Evening star., 1940-05-22
~ the Associated Press.

y INC ASSOCldIeQ EIcce.
PARIS, May 22.-A new wave Of
optimism swept over France today
as reports reached the capital that
the French had retaken Arras and
chased a strong advance force of
Germans out of Abbeville, II miles
from the English Channel.
The Ministry of Information, ral-
living from the gloom that followed
the terrible setbacks Of the past few
days, announced also that the
bridges of the Somme River had
been destroyed and a strong stand
taken by French troops to halt any
southwark push.
The first note of optimism was
eounded by Gen. Maxine Weygand,
allied commander in chief, after q
visit to the front, and every hour
rs the day wore on his words to M.
Reynaud were repeated over the ma
tional radio system:
IT am full of confidence if each
man does his duty with a fierce
energy"
Weather Spell Broken.
The perfect weather which IA
tored Hitler's Polish campaign and
the "blitzkrieg" which he hurled
against the Lowlands II days ago
was broken last night by heavy
rains.
Skies were clear again today, al
though fields and roads over which
heavy tanks and armored cars had
to move were soggy.
That break in the weather gave a
slight rise to the French optimism,
even though tempered by the belief
that the Germans may be consoli-
dating their forces for q new and
more furious lunge.
AS the Germans pushed their
double lightning warfare
westward toward the vital channel
ports, the French established new
front along the Somme and Aisne
Rivers, 200 miles across Northern
France.
With this defense system firmly
established, the allies began their
counterattack to relieve allied
troops from pressure Of the German
push. Their first success, an
nounced in brief communique, was
the recapture Of Arras. Shortly
afterward the Ministry Of Informa-
tion announced the taking of Able
vile.
A military spokesman said the
destruction of the Somme bridges
would force the Germans to bring
up much heavier forces than they
eeem to have if they intended to
cross the river.
Text Of Communique.
The communique telling Of the
eapture of Arras merely said:
Enemy pressure continued IN the
direction of the coast, taking the
form of raids carried out by small
motorized detachments. Arras is
now In our hands"
The taking of Abbeville, where
German motorcyclists and French
had doggedly fought for possession
of the railroad station, was an
nounced by the Ministry OF Informa-
ton. A spokesman there said grimly
fhe Germans had been chased
out" of the town.
Fighting was also going on in the
region of Neufchatel Sur Aisne, 10
miles directly north OF Reims, the
Ministry of Information said. De-
tails were lacking.
Claims to Abbeville Denied.
It was the failure of the French
to destroy the River Meuse bridges
Premier Reynaud said yesterday
which permitted the Germans to ao'
vance so rapidly into France.
The Germans asserted yesterday
they had seized Abbeville, ARA!
and Amiens in their drive to contro
the important English channe
ports. The French at first admitted
the loss of Arras and Amiens, bu
denied NaM claims to Abbeville
while conceding that German motol
cycle troops were in the Abbevill,
area.
It was these troops who today at
tackled the railway station at Able
willie, IL miles from the channel, or
the Somme Estuary.
Part of the Nazi war technique
Is to send these motorcycles II
swiftly moving fleets far in advance
Of the tanks. confusing the fighting
go nApT0 ncrn A9I