The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-05-21
Hitler Makes His Greatest Coup
Since War Started-Germans Are
Now Knocking at Gates of England
Eleven Days of Pounding Against
Allied Resistance Puts Hitler Within
Sight of British Shores
100000 ALLIED FORCES
SHUT OUT BY NAILS
BY JOE ALEX MORRIS
UNITED Press Foreign News Editor


Adolf HitIer's bIitzkrieg struck its greatest blow
of the war today in a paralyzng knife-like drive to
the English Channel at the French port of Abbevile.
Hitlers blitzreg armies had smashed through to the
English Channel in "the greatest attack operation of
all times" and had cut off all Allied troops in north
ern France and Belgium.
100000 ALLIES ISOLATED
Nazis claimed that about 900 Allied troops
had been isolated in Flanders and were in greatest
peril after defeat of the French 9th army and capture
of its staff, including Gen. Henri Graud, who last
Saturday was placed in command of the main Allied
defenses along the bulge" front Giraud famed
strategist was a captain in the World War, but
captured in the first two weeks of fighting in 1914
ALLIES IN GRAVE DANGER
Confirmation and consolidation of the Naz gains
would make the Allied position in France one OF ut
most gravity, but from London came British state
ment that the longawated counter-attack had begun
with the French army fighting magnihcently" in
do.or.die attempt to a vast part OF the Allied
forces from disaster.
NAILS MAKE THEIR CLAIMS
The Naz mechanical armies, bombing planes and
parachute troops officially reported that after IL days OF
l. Raced 60 miles through northern France to Able
vile only 20 miles the channel from England
to cut off and threaten with disaster perhaps million
British French and Belgian soldiers in Flanders.
Broken the 9th French army and captured its staff
and commander General Henri Graud who was wounded
and captured i'm the first weeks of the World War
3. Captured Rehe and LaOn on the fighting front
some 60 miles Paris and taken Amens and ArraS
- important communications ccnters in the north
4. Engaged the British Belgian forces retiring
through Flanders in battle Client and southwark
Of that point on the Scheldt River
Battle Front Confused
The full extent of the German gains and of the Allied
counteatacks determined only after further oper
atoms vast battle front that is confused and umbled
as result of the Naz strategy of striking with mechan
lied units far in advance OF their main forces ana lar
behind the enemy lines
Parachute Troops Used
German parachute troops being used extensively
in an attempt to strengthen and consolidate the lines
pushed forward lightning fashion into northern France
and it was reported that the Allies might speed their Near
Eastern Army TO France to bolster their defenses.
20 Miles From Hastings
But the 6O-mle break through at lightning speed to
water from the historic English town of Hastings was
merely outstanding of series of gains claimed by the
high command.
Gains Claimed by Germans
| The French 9th Army, operating the Meuse
front in northern France - has been beaten and is In dis
solution and its commander General Henri Graud, as
well as his staff have been taken prisoners.
g The French towns OF ArraS, AmenS and ADDe-
Vile all highly important communications centerS IN
the norh) taken by German motorized troops wcn
Slashed their way with amazing speed to the channel III
order to speed up establishment OF bases from Whch q
blitzkrieg could be launched against England
3. German columns, led by the air force whcn
played outstanding role captured the french Town OF
Rethe on the Aisne River some 70 miles from Paris Ihe
Germans previously had claimed capture OF Laon. about
60 miles from Paris, but did not appear TO be pushing
l.oninued "a