Evening star., 1940-06-16
Fighting Fronts

fortunes, but scarcely as startlingly dis
astrous as it has now ended.
On Sunday midnight, all Norway was
surrendered to German arms-marking
sad end of two months of courageous
resistance by nation of peace. Short of
all essential fighting materiel, even in
Cluding ammunition, Norwegian forces
ceased fighting at that hour
From Narvik, northern ore port won
after weeks of siege by British French
Norwegian units, Allies
Norwoys withdrew men and equip
Surrender ment after reducing facil-
tiles of harbor to ruins
Their departure left country entirely
open to Nazis
Safely in England, Norway's King
Haakon affirmed capitulation, promised
that remaining resources of nation would
be directed to aid of Allies "on other
fronts
On Monday morning came word that
mechanical German divisions were knit
ing their way into west flank of French
line in apparent effort to cut Paris off
from Rouen and LIE Havre. Already out
numbering weary defenders, 10000 fresh
Nazi soldiers and $500 tanks were being
poured into action in murderous drive
at this sector, with estimated 1,80O,00O
Germans believed facing French along
entire line. Intense artillery exchanges
and continued bombing of Paris were
under way; French claimed every foot
of soil was costing high price in Nazi
blood.
But bitter fighting in North France
was short of being gravest development
Monday.
Appearing on balcony of Palazzo
Venezia In Rome, Italy's swart and
stocky Premier Mussolini
Itoly told carefully stage-managed
Enters crowd of Fascist followers
that national ASPIRATIONS
of their country were then leading them
ito battlef1elds against plutocratic re-
dictionary democracies."
We salute the new Fuehrer, chief of
great allied Germany" II Duce shouted
in signaling this new blow as "a conflict
of fruitful, useful peoples against peoples
who are in decline"
With piety comparable to that of his
axis partner, Mussolini promised no in
tent to drag new nations into war.
"SWitzerland, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey
and Egypt take note of these words of
mine"
But Switzerland took note, too, of
presence of fresh German divisions in
Black Forest; posted 100000 troops on
German frontier and in Alpine passes
looking down on Italy. Yugoslavia and
Turkey stood at arms, consulted mys-
terious Moscow for hint of Soviet reac-
ton. Egypt, itish-dominated, severed
diplomatic relations with Rome govern
ment.
In succeeding days, Europes war was
spread over two distinct theaters.
Back on blazing French front, Nazi
whirling dervishes cut across Seine by
Rouen to west of Paris,
Bottle drove at Chateau Thierry
OfFronce and Marine on east of
Paris. On Monday night.
radius of this narrowing semicircle was
scarcely IS miles with Paris as hub.
Fearful now that simultaneous Ger
manhattan assaults upon France might
force capitulation, Britain drew hastily
trained and semi-equipped units from
home forces for service on continent,
intensified activities of Royal Air Force,
thus far one of most effective of Allied
fighting arms.
On Tuesday, London Air Ministry
claimed bombing successes in Rhenish
Prussia in Ruhr area; announced that
5000 incendiary bombs had been dropped
during preceding night on German con-
centrations in Ardennes countryside oil
stores fired, troops strafed.
"One thought in the British mind is
to sustain the battle 'front.'" London
brought into combat-sheling Nazi-oc-
cupied French coastal towns. But Lon
don also admitted sinking of % ,50O-ton
aircraft carrier Glorious sister ship of
lost Courageous in North Sea-plus less
spectacular losses.
And as Frances aged generalissimo,
Maxine Weygand attempted to hearten
his countrymen by an
Weyoond nouncement that "the en-
HopefuI emy has suffered heavy
losses-soon he will come
TO Jn6 emu Vi his rope, TndTduQlnP
German tank units were dealing death
in actual suburbs of Paris.
From capital then came word that
Paul Reynaud, Premier, had left to join
troops at front, that government had
been moved to Tours, southwestward
AS black rain sifted over city, civilians
closed their shops and homes, crowded
stations and highways, hurried south to-
ward relative safety
BY Wednesday, German communiques,
later proving accurate, claimed capture
of Rouen and of cathedral city of Reims
claimed crossing of Marne and Seine
Rivers at several points, claimed occu-
patton of Compiegne, village near where
armistice of November II, 1918, was
signed.
Casualty reports through these days
Of fast and furious battle were incom-
plete and conflicting. At midWeek, Ber-
lin claimed that two French armies total
ing perhaps 100000 men had been COM
pletely destroyed or captured in recent
few days. In addition. Nazi headquarters
asserted British French force Of at least