Evening star., 1940-05-15
Fleeing Dutch to Form
Nucleus of New Army

LONDON, May IS (R.-An authori-
tative Dutch source said today that
Dutch troops in Southern Holland
who were able to cross into Belgium
were being made the nucleus Of q
new Netherlands Army to fight the
Germans along the Nazi flank.
This source said the bulk of Hol-
lands Navy had left Dutch ports
last night and now was on its way
across the North Sea.
A Dutch radio announcer heard
in London today said German mo-
torized troops were pouring into The
Hague, the Netherlands, but that
otherwise the capital was rapidly
resuming its normal appearance.
Restoring Public Works.
The announcer said the city, seat
of the Netherlands government until
Queen Wilhelmina and the cabinet
fed to England, was going quietly
about the task Of cleaning up and
restoring public works and services.
Telephone communication still was
disrupted, he said, but bus service
to Amsterdam win be resumed to-
morrow.
The Dutch cabinet called on
Queen Wilhelmina this morning.
A Netherlands radio broadcast
heard here this morning gave an
order from the Dutch commander
in chief, Gen. Henri Gerard VIM
kelman, to all burgomasters to COM
municate Immediately with military
authorities in order to insure en-
forcement of the cease firing" order
in areas outside iceland where
Dutch resistance to the German
invasion was continuing.
Holland Still In War.
News of Hollands virtual capit-
ulation was first received here last
night in a dramatic broadcast by
Gen. Winkelman.
The Dutch Legation in London
later issued q statement saying
that a state Of war still existed
between Germany and the Neither
lands and that fighting was con-
tinuing in iceland Province, which
consists of cluster of islands 'front.'
ing the North Sea on the extreme
southern end Of the country.
1t was made plain that the cease
firing order did not affect Dutch
naval units and was In no sense to
be interpreted as a surrender on the
part Of the Netherlands government.
Queen Wilhelmina and members
Of her cabinet are directing from
here the affairs of the Dutch em-
pire-an empire which includes
about 100000 square miles of terri
tory in the East and West Indies,
with a population of more than TO-
100000 people.
Heart Of Country Laid Open.
The Legation announcement said
that Gen. Winkelman's order to his
troops to cease resistance was issued
late yesterday afternoon after Gers
man troops had taken Rotterdam.
consequently" it said, 'the heart
Of the country was laid open to the
enemy, and the main forces Of the
army behind the Dutch water line
were threatened by immediate en-
emy troops on their rear"
British commentators said Hol-
lands policy Of strict neutrality
prior to the German invasion had
contributed to the country's quick
fall by precluding talks between the
allied and Dutch high commands.
It was generally conceded that the
Germans, in addition to gaining
bases for a possible attack on Eng
land, had obtained substantial
stores of foodstuffs and other ma
terials in Holland.
British sources said, however, that
these advantages obtained by the
Germans were more than balanced
blythe assets which the Dutch add
to allied resources in the way Of
gold holdings. colonial wealth and
their merchant fleet.