Evening star., 1940-06-18
Canadians Escape
Fighting in France
By Two Hours
Troops Return te England
Without Seeing Zoe or
Firing q Shot
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND,
June 18.-Canada's active service
force, after months OF preparation
and training, finally got to France
last week primed for front line &C
ton, but, it was disclosed today, had
TO turn around Immediately, and re-
turned to England without having
seen German or fired a shot.
The vanguard Of the 1st Division
Is back with a dramatic story. Part
OF the detachment, comprising the
headquarters staff of the 1st Cana
dian Infantry Brigade and the 48th
Highlanders, escaped the German
encircling move by a margin of only
two hours.
Led by Maj. Gen. A. G. L. Nc
Naughton, the division moved toward
France q week ago today. For days
and nights long columns of motor
transports rumbled to the ports of
embarkation. Escorted by British
and French naval forces, the lead
ing transports carried the 1st Bri-
gade, some advance units, vehicles,
ammunition and supplies, reaching
port last Thursday night.
Units Stream Into Area.
Troopships crowded with more
Canadians expecting to come to
grips with the Germans rode at an
chor in a south coast harbor, while
still other units streamed hourly
into the assembly area.
Then suddenly came the news that
the show" had been called off. The
men didn't know then why the
change had been made. Now they
know.
Meanwhile, the Canadian advance
guard had moved on toward its
zone OF concentration in France, and
had reached Sable, near Tours.
They hadn't the faintest idea of
how tight the German ring was
being drawn.
Their train glided quietly into the
yards in the early hours of Friday.
Not soul was in sight. The French
engineer sounded few sharp blasts
OF the locomotive whistle, but there
was no response.
Officer Advises Departure.
Brig. A. A. Smith, at the head of
the 1st Infantry Brigade, and 1t.
Col. E. w. Haldenby, heading the
48th Highlanders, started of to in
vestigate. They met a man who
identified himself as a British mill
tary transport officer. He told them
that the Germans had broken
through the French defenses and
that they we're at that very moment
advancing on Sable.
Get your men out of here as
quickly as you can" he advised, and
then vanished into the darkness.
The Canadian commanders were
dumbfounded. They tried to find
their informant again, but failed.
Inquiries elsewhere, however, con-
vinced them that their plight was
serious.
Orders were gwen to the train
crew to prepare to return, but the
crew declined TO move without word
from the stationmaster, Who could
noC De found. Furthermore, thev
said there wasn't enough steam in
the boiler. And they added: BE
SIDES, the war IS over"
Firing Crew Recruited.
Finally a firing crew was made up
OF soldiers and the engineer, upon
being given a corron of cigarettes
and bottle of wine, agreed to take
his place at the throttle.
When the train reached port the
Canadians found that none of the
British or French officials there had
been expecting them. Luck was with
the Canadians, however, for a fast
cross-channel ferry was tied up at
the dock.
Within Is minutes the Canadians
were aboard and on their way back
to England, more than 1000 men
cramming into quarters normally
accommodating only 300.
They received a welcoming roar
OF cheers upon their return to Eng
land, despite the fact they had seen
no action.