The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-27
BRITAIN
DILL REPLACES
lRONSIDES AS
BRITISH CHIEF
Continued from Page Ono,

Continued from Page One,
the continent had not been imn.i,
ed by events of the last few ds".
when the Nazi steamroller gro,I1s
its way to the channel.
CThe German high command -,
nounced that Calais had faIIon|
Continuing preparations for av
pected attacks upon England. II.
government declared Is addit;on
al towns along the southeast co9st
to be "evacuation areas and nro
pared to move children to safo,
places.
The Germans claimed a Br;tis,
aircraft carrier had been bomboa
and sunk off Narvik, Norweoisu
ore port, where the allies are no..
sieging a German garrison, but in.
formed circles here said there va,
no truth in the Nazi claim.
The shift in the imperial genera,
staff came exactly a week after
Generalissimo Maurice Gustava
Gamelin was deposed as head ~
the allied forces and "a hours after
the dismissal of IS French genar,
Maxine Weygand.
General Dill, an Irishman oncs
described as lone of the most abIa
soldiers in the whole British
army" has a reputation for
energy and quick decisions. Onlv
last month he vas appointed vice
chief of the imperial general staff
to relieve the strain" on General
Ironside.
Important Change
The appointments were said IA
represent by far the most import.
art alterations in the direction Of
Britain's military strategy since
the war started.
While thousands of Britons offer.
ed prayers against the German
Legions and, with the clatter of
Britain's war industry disturbing
the Sunday calm for the first time,
military circles said the allied
troops still are holding Calais,
channel port on the French side
% miles from Dover.
These sources said the British
expeditionary force is fighting
'magnifcently' at the side Of
French troops at Calais and has
repulsed all enemy attacks on that
important port.
The air ministry reported its
aviators yesterday successfully at.
tackled "Pontoon and road bridges
alongthe Belgian battle front and
mechanical columns on the road
leading to Boulogne.'
British bombs demolished a
main road bridge across the river
Lys, in Belgium, through which
the enemy reinforcements were be.
brought to the battlefield.
Large bodies of troops mass
ing in a town in the German rear
of the battlefield were heavily
bombed the ministry reported.
When General Dilrs appointment
was announced, informed sources
predicted other changes would fol.
low among the high-r ankin
officers.
An informed source said Sir
Cyril l.. N. Newall, Chief Air Mar.
shall, also was in danger of losing
his job in a series of shifts aimed
at ''revitalizing' the army and the
royal air force leadership.
This source declared the fail.
ure Of the Norwegian campaign
merely brought to a head the agi-
tation for changes which started
soon after the new year when Les
lie Hore-Belisha, who gave Iron
side his post, was ousted as Secre'
tary of War
General Ironside. 50, replaces
the retiring general Sir Walter
Kirke as Commandments Of
the home forces, a post now con-
sidered of responsibility compar'
able to that of Lord Gort, Com.
mander-in-chief of the British tleIc
forces in France.
Ironside will be responsible Tor
all measures against possible IN
vasion by e or by air.
One well-i n f rmed London
source said the changes we're
brought about by 'the develop,
ment of the military situation ana
the necessity of placing the defense
of Britain against possible invasion
in the strongest possible hands