Evening star., 1940-05-31
London
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London
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British. The total figure, 10000, is
approximately one-half the original
strength of the B. E. F. force of
l75,000 in Flanders. Hence about
one-third, or $1,000, of the original
British force is estimated by these
sources to be safely home.
There are no figures here on total
British or Allied Casualties.
However, both French and British
sources estimate German casualties
at about 100000.
Peace Offers Expected.
Expectations that Adolf Hitler
might try to split the British and
French allies with separate offers
of peace were voiced.
Informed observers, weighing the
possibilities of the next Nazi stroke,
considered these possibilities:
l. A separate peace offer to
France, with a great land and air
assault on Paris if France refuses.
2. A threat of an Italian flank at
tack.
3. An ultimatum to Britain to ac-
cept Germany's terms or face total
war"
But both Official utterances and
the press indicated no weakening of
the Allies "unbreakable bond"
Britain Made a Fortress.
Britain's island kingdom was be-
ing turned into formidable fortress
against the possibility Of a direct
NaZi attack and Supply Minister
Herbert Morrison warned of ex-
treme measures against war fac
tories showing signs of slackness,
irresolution, slow starting or
muddle."
Evacuation of large numbers" Of
British and French troops from
Northern France still goes on"
military circles said.
Commenting on a German claim
that the British had been routed,
an army spokesman acknowledged
that "the hard fact remains that no
military operation is so difficult as
re-embarkation at the end of re-
treat"
The commentator said fighting
"still is going on" around Dun
kerque. He said small coastal
steamer which left Ostend, Belgium,
one night with soldiers, women and
children and Is German prisoners,
was attacked by a German torpedo
boat. The torpedo missed and the
attacker came within 10 yards and
opened fire, the commentator added.
The little steamer replied with two
sub-machine guns, silenced the
Germans and left their boat drifting.
Tens of Thousands Landed.
Tens of thousands of men of the
B. E F. and their French COM
rades are being landed every hour
at Southeast English ports from
craft of all sizes and descriptions.
Tommies said coast fishermen
were volunteering to take their tiny
unarmed boats across the Channel
One lifeboat, a veteran rescue ship
OF this war, put out with crew of
men go years or more old. Some pri-
vate motor boat owners left for the
French side without waiting for
official instructions.
Seven ships docked at a south
coast port within two hours. The
men were sped away by railroad to
bases in scattered parts of England
within half an hour of coming
ashore.
At another port a tug came in
pulling five barges packed with
troops.
AS the soldiers landed, housewives
handed over their own food supplies
when official stores ran short.
Londoners crowded railroad plat
forms to see the troops and tossed
candy cigarettes, apples and or
anges through car windows even
before the trains came to full stop.
Jugs Of tea were handed up and
some of the men said they were
having their best meal in four days.
Many kilograms to anxious wives
and sweethearts were scribbled on
the backs of candy wrappers and
empty cigarette packs.
Cruiser Loss Announced.
| Loss of the anti-aircraft cruiser
Curley off Norway was announced.
However, the operations off France
and Belgium were described in mil
itary circles as so large that despite
the loss Of three destroyers, q trans
port and auxiliary vessels, Germany
was unable to inf1ict more thar
minor injuries on ships engaged in
the embarkation"
-Four officers and five sailors lost
their lives in the Curlew sinking
The Curlew had a normal compile.
ment Of 400 which probably wa!
increased to $50 in wartime.
The cruiser, specially armed Will
ten 4-inch anti-aircraft guns ant
machine guns, was the second Brit.
ish cruiser admitted lost in thi.
war. The first was the Ef1ingham
sunk after striking a rock in Nor.
wegian waters.
Concentrate on Fifth Column"
With the retreat from Flander!
giving Germany potential bombing
bases only S minutes from Eng.
lands southeast coast, the govern.
ment and the people concentrated
their attention on the fifth column
menace.
From some quarters came . de,
mand that Gen. Sir Edmund Iron