Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 May 1940 — Page 3
-.
FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1040
SEA ee rE id Salata
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
ERY RN
PAGE 3
Holland and Belgium Use Man Power and Nature to Resist Onsweep of Hitler Hordes
A subterranean casement in Belgium's “little Maginot Line.”
TR REE——
A Dutch tank trap .
+ « the bridge leads to Germany.
These machine gunners are fighting for Belgium today.
ERMANS
INVADE
HOLLAND, BELGIUM
Low Countries Resist Fiercely, Claiming German Advance Checked at All Points; French Cities Are Bombed.
(Continued from Page One)
in the Ruhr Valley—almost the ‘same excuse given by the Nazis for the occupation of Denmark and Norway, These operations, a drive on a broad front across the Western frontier of Germany in which land and air forces
co-operated,
the German High Command,
proceeded with ‘great success”
according to against Holland (population
8,560,000) and Belgium (population &250,000). “In order to direct the entire operations of the armed forces, the Fuehrer and Supreme Commander proceeded to
the front,”
the communique said.
Two German Objectives Listed
Actually,
the extension of the war to the Low Countries
appeared to involve two German objectives: 1. Hitler wanted to take no chance on the Allied powers —which were under political pressure—beating him to the
draw by a new war thrust. 2. Hifler,
critical stage of the war,
flushed with success in Norway but at a felt that the time had come when
the mighty German armed forces must attempt a knockout blow before the British and French recovered and swung their full power into active warfare, The belief that the “decisive hour” had been reached was expressed by the Fuehrer himself in his proclamation calling upon Germany to throw every effort into the battle
because the nation’s at stake.
fate for the next thousand years was
In line with this declaration, Hitler brought into action all of the German genius for perfect planning and execution of military strokes in which air, land and sea forces—mines were laid off Dutch and Belgian ports—co-operate as one
vast machine,
Planes Attack on Wide Front
Nazi airplanes took to the air in vast numbers under direction of Marshal Hermann Goering as the land troops
struck across the frontiers of the Low Countries at dawn
Bombs blasted the big
Dutch and Belgian airports
(some reports said 400 persons were killed or wounded near Brussels) and German parachute troops, some reportedly in Dutch uniforms, floated down to try to seize strategic
points.
The general strategy of the German attack was to break up the Dutch and Belgian defenses into small units —as was done in Poland and Norway—and to cut off the Allied reinforcements seeking to advance through the Low
Countries. In Belgium,
however, the French and British had co-
operated in building a “Little Maginot Line” designed to
hold up any
German advance at least until the Allied
troops—mostly Rritish motorized units—concentrated in northern France had time to dash forward to the Albert
Canal defense line.
Allies Now Have Chance
Military necessity clamped down censorship on news of the immediate success or failure of either side in getting first to the most favorable defensive positions, but one thing was no longer in doubt—the long-dreaded “war in earnest” was
in progress.
Opening of the German north flank through the Low Countries, had long been desired by the Allied strategists, who believed that only by such a route could they get at
the Nazi armies. But it was
flank and it was obvious that he did so because he believed |
Hitler who opened the north
it was to Germany's advantage. The Allied military command — pressed by political forces at home to 0 get into action—now had its opportunity.
Town 42 Miles From Paris Bombed by Nazi Planes
{Continued from Page One)
dicate that France now feels free to retaliate by whatever means is necessary.
Several Casualties at Lille
It was reported here that Lille, Nancy and Colmar were bombed, that there were several casualties at Lille and Nancy and that an un-
disclosed number of German planes had been shot down. The 499th French war communique said: “In the eariy hours of May 10 German troops began to penetrate Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. French armies were put on the alert, The Governments in question appealed to the Allied Governments. The German air force executed a number of aerial bombardments of northern and eastern France at geveral points. Several plames, a number not yet determined, were ghot down by anti-aircraft and chasers.” The French radio broadcast a fist of seven towns bombed and
in Indianapolis Is on Page 25 of this Edition.
gave the public instructions on what to do in case of raids. (Names of the seven towns bombed were censored from United Press dispatches from Paris.) France invoked a secret, pre-| arranged plan for throwing mobile Allied troops into action beside the Belgian Army on an hour and a half notice. It was presumed, therefore, that Allied troops were now fighting in Belgium, French Army officers who had been on leave were crowding railroad stations responding to orders to return imediately to their posts. The French Army had been put on the alert, Pedestrians in Paris streets eagerly snatched latest editions of newspapers but were outwardly calm, although there was a heavy undertone of tension as the French realized the big scale war now was under way. The official radio, between news bulletins, played military marches and patriotic hymns, Parisians had been roused from their sleep at dawn by heavy antiaireraft firing. A German bomber was over the city. For the first time, Parisians heard the splutter of ‘rapid ts.
| Hitler at Movie
Before Invasion
BERLIN, May 10 (U. P.) —Adolf Hitler, it was said today, spent last evening watching a sentimental musical film described in German quarters as “similar to the Student Prince,” but with a Rhine setting. Marshal Hermann Goering attended the German premiere of Benito Mussolini's drama, “Cavour” in the State theater. He arrived late, dressed in a white uniform, He looked fresh and in good
spirits. Col. Gen. Erhard Milch, air force second in command, also witnessed “Cavour” as did Propaganda Minister Paul Joseph
Goebbels.
DUTGH RESIST GERMAN MIGH
Belgium Joins in Claiming Invaders Are Checked At All Points.
(Continued from Page One)
German attack, the High Command said. The High Command said that German airplanes sought to land and seize many airports in the Low Countries in a lightning move at dawn, but asserted that this effort had been only partly successful, In addition to the German planes shot down, the German troops landed at various points in Holland were quickly surrounded | and are being strongly pressed, the communiqte said. Report Train Blown Up
Furthermore, four German armored trains were put out of action near Venlo, in ‘the fighting along the Maas River, the High Command said. One of them was blown | up with the railroad bridge at| Venlo. Dutch Foreign Minister E. N. Van Kleffens and Minister of Colonies C. J. M. Welter flew to London to establish contact with the Allied powers, which now include Britain, France, Poland, Norway, Holland and Belgium. The United States
consul at
+ | Amsterdam advised American citi-
zens to sit tight and await developments. There are about 800 persons in Holland who could elaim United States protection. There are about 150 Americans working in Amsterdam.
Queen Appeals for Help
Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg appealed to the Allied powers for assistance after 59-year-old Queen Wilhelmina—who celebrated this week the longest reign in the Dutch dynasty—had appealed to the people to resist the invaders and King Leopold of the Belgians, had followed the World War example of his father and taken command of the armed forces of his country, The Luxembourg Government crossed the frontier into Belgium, carrying the archives and national treasury.
Plea Made to “Dear Comrades”
The Berlin radio broadcast pleas in French and Flemish to “our dear comrades” urging the people to remember the “horrors of 1014” and warning that “there are more horrors to come.” “Put down your arms,’ the broadcaster said. “The Germans only want to cross Belgium, All resistance is useless in the fave of Germany.” A British air attache at The Hague was “almost killed” by bombs which fell near the Dutch Foreign Office this morning, but German official statements emphasized that “no wonder persons are wounded by anti-aircraft gun splinters if they run into the streets instead of the air raid shelters.” In Holland and Britain drastic action was taken by authorities to suppress “Fifth Column” or “Trojan Horse” activities that might aid the German operations from the inside. The British War Office announced that all vulnerable points on the British Isles had been manned by sentries with orders to shoot any one who failed to answer a chal-
lenge. Fight to End Promised
Netherlands radio stations, after [announcing that Holland would fight to the end, warned the people to pay no attention to efforts of | “Fifth Column” elements to induce anybody that the country had stopped fighting. Newcasts were repeated so that people could familfarize themselves with the voice of
true news. A German plane was shot down in mid-morning near Utrecht, in the immediate neighborhood of a big steel works north of the city.
German attack was shown when windows were smashed and doors battered in at a German bookshop. All primary and secondary schools were immediately closed in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, where vacations were to have begun this Sate urday. Parents were advised to keep their children at home,
PRAVDA IS SCORNFUL MOSCOW, May 10 (U. P)Pravda, Communist Party newspaper, today pictured Holland an8 two other unspecified neutrals as victims of Allied “guaran "
special announcers who would give |
Anger of the Dutch people at the |
BERLIN CLAIMS RAPID ADVANGE
Report The Hague Occupied And Three Airdromes in France Destroyed. (Continued from Page One)
land, sea and air forces which swept across the low country frontiers, attacked by air and landed along the coast. The Germans were reported using flat bottomed naval craft to operate in areas which the Dutch flooded by blasting the dykes. The German move to take the Low Countries under Nazi “protection” was described by Hitler and Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop as necessary to block an (alleged Allied plot for immediate |occupation of those states. Hitler, in a proclamation, told the German troops that the “hour for decisive combat for the future of the German nation is now at hand.” Report Resistance Broken
A late afternoon communique of the High Command asserted that] resistance was broken, “German troops at 5:30 a. m. Friday crossed the borders of BelBiull, Holland and Luxembourg,” it
| ery resistance in the fron- | tier districts was broken in vigorous attacks, often in closest co-opera-tion with German air forces. “A German submarine in Terschelling water sank a British submarine. A German fast boat, in operations in the North Sea, sank an enemy destroyer with a tor- | pedo.” Von Ribbentrop said at a press conference: “Yesterday the Reich Government learned that England and France had notified Belgium and Holland that Allied troops would land for an immediate attack on the Ruhr. The Fuehrer did not intedld to have the Ruhr ruined or occupied, therefore he decided to [t take both countries under his protection.
Goebbels Breaks News on Radio “Germany will now speak to the
language they understand,” he said. News of the invasions of Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg had been broken to the German people earlier in a radio speech by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. It was announced that Belgium and Holland had been given memoranda warning that “any fesistance would be crushed with every means” and that the Dutch and Belgian Governments “alone would bear responsibility for the consequences and bloodshed which would
French and British armies in a|
Low Countries’ Envoys Angered
WASHINGTON, May 10 (U. P.). —The envoys of the Low Countries today bitterly assailed Germany’s invasion and said that the armies of Belgium and Holland would resist to the death.
Their statements were made after urgent consultations with Secretary of State Cordell Hull and Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles. One of them, the Dutch Minister, Dr, Alexander Loudon, conferred with President Roosevelt, “We have repeatedly said that we would preserve our independence and neutrality,” Loudon said. “There has been strong German propaganda that we would not fight. We stick to our word.” THe Belgian Ambassador, Count Robert van der Straten Ponthog, said that for a second time in a quarter of a century Germany is guilty of brutal aggression against his country and for the second time in that period Belgium is battling for her life.
BRITISH CABINET CHANGE IS MADE
Resignation of Chamberlain In Favor of Churchill Takes Place. (Continued from Page One)
France rushed aid to the Low Countries struck by the German blitzkrieg. Developments: 1. Utmost military aid—chiefly by the British air force and land forces in northeastern France—was rushed to the Netherlands and Belgium.
Air Attacks Feared
2. Britain prepared expected arrival of the dread German air attacks in force on the British Isles. 3. First German bombs dropped on a British town near Canterbury. 4 Emergency stand-by orders went out in preparation for possible evacuation of some 400,000 to 500,000 London school children, 5. Troops were stationed at all railway terminals, power stations, vital points in the British Isies— and the like—with orders to fire on any “fifth column” attempts at sabotage. Iceland Occupied
become unavoidable.” Goebbels said Germany would not touch the overseas possessions of] Belgium and Holland and that it still was possible for those countries to save themselves by offering no resistance. In both Goebbels’ speech and in a High Command communique issued today but dated May 4, it was charged that ever since the World War both Belgium and Holland had fortified their frontiers only against Germany and not against France.
Appeal Made to Troops
Soon after Von Ribbentrop’s press conference, Hitler issued a proeclamation to the troops. He said that Britain and France had been trying for 300 years to keep Germany powerless and that now they planned to carve Germany into small states. He said the Allies had rejected his peace offers and that although “the German people have no hate or enmity for the English or French people, the paramount question is whether the German people shall live or be submerged.” He said Germany had nipped in the bud an Allied flank attack in the north (in Norway) and that the Allies then, under cover of a huge diversion maneuver in southeast Burope, had prepared to attack the Ruhr through Holland and Belgium, “Soldiers of the West Front,” Hitler said, “the hour for you now has arrived. The battle beginning today decides the fate of the German nation for the next thousand years. Do your duty now! ‘The German people, with words of blessing, is
6. Iceland was occupied by a British force as a protective measure against possible German ate tempts to seize it as a base. 7. A complete blackout was reinstituted over all Britain, effective immediately.
All R. A. F. leaves were canceled to bring the air force to full fighting strength. Government workers were recalled from their Whitsuntide holi« days. . The public was urged to use railways and other transport means as little as possible to free these facilities for military use,
War Risk Rates Double
British authorities denied reports broadcast by the Spanish radio and picked up in Buenos Aires that the Mediterranean had been closed at Gibraltar,
The Spanish Ambassador, the Foreign Office but whether in connection with the Gibraltar reports or some other matter was not revealed. Lloyds announced that war risk rates on voyages to and from Holland had been doubled, and that a heavy increase in rates for the Mediterranean and Black Sea was in force, bringing the rate to 100 shillings per 100 pounds sterling, compared with 60 shillings previously. Rates on shipping from Southern France to Algeria were doubled. Sir John Anderson, Minister of Home Defense, warned the public that “we must all be prepared to
with you.”
(Continued from Page One)
tary cars and transport lorries tak|ing soldiers to the various defense lines.
I was told at The Hague German planes dropped incendiary bombs, apparently aiming for the Parliament house or the headquarters of the Dutch General Staff. They missed their mark but a nearby house was set afire, In Amsterdam the Central Railroad station was closed to civilians and the first train loads of wounded were arriving from the frontiers where the Dutch were resisting. Two firemen were said to have been killed at Badhoevedorp, near the Schiphol Airport outside Amsterdam, when they were machinegunned by German planes when trying to put out a fire started by ingelniars bombs, Many persons were trying to eave ¢ the larger cities'and get into
carry gas masks from now on.”
the country where they would be safer from bombing raids. Some
piled up bedding and other household goods in their automobiles and
left their homes but the military authorities were severely restricting all movement of traffic. In the vicinity of Maas, near the mouth of the Meuse River, the Duteh occupied all bridgeheads along the river and raised the drawbridges over the canals, Fierce fighting developed along a road leading to Maas between the Dutch and German troops, apparently landed by parachute. The Germans apparently were striking for the shipyard at Maas. The Hollanders built barricades of boards and stones in the center of the city, Ambulances dashed through the streets. Many casualties were reported. The populace remained calm and even busses and trams were operat-
against the
Duke of Alba, was called to the]
FDR HOPEFUL ON NEUTRALITY
Delays Extension of War Zone, Praises Stand of Dutch Queen.
(Continued from Page One)
denied reports that the U. 8S. battle fleet would leave Hawaii for the Philippines, ostensibly in an attempt to head off any possible Japanese move toward the Dutch East Indies. The latter supplies all of this nation's rubber and most of its tin. 2. The Allies were disclosed to
suit, interceptor and bombing planes from American manufacturers during the past month. This makes a total of 7000 American war planes ordered since January, 1839. 3. Chairman Key Pittman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and other members of his group bitterly denounced Germany's invasion of the low countries. Mr, Pittman said the move ‘again demonstrates that totalitarian powers are unrestrained by any precepts of divine or human law.”
Army Wants More Bombers 4 The War Department announced it will ask Mr. Roosevelt to request an additional $80,000,000 for the purchase of 200 big four-engined | bombers for long-range patrol duty in connection with the nation's Western Hemisphere defense policy. 5. Chairman Norman H. Davis of the American Red Cross issued a nation-wide appeal for a special $10,000,000 war relief fund to help alleviate suffering of Europe's civilian population. 6. An executive order was issued freezing an estimated $1,372,000,000 in Dutch and Belgian credits and investments in this country in order to prevent the German invaders from cashing in on the holdings. 7. Rep. Edith Nourse Rogers (R. Mass.), proposed a resolution calling upon Congress to remain in continuous session to meet whatever crisis may arise. Asked whether the Dutch West and East Indies and their adjacent waters might possibly be included in combat area from which American ships are barred, Mr. Roosevelt replied flatly that no change now is contemplated in the present definition of such areas. Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles informed the German Foreign Office, at the request of Belgium, that Brussels is an open city and that no troops were stationed there. Mr, Welles relayed that request to Germany through the American Embassy in Berlin after Brussels had been bombed. At the outset of the European war Mr, Roosevelt asked all belligerents not to bomb open—unfortified—cities.
Highlights of Reports Highlights of reports telephoned to the President and the State Department by U. 8. envoys in Europe included: From U. 8S. Minister George Gordon at The Hague—all of the 802 Americans in Holland were believed to ba safe early this morning; heavy anti-aircraft and machine gun fire in the city. From U. S. Ambassador John Cudahy at Brussels, Belgium-—Ger-man planes bombed Brussels and hit a house near the American Embassy; German troops invaded Luxembourg and all members of the Luxembourg Government except the Foreign Minister had fled. There are 747 Americans in Belgium and 65 in Luxembourg. From U, S. Ambassador William 'C. Bullitt in Paris—German planes bombed two French Channel ports, (Dunkirk and Calais.
ROONEY NAMED TO PLAYGROUND STAFF
Patrick Rooney, secretary of the [Catholic Youth Organization, has | been appointed to the summer playground staff of Park Department. Mr. Rooney will conduct in-serve ice training for summer recreation personnel which will be carried on through the playground season. The appointment was agreed upon by the Park Board and the Recreation Advisory Committee.
‘| Saw Innocent Haymow Suddenly Become A Pillbox,' Says Writer Touring Tulip Land
Authorities, in accord with previous plans, were conducting house-to-house searches for “fifth column” elements, At The Hague there had been two air raids up to 11 a. m. today. In one of them I was told that several women and children were killed by a bomb which hit Bethlehem Hospial — a maternity institution — on the outskirts of the city. A prison near to the hospital also was struck. It was believed the bombs were intended for a nearby railroad station. There were bombings at Scheveningen and parachutists were dropped at Delft and Leyden. But these German detachments, I was told, were quickly wiped out.
BASLE, Switzerland, May 10 (U. P.) .—German and French airplanes and Swiss anti-aircraft guns fought a severe battle near Basle today, when German planes dropped 17
ing although with some irregularity.
an,
»
bombs on a Swisssrailroad line.
have ordered 4000 latest-type pue- |
By LUDWELL DENNY Times Special Writer WASHINGTON, May 10-—-The United States was brought closer to war today by Germany's invasion of the low countries.
The United States Nav immediately took up watch over the Dutch West Indies. It was automatic for vessels and planes of the Atlantic neutrality patrol to watch over the Dutch possession in the Carribean ~-within 1000 miles of the Panama Canal. No additional orders were necessary after Holland was attacked.
Any Nazi claim to those strategic areas would be a violation of the Monroe Doctrine, and undoubtedly would be challenged by this Government—by force of arms if necessary. Dutch Guiana and the Duteh West Indies, six islands off the Venezuelan coast, in addition to their naval and air base importance have the chief oil refineries and storage facilities of Latin America. Moreover, the Dutch East Indies have just been brought under a quasi-protective relationship by the unilateral assertion of the United States Government opposing any change in their status. They are a strategic key to the Philippines, and to the British and French Far Eastern empires. They are also the chief source of tin and rubber upon which American peace and war industries depend, Any danger of seizure of that eastern territory, so vital to the United States and to the Allies, presumably would come from Japan, which has been driving in that direction, The recent Washington warning apparently schbered Japan and pleased the Allies, but was received coldly by The Netherlands Government. Despite the threat of Nazi invasion then present, Holland declared that she could protect her eastern possessions without help from anyone else. That proud declaration, however, was generally interpreted as a necessary diplomatic gesture of confidence rather than as a final policy in case of emergency. Holland's appeal today to the Allies for help, doubtless opens the|
Invasion of Low Countries
Brings War Closer to U. S.
States involvement, that in the Far East causes even more concern here than that in the Panama Canal area.
Germany at the moment is less able to attempt seizure of the Dutch West Indies or Guiana than is Japan to try a quick grab at the Dutch East Indies. Apart from the fact that most of his navy is engaged in Scandinavian waters or bottled up in home bases by the British fleet, Hitler has given no indication that he wants to add the United States to the alliance against him,
Thus the policy question which faces President Rooseveit today, ree garding the Dutch possessions with in the Monroe Docttrine zone, is not so much whether to prepare to fight Germany now as whether to take so-called preventive action. That in turn raises this related question: Should such action be by the United States alone, as the owner of the Panama Canal, or in co=operation with other Pan-American nations? In any event, the United States is not likely to act without obtain ing the consent of Holland-—unless, indeed, a situation is created by the German blitzkrieg under which the Dutch Government is not free to act responsibly. The greatly increased danger in the Far East, resulting from Hitler's move today, was foreseen by President Roosevelt. He not only sent virtually the entire United States fleet to the far Pacific for “maneuvers,” but the day before Hitler struck Holland, the President ordered the American fleet to remain between Hawaii and Japan. In addition to these two major diplomatic and military repercussions here, there is also the immes= diate effect on this country as an Allied supply source. Now that Nazi planes are in closer bombing range of the English coast, the Allies are exposed again in all their aerial inferiority, they will increase their rush orders for American planes and other equipment. More important—and more incalculable—is the psychological effect
of all this on the Washington: Gov= ernment and the American public,
way for preventive measures in the| As for the Administration, there is
Far East if necessary. Of the two dangers of United
(not much it can do to be more pro
Ally short of actual fighting.
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