Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 28, 1940, Winnipeg, Manitoba G free press pages. Sun rises 4.28 Sun sets 20.24. Moon rises. 0.43 Moon sets Winnipeg tuesday May 28, 1940 and warm. Oust w to surrender Paris. Mav is. I Manmed. Despite i he capitulation of. King Leopold of i orcs i outfit in St today More determined than Ever ii i i a t e i in Ilik Ian Iii Scuder left the armies of great Britain and France Mii Siy position to resist the nazi drive toward the English in Krcin-1 Iii h command today declared the allies would continue the i fret. And their lines Reyor Rcd hold ing solidly along the Somme and Aisne j Rivers. Heavy German attacks along the mouse River were said to have collapsed under hot fire r from French positions. German losses were said to have been severe. With King Leopold s Capitula Tion the allies Tost the military support of about men in 18 belgian divisions and the French port at Dunkirk where supplies have been reaching the hemmed in Allied armies was left undefended. Re organizing belgians the belgian government an j bounced officially immediate re construction of belgian forces in France. Belgium will put into action her entire army in France composed o units already its statement said and will launch into the Battle All the forces of the nation to Triumph against the the exact numbers and types of reorganized belgian units remained military secrets. Previous information indicated that the bulk of the belgian forces had been fight ing on the Northern Wing of the Allied front Wel removed from France. The British broadcasting corporation in a broadcast heard in new York said that when the German invasion began the Bel Gian army for Home defence numbered men. The govern ment ordered All other males not old enough for service or other Wise exempted to make their Way to a foreign country to avoid Cap Ture. Most of these men now Are in France and in military training the . Said they number Many thousands although definite Fig ures Are unavailable. This said the broadcaster will be of valuable help to the allies in hold ing the line which runs roughly abut map the position on the Northern Battle front Fol lowing he in Kins Leopold of Belgium. Lond today that the Force in Belgium and Northern France furl her by 1ho capitulation of Leopold Kins of a bdjian.-. Would con linux to fight the . A was said would continue to fight with the intension of giving the French time to strengthen their front on the Somme Aisne Rivers. Regardless of reports received Here today that at least part of the belgian army might rebel against the capitulation order and fight on it was said that the sweep of the germans toward the Channel through the collapsed left flank in j Belgium left the encircled Allied 011jv two choices Northeast to fight on against overwhelm i Elfath at 10 Jing Odds with their communication fighting continued on Page 5, column Premier new King Leopold a King comes to judgment by Edgar Ansel Mourek Paris May 23. Special can radio Leopold the third King of the belgians yesterday sold the belgian army to Adolf Hitler presumably for an understanding that Nis throne and his so called National would be respected. Here eight words censored in the night the belgians Down their arms Laid sixteen Divi Iiona at the demand of their dug. Whether the French and British orces fighting beside them for the ast if Days at the invitation of this ame Leopold had any warning or whether the appearance of the Ger Man troops behind them was the first signal of Leopold s Little Deal is lot yet Clear. The French Are not bitter toward he belgian people. The people did that they could and the fact hat have sought Refuge in Ranee proves their sentiments to Varcos Hitler. The belgian army after a few initial mistakes fought bravely until it was ordered to surrender. The French Render homage to belgian courage. But toward the King who sold his army and his Honor for the Privi Ege of a place around Hitler s throne the French have nothing Paris May 28. Leopold has been deprived of Hie belgian throne a radio statement belgian Premier Hubert Pierlot said today. A few hours after announcement that Leopold had surrendered the belgian army of the germans the refugee Premier declared in a radio speech that All belgian officials were released from their oath of allegiance to the King and that the Monarch had been repudiated. Pierlot repudiated the surrender of the belgian army. Disregarding the government s formal and unanimous advice the King opened separate negotiations and treated with the Pierlot said. Belgium will be astounded but the shortcomings of one Man cannot be imputed to the entire nation. No act of the King has effect unless it is countersigned by his minister. This principle is absolute. It is a fundamental Rule of our Pierlot said that the King s Powers passed but loathing a loathing that pierced through Premier Reynaud s words this morning. Leopold s second great mistake by j. W. T. Mason British United press War expert the precarious situation of the Anglo French troops in Flanders judgment continued on. Page 5, column 3 Reynaud s statement tragedy strikes in Kinky area do Xvi the to the South May make Contact. Who to to evacuate by Way div Xvi lines destroyed or seized germans in Hope that the attack near Berne Switzerland May 23. A thirty Allied divisions were re ported moving into position tonight South of the Aisne River near Hethel Ifor an offensive to get through to the French and British forces in Flanders which Are Cut off from of the French Channel port of Dun now report cd in flames under German air bombardment to eng land. The belgian capitulation meant the German army was Given an apparently open Road around the Allied left flank to Bruges which British Force continued on Page 5. Column 1 the main French army. Reports reaching Here from both sides of the War zone indicated that general Maxime Weygand had placed a major part of this Force in position before the belgians sur rendered. Allied divisions Range from to to in the 30 divisions reported pre paring for attack. Navy nazi air Force shaping for tremendous clash Al by Francis Stevens London in i concentrations. Students of Ger six no cabled Man strategy Here now believe will make an attempt at h Between he massed Ger hearts of this nation Are with inevitable the British boys former belgian bereft of comrades their and without a fighting with their backs to the sea of Gic at of the enemy wedge. Even hich always uses if the expeditionary Force is lost major offensive it i Clear that britons would not Battle we would regard As decisive would be a British Victory. Blocking the Way to the inhabitants of this Island Britain seems like a Little fortress of Freedom blocking the Way to nazi world domination and it is this Green fortress of Liberal which will yet Bear the full blast of the enemy s rage. Many favor said that the King s Powers passed on to he refugee ministers and that in dissolving the link uniting him with the nation the King placed himself under the authority of the constitutional Power cannot be exercised under control of the enemy. Under these circumstances he is no longer in a position to govern because it is evident that the functions of the head of a state cannot be exercised under foreign the King s act which we deplore does not commit the the Premier continued. Belgium will fight on until Victory. A new army will be raised to fight alongside the allies those capable of bearing arms will be mobilized. Others will do War work. We Are passing through the most painful trial in our history. Whatever happens we will remain worthy of those who fought from 1914 to 1918." our army did not deserve the Fate Meled out to the Premier said. The King under the belgian Constitution swore to observe that All Power comes from the nation. This Power is exercised in a fashion determined by the in connection with the decision to deprive the King at his throne Pierlot said that in Case of a vacancy in Royal Power the Constitution prescribes a meeting of both houses of parliament and that in the meantime the. Power shall be exercised by the government. During the interval the King s constitutional Powers will be. Exercised on behalf of the belgian nation by the ministers meeting in Council and under their he said. Officers and civil servants Are released from their oath of obedience to the earlier Premier Paul Reynaud of France told the French nation that King Leopold of the belgians had ordered his army to surrender at 4 . .3 . . Monday without consulting the allies and had thrown open to the germans the Way to Dunkirk on the English Channel. Dunkirk French Channel port is the chief base of the Allied armies of the North. Reynaud denounced Leopold bit Terly said he had surrendered unconditionally without even inform ing the Allied commander Iii chief in the North and in opposition to his own government and cried we knew dark Days were com ing. They have come. We will hold the Somme Aisne line and because we hold it we will the belgian army fighting hard had been holding the Allied left on the Ghent Menin line under terrific pressure from the germans. I gift on following is the text of Premier Reynaud s statement i must announce a grave event to the nation. This event occurred last night. France can no longer count on help from the belgian army. Since 4 . Tuesday 11 ., e.d.t., monday the French army and the British army have been fighting alone in the North against the present situation j Reynaud continued you know what the situation was after the rupture of our front on May 14 the German army filtered Between our armies which found themselves broken into two groups one to the North the other to the South. On the South it is the French divisions which Are holding the new front following the Somme and Aisne and then rejoining intact the Maginot line. In the North is a group of three armies the belgian army the British expeditionary Force and several French division m which Many of us have loved ones. I this group of three armies was under command of general Blanchard. It was being supplied via Dunke que. The French and British armies were defending this port to the South and West the belgian army on the North. It was this belgian army which has just brusquely capitulated unconditionally on the Field of Battle on orders of its King and with out warning their French and British comrades in combat the Way to Dunke que to the German divisions. Eighteen Days ago this same King sent us a Call for help to this Appeal we replied following a plan which had been established since last december by the Allied general staffs. Always listened to Germany but in the midst of the Battle King Leopold Iii of Belgium who up until May had always seemed to listen to the words of Germany rather than to those of the allies Leopold Iii without warning general Blanchard without regard without a word Tor the French and British soldiers who to his anguished Appeal had come to the assistance of his country. King Leopold Iii Laid Down his arms. It is a fact without precedent in history. Belgian government opposed the belgian government has told Rne that the decision of the King was taken against the unanimous sentiment of the responsible ministers of the government added it had decided itself to put at we service of the cause All the forces of its country which Are still available and particularly it wishes to raise a new army and collaborate in the work of arming France. It is about our soldiers that we Are thinking. They can say their Honor is intact. They Are making a magnificent Effort along the whole front. Every Day during the 18 Days of the Battle they have Given thousands of examples of heroism. France never beaten French generals who have hardly had time to replace their ciders have already covered themselves with glory. Our leaders and our soldiers form a Block in which the country has entire Confidence and which tomorrow will draw the admiration of the world. We knew sad Days were coming. They have come. France has been invaded a Hundred times and never beaten. That much our courageous populations in the North must remember. It is from tests which we Are awaiting that the new spirit of France will be forged which will be greater than Ever. Our Faith in Victory is intact. The strength of every French Soldier of every Frenchman and of every frenchwoman Are increased 10 times. Misfortune has always bolstered France. She has never been As United As today. On a new line which has just been established by our great chieftain general Weygand in full Accord with marshal Petal on the Somme and Aisne we will hold and because we will have held we will air Victory London May 28. The air ministry announced today that 20 German aircraft had been destroyed or damaged by Royal air Force fighters Over northeastern France in a Battle to relieve pressure on the Allied troops. British plants also raided Over six big German Industrial cities in bombardments of military objectives the air ministry announced. The places bombed included Dusseldorf f. Duisberg Dortmund Hamburg Bremen and Cologne. All British planes returned safely. London May 28. Up Capiuk Lalion of the belgian army will make do difference in uie determination of great Britain and France to fight their Way through disaster and grief to the ultimate defeat of Germany prime minister Winston Churchill. Declared in the House of commons today. While cries of shame echoed through he crowded chamber the prime minister told of King Leopold i. Suing for a cessation of hostilities. These derisive cries turned to prolonged cheering when he added that Britain and France had expressly dissociated a themselves from the approach Ottawa Ottawa May 28 ;