The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-13

comrades" ministry OF informa-
ton communique said. Reports
state that the fine bearing and
march discipline OF these troops had
an excellent effect and has done
much 10 maintaing the morale OF the
Allied troops who have been fight
Ing day and night TO stem the Ger
man advance"
owing to the high cliffs Valley
was difficult place from which TO
embark. On the night on which
the efnbarkation was TO have been
undertaken thick fog unfortunately
prevented the embarkation OF ali
but o small number.
u was said that there was no
definite information that LIE Hayrc
mad fallen, and II was said that
the Germans had obtained a large
quantity OF supplies In trapping the
Allied force but that the quantity
could hardly be called "incaiculable"
as the Germans asserted.
A military spokesman said that
Inc. German thrust In the Rouen
region, along the Seine, had slack
cned at least temporarily and that
inc greatest weight OF attack had
been shifted to Paris and the Marine
river TO the east. IT was Indicated
however, that there also the Allies
seemed 70 be holding the Germans.
Trapping Of Allies
The German troops who had driy.
en- down through Normandy 10 the
Rouen region OF the Seine, and
opened the way for larger units,
were the ones who had trapped the
Allied force on the coast.
a British military spokesman told
the story OF the trap.
AT the end OF the month OF Nav
me Brltlgh troops were In the line
with the French and on the left. on
the lower Somme, acting under
French orders" he said. with the
French they made an attack NAV
~ " reduce the Abbeville BRIDGE
head. The attack failed TO meet
with complete success.
Later two German arfnored di.
Visions penetrated 10 Polk and the
British divisions, with the French.
withdrew to the Bresle river.
"A lew days later they were Or
dered TO the Bethunc river.
TT appears that two British bril-
gades we're ordered back TO assist
the French defense at lie Havre. The
other Two we're unable TO withdraw
toward Rouen because the Germans
blocked the line OF retreat, 10 they
retired on 81. Valery en- Caux, where
with certain French troops they
were gurroundned by four German
divisions and an armorcd division.
Flanders Over Again
II WAS the story Of the Flanders
disaster again on A small scale. The
Germans had driven their tanks In
overwhelming superiority, down
through Normandy ~ other armies
drove directly at Paris.
They had forced the Allied line
back across the Seine and had
brought field guns, anU-tank guns
and infantry IN amazing strength
10 back Up their advanced units
They had cut part OF the Allied line
.-.thaht nearest the channel 49, off
from the main Allied force. and
had been left 10 diepoSe OF II at
leisure, II was indicated.
A war once communlque gave the
essentials Of the story.
But behind the communicate there
was a story OF a long and stubborn
stand by o little Allied force against
any army superior In numbers and
equipment, against dive bomber
planes, tanks and infantry, for days,
These little groups OF men had
stood unit! the last moment, spurt-
Ing machine gun bullets into the ad.
vancing Germans and then moving
back. Those who had escaped had
gwum the Seine or padded across on
boards or In small boats, 10 arrive
In twos or threes, uflshaVen and
caked with dirt and mud, to rcjoin
the Allied force on the south side.
Even before the war office com.
muniqtic came, stories OF British Of
flciai observers had made II plain
that q new tragedy was In the
making.
Yorced Way Over Seine
They had told how the Germans
had forced O way across the Seine
on flatboats or pontoon bridges,
how some Allied attachments had
SWIM from the north bank 10 the
south under O merciless fire.
ofiicers and men aided the wound.
Cd 70 the river side and padded
them across. The wounded had
been landed on the south bank u1-
der fire from German field guns
which had been brought Up with
amazing speed.
II was understood that Britain
was rushing men. guns. tanks and
nirpIanes 10 the French front In re-
sp0nse 10 q French sos for imme.
date aid IN a last stand 10 keep
the Germans from Paris.
r. was reported that Prime Min