Zurich Herald, 1940-06-06, Page 2THE WAR .WEE K—Commentary on Current Events
SURRENDER OF LEOPOLD
BRINGS BLACKEST DAYS
The Allied army of the north,
consisting chiefly of the British Ex-
peditionary Force, was placed in
as position of supreme clanger by
the capitulation last week of the
Belgian tones under Bing Leopold
and was forced to retreat yard by
yard towards the coast under a re-
lentless German attack. With the
Channel ports froth Ostend to Bou-
logne strongly compromised, a Ger-
man bid for final victory seeming
Iy entered the decisive stage. Peo-
ple of British, French, Belgian
blood girded themselves for the
bitterest days they had ever had to
face.
"'Til Facts Are Known"
Branded as treachery, little was
known regarding the actual circum -
dances surrounding King Leopold's
unconditional surrender of the Bel-
gian army to Germany. Admiral of
the British Fleet, Sir Roger Keyes,
special British Iiaison officer to
Belgium since the German inva-
sion of the Low Countries, made a
dramatic appeal for suspension of
judgment on King Leopold III — "a
very gallant soldier" - until all the
/acts were known.' The London Ev-
ening. News recalled the recent
words of the Belgian minister of
thean'terior, M. van. der Poorten,
that King Leopold was "filled with
deep concern for the fate o' liis
troops" who were taking a feroc-
ious battering from the Germans.
The News suggested this sentence
provided a key to the King's deci-
sion.
French Consolidate
Separated from the army on the
Flanders front by a wide German
corridor, the main body of the Al-
lied forces, retaining the initiative,
-vas consolidating itself on the en-
tire course of the Somme in prepar-
ation of a great offensive. Ger-
roan losses were reported to be ter -
:rifle on all fronts, the Allies claim. -
Ing that casualties during ten dais'
lighting totalled half a million ..
Om elle Aisne all was quiet; near
tae Meuse the Germans remained
aggressive, but were being held
4`erynhere; nothing was occurring
a?n_the Maginot Line.
BRITAIN: Civilian morale in
Great Britain was bolstered by the
7uexdi,d'i'i11aTio s''r ho"a double'
mad triple duty in the fierce bat-
tles raging on the Continent. The
.Air Force went after targets in the
Rhineland industrial area, bombing
railways junctions, troop trainse
yards and bridges.
Over the week -end a shake-up in
the British army high command
was made, replacing General Iron -
side by General Sir John Dill as
Commander of the Imperial Staff;
General. Ironside was put in charge
es British home forces who were
being prepared against the threat
of an imminent Nazi invasion.
Sweeping powers were granted
Britain's new wartime government
including: establishment of pro-
duction councils to control the man-
nfacture of munitions, ships and
aircraft and to regulate mining and
agriculture; authority to impose
100 per cent. excess profits tax to
prevent profiteering; authority to
take over munitions factories; au-
lhority to regulate other industry
to prevent overlapping of labor;
'the right to control banks and the
eight to regulate wages and hours
'ef labor.
invasion Seery As Inevitable
Prime Minister Churchill Icarian
that "hard and heavy tidings" may
be expected frome a situation of
"grievous peril"; Information _Min-
ister Duff Cooper said that although
British must withdraw in Flanders,
"we have not lost the war, assured-
ly we shall not."
The early possibility was fore-
seen in Britain that with Germans
in control of channel ports, Lon-
don might become but a salient of
-the western front .. , that big Ger-
man land guns commanding the
Straits of Dover, aided by German
panes, could ruin mercbant traf-
itic in the Channel and pave the
vay for the Nazi invasion of Bre
lain, regarded as almost inevit-
able.
nevitatble.
Through Ireland?
Apprehension increased during
the week that Germany might at -
Unapt to use Ireland as a base of
operations against the United King-
dom, Reported activity of the Irish
Republic Army gave rise to serious
Misgiving's and prompted the Eire
government to take -drastic milit-
ary measures, bringing the army to
war strength,
RUSSIA: Signs were, pientifal
that the Soviet Union was becorn-
ing increasingly perturbed about
erm_any military aims in eastern
▪ --e ne, in particular about the pos-
lbllity iii' a 7a,,Q,i; ya ..Ttahan
drive in the llalltans. Vraendllne.'.'.
with the .Mlles vv as therefore not
excluded from the Soviet program.
The Soviet reply to recent Belted:
proposals for a trade agreement
,bowed that Russia had by to
t eeans closed the tloor to further
talks; and last week when Sir Staf-
ford Cripps, Laborite ntrember of
the British Honse, journeyed to
Moscow on an economic mission,
chances Were seen as "not unfavor-
able" for improved relations be-
tween Britain and the U.S.S.R.
ITALY: Foeigners prepared to
leave Italy as further classes of
army reserves were called for duty.
Italy's entrance into the war on
the side of Germany appeared only
a matter of days distant, although
it was seen that Mussolini might be
fobbed off at the last minute by the
relaxation of the Allred blockade
9n the Mediterranean, or by sweep-
ing territorial concessions on the
part of France. All the Italian
schools were ordered closed, and
civilian motor traffic suspended to
conserve fuel. (the ultra -Fascist
newspaper Conquiste D'Impero said
that if Italy entered the war the
.decisive battle would be in Egypt:
the Italian plan would be to smash
the Allies' east Beet and block the
Suez canal).
'UNITED STATES: While Con-
gress considered immediate action
to finance the L. S.' new $1,000,-
000,000
1,000;000,000 defense program, President
Roosevelt set up a seven -man com-
mission to supervise its carrying -
oat; announced a scheme to train
50,000 yearly for the U.S. air force;
and made a fervent appeal for aid
for war refugees.
The war has brought a substan-
tial reduction in trade for the Unit-
ed States, and deterioration in cer-
tainphases of the nation's business
and industrial life, but the U. S.
steel industry expects the busiest
year since the 1914-13 boom ,
leaders of industry conferring on
speed-up plans estimated that the
Allied aircraft orders in the U.S.
have reached ;725,00,000 a ,recent
increase of $100.000,000.
As a part of The American de-
fense pregiam, mass piaiduction of
new popular -priced (under $2.50)
gas mals for civilians was con-
templated.
CANADA: Slur' la g ,
eeveloping crisis abroad, eV n.ts at
home in Canada happened thick and
fast. The Dominion. Government
announced immediate _expeagleat; nt.
eirleCa` ie g cy step to meet
the critical situation in Europe,
and Prime Minister Mackenzie King
intimated at Ottawa that the ad-
ministration had given considera-
tion. to "measures that may be ne-
cessary" . . . in other words, eon-
scription , . . the formation of a
foarth division of the C.A.S.F. was
outlined fn Parliament, raising the
total of Canadian troops in active
service by 60 per cent. .. In addi-
tion a veterans' home guard was
authorized by the Defence Depart-
ment ... Air Minister C. G. Power
told the House of Commons that
every single air field under the
Commonwealth .Mr Training Plan
would be rush- I to completion this
summer, and that three additional
4 BEE HIVE
elementary flying schools would be
established, one of them at Goder-
ieb, Ontario ..
The bringiug down of the Federal
Budget was expected within ten
days, at which time Finance Min-
ister Ralston would reveal the tax-
es and other measures by which
the government hopes to obtain
money to carry on the nation's war
activity and keep up curtailed
peace -time services ..
The appointment was announced
during the week of J. Pierrepont
Moffat as the new United States ,
Minister to Canada, succeeding Jas.
H. R. Cromwell. Apropos, the New
York Herald -Tribune editorialized:
"No one can foresee the outcome of
the war, but no matter how it ends,
no ono can overlook the fateful im-
portance, today and hereafter. of
the relations between the United
States and Canada."
Rumors flew during the week,
contributing to the national state
of mind which was bordering on
hysteria. We heard that parchut-
iets might land in Toronto; that
pies in nun's clothing had been .ap-
prehended near Port Stanley; that
our next-door neighbor was a "5th
columnist", and tint we ought to
tell the -police about him , .. Bet-
ter substantiated reports crowded
ort the heels of these rumors: that
Queen Mary might shortly come to
Canada accompanied by the Prin-
cesses EIizabeth and Margaret
Ruse; that other European royalty
might seek refuge here , .. Don-
a.ger Queen Marie of Yugoslavia,
with two children and two grand-
children; Princess Juliana of the
Netherlands and her two babies.
Most cheerful news of the week:
Allied and Norwegian forces captur-
ed the iron ore port of Narvik.
alio System
Is Simplified
11
A simplified systcah of ship- to -
shore radio telephone service with
one working frequency for all the
Great Lakes ine toee of one
of the five lakes, ea i'ret"'.1•re, has
been inaugurated.
Illffective since lka:ay 7•st, i']ots:luti
of tho system fi'i c, rt•cni *12.1 'uic,rma,l
agreement belr.C441 ••the Uniieci
States and Canaan and rt i t placed
in operation v.it2'. Ito co tar;s.,+,tion
of the federal earl uu'si uc it' ir&a ':'`rrr,•
'mission of the t r. tte'i1 frith arse
AGR)IJiiMENT WITH :i. S.
AeCually the e cc;a. rce•maent
brings up to date ail as},reeai,en.t i,t-
twF•^ai Canada and the Uu.iled
States in 1930 ,.,. r' •n tea 'dn. f:•
gnency bands wc'tt a4! t wild•e; ur
ship -to -shore radio telFpi,-,no s.x'•
vices on the Atiaot.ic aa.ta•r 1'a,csifie
(Pasts as well as. am the Greet
l;ck s.
•
The tank complement off a lerutcsh Dimisnori is at lest one I at•t. Sion
of 45 iniantr'y co-operation tanks and one regaerctent of 45 scout tanks
Sept. 10 --
Canada enteredd the war:
Sept. 31—
First Division v ith three tank units mobilized.
Oct. 15—
Major-General McNaughton in Command, called for
survey of Canada's armoured troops, tank training and
production possibikitie,
Oct. 31—
Col. E. 5. Carter, British tan/; expert, submitted iris`
report, recommending
Immediate creationcentralized Armoured Corps;
unit and combined ;,,aining at Canny " orden; tank
production in Cana' e
to "start now.";,,'
Nov. 13—
Ottawa
3—
Ottawa announee'd
British experts to i r-'
ganize our war effo't,
Nov. 14—
Toronto Committee
wired and wrote De-
fense Minister urging
Col. Carter be retained
as adviser on tank
training and produc-
tion.
Nov. 15—
Minister of Defe
ogers wired: " r
tank organization
tional senior officers
at present."
Nov. 20—
Toronto Globe & Mail
published first of four
articles on "Armour-
ed Troops in the
Present War" by Col. E. 3.
come these statements:
se
ks
udder the collar and sends hint running for a .rifle
The ultimate weapon which wins• :the war is as
bayonet on a rifle carried by an infani ryaeaat
thorough the mud.
Nova 24 •
—
•
Major Everett Bristol, fur the Toronto Committee,
wrote Mr. Rogers asking reconsideration of his deci-
sion to do without Col. Carter's expert.. advice. His
letter enclosed an offer of co-operation by the 'mining
industry in "a more ambitious etank progravt," and
asked permission to bring a delegation to maeetthe..
Minister and discuss "what steps can be tai en *o
mobilize the resources of the leaders in the rniiaiixag.
industry 'behind +a
major war effort."
Nov. 27—
Mr. Rogers acknowl-
edged this letter with-
out reply.
Nov. 30—
Col. Carter, of the.
Royal Tank Corp, left
Canada for England.
Dec. l; ?)—
Under the Command
of Major-General Mc-
Naughton the First
Division, CASF, sail-
ed for England, minus
its three tank units.
Dec. tgaPli: Pf..--
y'•'t ne orOnto- Cotr rr.1it-
tee sought ways and
means of obtaining
Canadian - made tank
training equipment.
Results: Acheap,
easily assembled train-
ing vehicle was 1.'lan-
ued with the co-opera-
• tion of the Dominion's motor industry. An offer to
make test machines without expense or obligation to
The Department of Defense was submitted. Regard-
less of the efforts of staff officers directly concerned
the offer was ignored.
Feb. 12—
Major Bristol opened a new offensive, writing the
Prince Minister, the Minister of Defense and a high
ranking officer on the Headquarters Staff urging action
on tanks. He enclosed specially narked copies of
Col. Carter's prophetic articles.
Feb. 14: --
Mr, Rogers acknowledged receipt of the articles.
Feb. 16—
The Prime Minister's office also aeknowledged•receipt.
This 'xas countered with a last appeal to Mr. it ing
through the offices of a friend.
March -8—
The Toronto Committee received,'. -1 profound treelike-
originating
reeli e•ori( in<aating with the Department."OrDefense. it ;Ad
vrised that there was no programa for. -unit or .coro-
rained tank training at Camp Borden and no likeli-
hood that one would be adopted..
March 16—
Ottawa repulsed last assault: '9\re are working oe :r
very comprehensive program of development itt wheel -
cd vehicles which has great potential training value."
Setnsewkere-in-April--
]3rig icier Schnridlin, Director of Engineering Services at
Defense Headquarters. technical adviser to the Minister
of Defense, raised to Acting Quartermaster General.
Mav 27 ---
First Division tank units still in Canada, 'still
tankless. Prime• Minister King irt-omised a Fourth
Division of nine RIFLE BATTALIONS --presumably
complete with bayonets and mud.
s the PS
Sept. 1, 1939—
Hitler orders invasion of
Poland,
Sept. 27—
Warsaw surrenders to
German tanks.
April 9, 1940—
Hitler sends tank troops
into Norway, mechanized
forces overrun Denmark.
May 3--
Allies withdraw from
armoured troops.
May 10—
Hitler's tanks invade
Holland and Belgium.
Luxembourg overrun. -
ets, Please!
May 15—
Netherlands sttrrender all
but Zeeland Province,
May 17—
Brussels vacated.
May 19—
Nazi tanks pierce Somme
at St. Quentin.
May 20—
German light tanks reach
Channel at Abbeville.
May 26—
rench command an
-
Boulogne.
May 27—
'General Weygand pro-
mises armoured counter-
attack.
Carter. Front the articles
Hardened steel is the only thing that will bring a man
alive through a zone of machine-gun fire and carry him
and his retaliatory fire into the hostile line. Tanks
are the answer , .. September, 1918, when we were ad-
vancing with the Canadians, was the Germans' first
lesson in co -operative.' -attack with armoured troops
and airplanes. It would not be wise to discount the
y1ci11 with which they applied it in Poland... Of the
1939 war . . . thi$, nitich can certainly be foretold:
If and when the attack does come it will be made
in the greatest numbers and at' the highest speed
with both land and aircraft. For its aim will be
to penetrate the battle ground and reach the con-
trol and supply sireas before reserves can be
Brought up to meet: it ..
If Canada can undertake more her best contribution,
in my }tumble judgment, would be in the recruiting,
training and eriuipping of tank' units. There is no
technical problem in the production of tanks which
Canada's skilled industries should not be able
quickly to overcome . - .
Nov. 22—
Brigadier E. J. C. Sclunidlin, Director of Engineering
Services at Canadian Headquarters, technical adviser
to the Minister -of Defense, visited Toronto to speak
of tanks. • From the speech come these pearls:
Nobody knows how- useful tanks will be is actual
"ding-dong" warfare• . . . The Polish campaign
was no true indication of the power of mechanized
armies. The Poles failed to provide the opposition
expected of then ..
The usefulness of the airplane ... remains to be seen...
The damage from bombing will be considerably less
than expected . , . Bombing a civilian snakes him hot
C..L1GCA.NLi A
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