Evening star., 1940-05-11
Amsterdam
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1ulSlC1 OOuI1
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points behind the nations land and
water defenses.
The armies of the east, on the
Ijssel and Mas Rivers, were fighting
bitterly to gain time for the COM
plete flooding Of the main water
line from the Zuider Zee Gjssel-
meer) to the Belgian border.
Allied troops, British and French,
were arriving and marching east
toward the main defenses.
One bomber dropped its destruc-
tive load just before the sirens
sounded the second alarm of the
day
Bombs Hit Near A. p. Office.
The bombs hit about 200 yards
from the Associated Press bureau
In De Telegraaf Building.
There was tremendous explosion.
Black smoke, dust and debris rising
for several hundred feet.
Three old houses on the corner
Of the Blauwburgwaal and the
Heerengracht were razed. Many
persons were injured.
Downtown streets were crowded
at the time, and civilians made for
the shelter Of buildings. They ex-
hibited remarkable composure, how
ever. The all-clear signal was
sounded Is minutes after the bomb
ing.
Gain Many Victories.
The Dutch claimed they were win
ming their fight. Army communi-
ques and official announcements
cited numerous specific victories
against the German war machine.
Along the frontier the Dutch re-
ported bitter resistance.
(Reuters, British news agency,
said foreign observers at Amster-
dam were of the belief that at no
point have German troops pene-
trated more than 13 miles into
Dutch territory.)
AS soon as light came again Ger
man warplanes resumed their me-
thodical flights over the country.
"a British broadcast said the
Dutch wireless had reported that
several hundred parachute SOL
diers tried to land this morning.
("Waves of them attempted to
come down in the Dorbrecht area
on the River Mas, near Rotter-
dam, their objective was believed
to be the bridge of the Moerdyk
4{a1A In
tween West Holland and Bel
GUM" said the British announcer.
("Since 6 o'clock this morning,
numerous landings in various
parts of the Netherlands have
been reported by the Dutch wire
less.)
The Dutch declared the Nazi at
tack by parachute soldiers was meet
Ing defeat. Literally swarms of
these men from Mars" were being
wiped out, they said.
Claim 100 Planes Felled.
A Netherlands communique said
that in the first day of the "blitz-
kreig" at least 100 German planes
were shot down.
Every five minutes the Dutch
radio declared that increasing
numbers" of parachutists were
dropping in Southern Holland, near
the Belgian frontier.
During the air fighting over The
Hague q transport loaded with Ger
man troops was shot down and it
crashed into a house. The Dutch
declared the German soldiers were
dressed in the uniform Of the Meth
erlands Army.
British planes joined in the Meth
erlands' hot fight against invasion
by mir. The British Air Ministry
declared British bombing attacks
destroyed many German-occupied
airports.
British troops were on their way
10 the eastern fighting zone where
the Dutch were fighting both with
modern arms and the flood waters
which have been q part Of their de-
fense scheme since the Spanish siege
Of Leyden in the 10th century.
Warships Are Sent.
The British and French, moving
rtckly to aid the Netherlands also
sent warships. Two British destroy
ers and . French vessel arrived yes
terday afternoon at Flushing and
went up the ship canal to Middle
burg.
Early last night motorized French
troops also reached Middleburg from
the sea. German planes raided the
mort. dropping incendiary and explo-
siye bombs near the docks. Several
iires were started.
A severe mir attack was launched
On 400 Royal Engineers but they
made the landing without confusion.
Ia the Nad bombing OF The
Hague. seat Of the Netherlands gov
eminent. United States Minister