Evening star., 1940-06-04
Dunkerque
Continued From First Page.)

Omer, home of the captured Gen
Glraud, at Sunday noon.
We learned that Germany was
about to take possession of Bergues
as the key to Dunkerque. So we
hastened there. When we were
about 2l2 miles from it, we suddenly
found ourselves in the midst of a
battle.
Wave after wave of 18 heavy
bombers, over whom hovered fast
pursuit planes, roared .deafeningly
over our heads as they rushed
toward Dunkerque.
French Fire in Vain.
The next moment a cacophony
OF sounds rent the air as French
anti-aircraft guns tried to prevent
the bombers from unloading.
1t was in vain
Bombers calmly deposited their
high explosive eggs and met again
overhead for a new attack on Dun
kerque. Soon. too, the German
long-range artillery began booming
shells screaming over us in the
direction of Dunkerque. This drew
counterfire from the French and we
repeatedly had to run for cover.
Splinters of shell fell to the right
and left of U.S.
Slowly we advanced along the
road to Bergues, with ancient pop
lars hiding our cars from view. We
came to a full stop as we reached
tiny stream before Bergues. Re-
treating French and few British
had blasted the bridge. So we
crawled over three logs quickly laid
across the stream by German engi-
neers. We followed closely on the
heels of German scouts.
Bergues had been bombed and
shelled for a whole week. Quietly
we followed behind the scouts, run
ming for cover when they did, leap
ing cautiously forward as they did.
We reached the medieval gate of
the city unmolested.
Here an unusual sight presented
Itself. The French had run a cat
erpillar snowplow Of American Or
igln into the center of the gateway
to act as barrier.
The German infantry and motor
lied bicycle units, however, simply
went through the pedestrian aper-
ture in the gateway. We followed
them. An unforgettable sight lay
before us. Fire was raging in va
rious parts of the city, a whole
h1NnE 0,nncita ha
burning, while above us artillery
shells still whined, crashing into
houses ahead and burying every
thing under them.
On the city hall square one lone
donkey stood, calmly chewing straw
which the Allies had abandoned In
their hasty retreat.
The towns principal church had
also been shelled.
The local priest explained in
French that an artillery observation
post had been located in the belfry.
Dunkerque Also Aflame.
He said also that guns had been
placed directly before the church,
so that when the bombardment be-
gan the first IS civilians to be killed
were people who had taken shelter
In house opposite the church.
An anti-aircraft cellar in the
church, on the other hand, had
saved several hundred lives.
Meanwhile, hiding in dugouts and
scanning the horizon with powerful
army glasses, I looked into Dun
kerque 1T was af1ame at various
points, although not anywhere as
badly as when we reached the out
skirts briefly yesterday.
Badly frightened inhabitants were
slowly emerging from air raid eel
lars and other hideouts.
The German soldiers who moved
into the region before Dunkerque
took foodstuffs they said apparently
were left behind by British and
French troops. Supplies of choco-
late, canned meat, meat sauce,
butter, cakes, whisky and cigar
cites were siezed eagerly by the
soldiers.
Army orders forbid looting of
houses and stores. Death is the
penalty. But provisions abandoned
by enemy troops are considered
legitimate booty.
Offlcers told me that near Bergues
the Germans found 1000 Allied
tanks in good condition and with
gasoline supplies, as we'll as several
thousand abandoned motorcycles.
When our party returned to st
Omer the German commander there
expressed belief that we were un-
harmed. He said French infantry
hiding near the road, fired on one
car of officers that travelled over
the road shortly before we did.
German Army sources estimated
these British losses-based on g
statement that there were 300,00t
men in the B. E. F..
1..sl00000 taken prisoner, chiefly
after the Belgian surrender.
u. $4,000 lost on ships sunk ferry.
tnsfhem back to England.
>3s~100000 either killed in actor
or about to be captured.
I. $4,000 successfully withdrawn.
(The Allies today reported sue
cessful withdrawal of $4,000
men,