Paris, May 21. 66GINCE this moming Arras and Amiens have been occupied by the Germans," the French Premier, M. Paul Reynaud, told the Senate, "France and England cannot be beaten. They) cannot die, If people say to me 'a miracle is needed to save France,' I would say: believe in miracles for I believe in France.'
Referring to collaborations between himself, Marshal] Philippe Petain and General Maxime Weygand, M. Reynaud said, "We must have confidence in our great leader, our soldiers, our airmen.
"The country is in danger and I shall tell the Senate and the nation the truth.
French divisions were not numerous on the Meuse.
The better troops were sent to Belgium. By reason of imeredible mistakes, which will be punished, bridges over the Meuse were not blown up."—Reuter.
Paris, May 21.
"These two great nations, these two great Empires, cannot be beaten, can~ of die," the French Premier, M. Paul Reynatid declared in a powerful address in the Senate today.
"If L were to be told that a miracle ig needed to save France," he added, would reply that 1 believe in thi miracle because T believe in Franc (neers)
The Premier then stressed that two men who were entitled to rest their Jourels have again placed their services at the disposal of the coun try: Marshal Philippe Petain and General Maxime Weygand.
General Weygand, as Marshal Foch's man, stopped the German army. in 1918," he said, "He is today on the battlefield. Full harmony exists between Marshal Petain, General Wey-wand and myself, "No flinching will be tolerated," the Premier exclaimed amid cheers "There will be no more dilatory pro: cedure for traitors, saboteurs and cowards. I told you the truth, Let's have confidence in our great chief, in our soldiers. Our airmen cover: themselves with glory. I thank the Royal Air Force!
Arras, Amiens Oceupi 'M, Reynaud then announced that for the past 48 hours the German advance has' been continuing. Since this morning Arras and Amiens are oc~ cupied by the enemy. "Our classical conception and conduct of the war have met with anew conception mechanized attacks in depth, parachuists," he said. The Arst effort is an intellectual one; decisions must taken."
The Premier recalled what happened in 1914 during the first months of the World War. "We succeeded finally in winning after our initial defeats," he said. "Each man, each Woman, must realize the greatness of the hour in which we are livin che Senate's meeting opened this afternoon and M, Reynaud immediately started his speech.
"Our Couniry is in Danger"
"Our mother country is in danger," he declared. The first of my duties to tell the Senate and the country the truth. You all know that the fortifications covering our country could be divided into two parts: the Maginot Line extending from Basle to Longwy along the Luxembourg frontier, and the Me of lighter forlifeations from Longwy to the so, Holland, Belgium and Luxem~ Bourg having been invaded the left wing of the French army left its forlications between Sedan and the sea and, flanking Sedan, headed for Belgium ina line extending from Sedan to Antwerp and even to Bherlogenbosch in Holland."
"Having foreseen and expected this situation, what did the enemy do? Ko launched a formidable attack on the hinge of the French army established behind the Mouse between Sedan and Namur. The Meuse River was wrongly considered a redoubtable obstacle to the enemy. This is why the French divisions which were entrusted with il defence were spread over a great length along the river."
Best Troops Sent to Belgium the other hand, an army corps had been used composed of divisions of less solidly enframed and less trained men, the best troops having been affected to the operations Belgium," the Premier continued. "It it is true that the Meuse is a river dificult of aspect it is precisely because it is dimeult to defend. Machine-gun firing is practically impossible, Infltrations are easy for manoeuvring troops. Add to this that more than half of the infantry divi-Sion of the army corps had not yet reached the Meuse, although it had the shortest movement to make as it was nearer the pivot point. "This is hot all. The following " incredible mistakes will be punished: the bridges across the Meuse had not been destroyed. Across these bridges the enemy's. Panzer divisions passed, receded by fighting planes attacking. and dispersing divisions badly enframed and badly trained for such attacks. You must now realize the complete disorganization of this army: corps and the disaster, Thus, the hinge of the French army was lost."
"The day before yesterday, when T arrived at the War Ministry, 1 was! Joined by Marshal Petain and General Weygand," the Premier went on. "What was the situation?, T asked them, A" breach of about 100 kilometres wide was opened in our front. In this breach was poured a German army composed of armoured divisions followed by mechanized divisions which, after having created a large' pocket in the direction of Paris, threw Itself forward to the West and.towards the sea taking, in its sweeping move, all our fortified system along the Franco-Belgian border and threaten-Ing the Allied forces still engaged in Belgium to whom the order to retreat had only been given on the evening of May 15. The day before yesterday tone German division had reached Quesnay, Cambrai, Peronne and the Somme. right to Ham. For the past 48 hours the German advanced continued. This morning at @ am. our High Command informed me that Arras and Amiens had been occupied by the enemy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.