Evening star., 1940-06-01

reference to the second British
expeditionary force" meant that
additional English troops were
arriving in France-from either
England or Flanders-or whether
previously landed units were
being organized for front line
duty. Censorship imposed in
Paris apparently prevented clari-
flcation of this point)
The action around Abbeville was
mentioned guardedly in official
communiques, but military sources
indicated the French had launched
a surprise attack, led by 20-ton
tanks, to capture a German bridge
head on the south side of the
Somme.
Capture of the city itself. on the
north side of the river, was not
claimed, but the French said they
had taken hundreds of prisoners and
large quantities of war material
Night Made Hellish.
Reports from Dunkerque indi-
Gated that the evacuation of the
Allied troops in that area had con-
tinued throughout a night made
hellish by the glare Of gunflre and
exploding bombs
Allied aircraft. however, was
said to have made ineffective the at
tacks of German bombers which
braved the adverse weather.
Lines of troops Streamed into the
city, reduced to shambles by days
of heavy German shelling, and were
embarked on the beaches in small
boats which took them out to the
waiting transports. The withdrawal
was described as orderly.
Despite the bad flying conditions
Allied aviation apparently was con-
tinuing extended operations to pro-
tect the withdrawal from Flanders.
limiting at hazardous operations
carried out in dirty weather by Al
lied flyers was terse French Air
Ministry communique which said:
Thanks to our experience in
blind flying. our crews reached the
points to be flown over without
difficulty"
Fiercest Fighting Of War.
The aerial fighting was described
as the fiercest of the war as Allied
pursuit planes strove to keep the
skies clear of German bombers.
In one engagement, IA Royal Air
Force Hurricane fighters were re-
ported to have tackled "a Heinkel
bombers, guarded by 20 Messer-
schmitts. Without losing man or
a plane, the British were said to
have shot down nine bombers and
one Messerchmitt.
Throughout yesterday, during
which they rained bombs on Ger
man troop concentrations and de-
pots the British-operating from
bases in England-were reported to
have lost only one plane.
French sources said that the Ger
man ground forces have been suf-
fering heavy losses.
can official British broadcast.
picked up in New York today by
c. B. S., said French authorities
had found German documents
confirming" Nazi losses of 500,-
900 men since May 10)
Attempts of German mechanical
units to close in an Dunkerque and
disrupt the Allied embarkation were
hampered by the opening Of locks
which flooded .low-lying water
around the city to an average depth
of a foot and one-half.
French Hold Southern Front.
Reports from the southern front
following the line of the Somme
Aisne and Meuse Rivers, indicated
that the French were holding theil
positions everywhere despite per.
sistent German thrusts.
H. Taylor Henry. Associated Pres!
correspondent at the front, said thu
action was marked by sporadic artil.
lery duels, punctuated by attack!
by German dive bombers and claShe.
between mechaniZed units.
The general commanding thu
Rethel sector, 100 miles from Paris
told Henry how his troops hae
established and held for four day.
bridgehead on the north side ol
the Aisne to cover the Withdrawal
OF the rest of the army to q stronf
line south of the river.
1t was the defense of this bridge.
head which was largely responsible
for halting the German drive towart
Paris at the same time the NanI
were racing for the Channel.