The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-06-26
BRITAIN STARTS
HER OFFENSIVE
CONTINUED from Page y


the low countries and elsewhere that
might be used effectively for direct
attack by air or sea on Britain.
The air ministry issued q COM
ounique saying that British planes
had shot down three TO six German
fighting craft In raids near the
French coast and that British bomb
ers early today set fire to the Ger
man airdrome ut Bomoen, near the
Norwegian city OF Bergen.
Raids Day, Night
The British raids were carried out
yesterday and during the night, while
German alrplanes were bombing
wide areas of England, Wales and
Scotland. Five persons were killed
nine wounded In the raids In which
officials said Ave or more German
planes were shot down,
British newspapers, meanwhile,
called for Arm action TO prevent
units OF the French battle feet from
falling into the hands OF Germany
and italy.
The British landings on the Ger
man or German-held coast line and
the aerial raids were reported In
official communicates.
Coastal command planes early
this morning raided and set fire to
the German airtlrome at Bomoen,
near Bergen" the air ministry said.
Bombs wrecked the runway and set
Are TO barracks and a nearby wood.
Pilots counted 40 fires on or around
the airdrome,"
II was stated that the airdrome
was only recently completed, the
r. A, r. having delayed Its attack
until the construction work was
completed,
Alarm ut French Fleet
Alarm at the fate Of the French
fleet increased as the German air
raids, now taking In all parts OF the
country, assumed q grimmer aspect,
heralding perhaps an early German
attempt to invade the British isles.
Newspapers demanded immediate
and forcible action TO keep the
French fleet from German italian
control, on the assumption that re.
CARELESS OF whatever Adolf Hitler
and Benito Mussolini promised to
the contrary, they would use the
fleet against Britain.
I'VE must not tolerate any kind
OF legalistlc arguments, any NICE
ties OF international law, which
would rob us Of advantages" said
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Daily
Express, I'VE must not shrink from
ruthless action"
IF this trick (of handing over
the French fleet to The axis pow
ers) works, the people OF this coun-
try viii hear " not with grief and
ama2ement but with robust anger
and righteous Indignation" said the
Independent Daily Mirror" Have
we lost oil initiative, prompt deci.
sion and commendable cunning In
swift action2" Prime minister VIM
ston Churchill had said that the
government learned with grief and
amaHement OF the French fleets
fate
Demand for Action
Even the Daily Herald the labor
party organ, demanded action. In
event that units OF the French
fleet obeycd French government Or
ders, the Daily Herald said, they
must be prevented from doing So"
Addressing Churchill, II added I'm
atking such action you will have
the firmest support OF the British
people"
The government still gave no
word what II was doing to keep the
French fleet, or any part OF II, from
German and italian control.
Gen. Charles De Gaulle, head OF
O new French national committee
formed In opposition TO the Bor-
deaux government, continued his
work of stimulating resistance In
the French colonies, and Edouard
Herriot, Joseph Paul-Boncour and
Leon Blum, all former French Pre-
miers, arrived here yesterday. II
was still reported that Paul Rey-
maud, who was ousted TO make way
for the peace" cabinet, was on his
WaV.