Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 21, 1940, Winnipeg, Manitoba H Rpp x 1 we 45_no. Pages. Sun rises 4.35, Sun sets 20.14. Moon rises Moon sets 4.57, Winnipeg tuesday May 21, 1940 and warm. I 1 d i it last Nubi to Confer with president Albert Lebrun in Paris. Left a til Baudoin Secretary general of the French War committee Premier wheat Market continued on paps 4. Column 2 Premier Reynaud declares allies never can perish Paris May 21. Mechanized forces were to have driven a spearhead through Picardy to the English Channel today in a big thrust against the Allied armies the allies he said. May yet. Avoid defeat in the Battle said of the bulge in Northern France British military expert said today be lost without Bill the Battle can k sting the War. An authoritative that the British German claims 1o the English Channel the limits reached have reached Are based on by Small. Nazi mechanized detachments it was Force is lighting Well on positions assigned to it and is in Good heart. The statement referred to British stated. An authoritative source said that the claims made by today s Ger Man communique which declared forces had retired to the West of Belgium and Northeast France military sources took a reserved View of the German claims that they had reached the English Chan coast of France and said that the Battle in Northeast France can not be regarded As a German Vic tory until the nazis have Consoli dated the positions to which their mechanized units advanced. The germans had captured abbe Ville 15 Miles from the English Channel were regarded As grossly exaggerated. The stage., fighting still is in a it was asserted and fluid even if the germans get control of Bel Gium and Northern France the Al lies can Reform along the Somme and Aisne Rivers. Thus the main. German gains British forces continued on Page 4, column 3 a northeastern France and Belgium. Germany s vast Aerial Fleet uncashed All of its fury tonight in a tremendous drive to disorganized the Allied rear lines in Northern France. French military sources reported that marshal Hermann Goering s air Force leading German Panzer divisions of tanks and armoured cars Nad spread a red zone of smoking ruins through Picardy and Flanders. German Parachute soldiers were alleged to have dropped to the round in considerable numbers with torches to set fire to factories Railroad stations munitions and fuel dumps in Arras Amiens and other cities along the path of the German drive toward the English Channel. As the Allied forces fought Back grimly the German armies were officially reported to have entered the towns of Amiens. Arras and Abbeville in a drive to Cut off and attack possibly British French and belgian troops in Flanders. 12 Miles from coastline Peak of the attack was Al abbe Ville a French porn at the end of the Somme Bay where the Somme River flows into the Channel 70 Miles from the shores of England Abbeville itself is 12 Miles from the Channel. J however Only Small detachments of German motorcycle troops have penetrated the outskirts of the Abbeville Region a French spokesman said tonight it was stated that furious fight ing still was in Progress along broken and Jig saw fronts in nor Thern France and that the French lines had Given ground Only at Greal Cost to the nazis. In London British military sources stated the Long awaited counter attack on germans in nor Thern France had started and that the French were fighting magnificently Germany put her Parachute troops into action for the first Lime in the Battle of the Somite today As her Lanks drove Forward toward the English Channel under the Protection of dive bombers. Evidently determined to Force a decision in Blitzkrieg in time As Well As manner the. Germans used their parachutists for the first time yesterday a military spokesman disclosed. Motorcycle raiders rushed to the front co operated by seeking to fighting continued on Page 5, column 4 Paris May 21. Up havas French Agency Premier Paul Reynaud today announced in he Senate occupied Arras and Amiens this morning. That the germans Arras is 50 Miles from the English Channel and Amiens 40 Miles. Miles from the cd Utiss harass French in rear Amiens is 70 Paris May 21 up havas French Agency parachutists in such numbers As to constitute a veritable army have been Drifting Down behind the French lines with telling effect military quarters Here said tonight. The parachutists carrying incendiary and explosive materials in addition to their regular arms have attacked Bridges Railroad stations and Public buildings. A Semi official report said the whole Region behind Cambrai. Cast of the German thrust through Arras and Amiens is being burned systematically by incendiary Niter voicing con Allied commanders dotted line on map indicates approximate Battle line today. Province Home guard unit establishment of a Home Force to guard against possible Premier Tidence in the declared these two great Peoples two great empires cannot be Defeated cannot die. If i am told a Miracle is needed to save then i believe in miracles because i be Lieve in speaking of the German break through at the frontiers Premier Reynaud said that Bridges Over the Meuse were nol blown up As a re sult of mistakes that will be punished. During the last 43 hours the German Advance has he Lold the Senate. Arras and Amiens have been occupied since this morning. Our classic Conception of the con Duel of War has come up against a new raids in depth and parachutists. All Musi understand the first Effort is of an intellectual order. Decisions must be made. I am thinking of 1914. We ended up by winning after initial reverses. Every Man and every woman must understand the serious Ness of the hour through which we Are no shortcomings will be Toler the Premier said in his fight ing speech. There will no longer be any dilatory procedure for traitors. Saboteurs and cowards. "1 have told you the truth. We have Confidence in our great chief in our soldiers in our aviators who Are covering themselves with glory. I thank the Royal air the senators Al this Point stood and applauded. Reynaud said thai two men who had the. Right to rest on their laurels have just placed themselves in Hie service of 1he country Plain marshal Henri Petain new vice Premier and Weygan i general Maxim Weygand new commander fifth column activities in Manitoba is being recommended to Ottawa by the provincial government it was Learned. Tuesday there is no need for alarm emphasized Hon. W. J. Major. This is purely a precautionary the attorney general disclosed that he had been in touch with pre Mier John Bracken and Hon. Stuart. Garson. Provincial treasurer during the morning and had requested temperature readings Low during night 6.30 . May 21 13 noon May 21 2.00 ., May 21 High May 21, 193d 44 for full report of meteorological office see Page 13. . May 21. Aircraft fire off the Southeast const of was heard twice this afternoon mingled with the engines High overhead. Seacoast residents do j scribed us firing As intense. The sound of. Motors seemed in come from the English Channel South the Straits of Dover. Alarms in Paris Paris May 21. Up havas French raid alarms sounded War Effort to be recruited in Canada opinion Cost set at 25 years ago of sabotage Sivc ties Here at 6.10 Hi.10 . Scale in All Clear signals were Given 33 Miqui is later. May cd by Powers Al Senate pass giving government full in Case of War. Germany claimed prisoners captured by Austro German forces on East Ern front since May 1. Russian expeditionary Force landed at . To West Persia vim memorial by capt. A. E. H. Coo . Possibility vat the German motorized columns Are on top of Vimy a Klee was voiced in veterans circles this morning. This opinion was Given added Force by the announcement of the French Premier germans had reached Arras qty was a famous Canadian spot in the world War and thousands of our veterans have passed through its streets and in its cellars and caves. The entire City is built on a huge system of tunnels and is that run for Many Miles and even in this War the French planned on using them for air raid shelters. Arras is around 10 Miles from Vimy and it was one of the Headquarters for the Vimy Pil grims in 193g. Arras was badly battered about in the last War but the City was entirely rebuilt and is a very modern Centre at the present time. Allied troops have been stationed there in this War and it was one Vimy Ridge continued on Page 13, column 3 Ottawa May 21. War Effort is to be seeded up through a series of new government decisions ranging from appointment of two additional Cabinet ministers to enlistment of a 3rd division. Prime minister Mackenzie King announced the acceleration of the National War programme last night As he sketched for the House of commons the government s War record to Date. At the same time he informed the House the War would Cost the people of Canada at least in As estimated three months ago. Outline War Effort or. King gave the following de tailed list of planned War Effort which he said was now being translated into 3. To Advance the Date of the Dis Patch overseas of the 2nd division of the . 2. To Advance the Dale of the Dis Patch of such further reinforce ments of the 1st division As have not already proceeded overseas. 3. To push Forward the recruiting of reinforcements for the 2nd.divt-. Sion of the . Who will follow Premier King continued on Page 20. Column g slashes expected in estimates by Grant Dexter Ottawa May 21. Special Al though the estimates have not been tabled news of the extent of some of the culs is Gelting about. Non War services appear to have been Cut far More severely than was generally expected. Agriculture is Cut it is said by All Federal Grants to fairs Are eliminated. The . Is to continue although on less Money than before. Federal Road work also comes to a dead halt except for bits of High Way with military significance. King compares nazi smash with 1918 Ottawa May 21 up prime minister Mackenzie King asked members of the House of commons today to remember in this prob ably one of the darkest hours in the history of the that the Outlook was similarly dark in 1818, but that French and British troops rallied and won. Or. King at the opening of to Day s sitting gave a Brief statement of official news received by the government the situation in France he said was More serious. After breaking through highly fortified Allied lines the germans were advancing Down the Somme Valley. It was not easy to devise new tac tics to meet the mechanized drive of the germans but the French and British were working in close co operation and their morale was unbroken the prime minister said. The Gravity of the news precludes the need for any Genera statement of policy or programme since the situation is changing every hour every minute. More men needed London May 21. Ail ministry called today for More men of 30 to 45 for duties with the bal Loon barrage the system of balloons attached to cables by which a defensive cordon has been placed around London and other cities and along Britain s coasts. Complete agreement the Man of Foch who stopped the German army in 1918, is today on the Field of Bailie. Among Plain Weygand and my self there is Complete agreement. The country is in danger and i will Tell the truth to the Senate and to the country. The territory i Thern to make representations Federal authorities. At present visiting in the Capi Tal they will it is understood con Fer with the department of defence regarding the advisability of author izing the enrolment of citizens to combat subversive activitic.7. Mentioned As perhaps a possible Home defence unit is the University of Manitoba officers training corps though again there is nothing definite. Already conferences have taken place in the City Between Provin Cial civil and military authorities regarding the present situation and what appropriate action should be taken. Or. Major indicated that unconfirmed reports had reached him re Garding alleged subversive activities carried on by nazi sympathizers. Insufficient evidence sufficient evidence has not yet been produced to justify prosecution but when it. Is forthcoming then the necessary Steps will be taken he said. Meanwhile the past two weeks have seen a flood of rumours and reports sweep the province regard Home guard continued on Page 5, column 5 Belgium Holland and Luxembourg having been violated the enemy Reynaud continued on Page 5. Column 3 Albania Border sealed Skopje. Yugoslavia May 21. The Frontier Between Yugoslavia and italian held Al Bania was closed today by italian order. News of the Border closing was received Here shortly after the announcement in Rome thai foreign minister Galeazzo Ciano was leaving for Tirana capital of Albania. Reports filtering across the Frontier to Jugoslav military quarters Here said the italian army had seeded up transport of Large quantities of War materials across the Adriatic to the albanian port of Durazzo. Anxious capital Rogers Power for key War and Howe Likely posts at Ottawa by Grant Dexter Ottawa out., May 21. News from. France this morning blotted out monday night s speech of prime minister Mackenzie King. The announcement of a third Divi Sion a greater air Effort and the appointment of ministers to give full time to the air Force and to Supply cheered the House of com Mons momentarily. But today s Black reports brought an intensification of anxiety and floods of telegrams to members. It is an open secret that Hon. Norman Mcl. Rogers now minister of defence will have his Choice of the two fighting and air. It is expected he will choose defence. Hon. C. G. Power will be placed in the other portfolio i with respect to the portfolio of munitions and Supply the prevail ing View is that Hon. C. D. Howe will be chosen. It is Well known that he does not want to take this portfolio preferring to remain Hon. C. G. Power minister of transport. But under prevailing conditions he will undoubtedly forget his private preferences and serve wherever he s asked to serve. This will leave two vacancies line Post office and transport. The first will probably go to Quebec and the second to Ontario. There is More than an outside Chance that Brooke Cla Loni the Young member for St. Lawrence and St. George will be Given a Chance. The Ontario Man might easily be c. W. G. Gibson of Hamilton. Or. King however is unlikely to worry about the peace Lime port folios. He will concentrate on giving fresh impetus 1o the fighting services and the Supply deportment. Meantime the drive for it. Hon. Arthur Meighen to Lead the conservative party is growing in scope and intensity. Or. Meighen has nol yet made his decision to return to reaction continued on Page 13, column 3 ;