yesterday acknowledged
had captured the Channel port Of
Boulogne.
II the Germans are successful in
making connections they will have
succeeded In encircling the Allied
troops now fighting between Cam
brai and the Belgian border. The
other half of the Allied Army OF the
North viii be backed up against the
Channel.
Standing Ground.
The French high command said
the Allies were standing their ground
IN the Menin region, in fighting
"of extreme violence"
The Germans were reported tn
be using every possible weapon"
In an attempt to break Allied re-.
sistance, but their losses in infantry.
tanks and airplanes were described
as enormous"
A War Ministry spokesman said
the Allied withdrawal in the Valen.
ciennes sector was because the posi-.
lions there were too far out in
'front.'"
At present, q military commenta-
tor emphasized, Allied troops are
now engaged In "a great defensive
battle" the results Of which are
still undetermined, but he declared
the Germans complete disregard for
losses in men and materiel has
weakened their hand.
Heavy fighting was reported along
the Channel In Northern France as
the Germans attempted to push On
up the coast after the capture of
Boulogne.
British Move Northward.
British troops who assisted In de-
Tending the Channel port were said
to be Withdrawing northward along
the coast toward Calais, which the
French asserted they still held
despite German announcement to
the contrary.
In an effort to strengthen their
forces along the Channel, tired after
IT days Of continuous fightine. the
Germans were reported to be r,lsh-
ing fresh troops from the Swiss
border and the Westwall through
tsee PARIS. Page A-5J