Paris, June 1.
Leopold LI, former King of the Belgians, has been struck off the roll of the French Legion of Honour. the an official decree in the Official Gazette announced today. The former monarcH, today a prisoner of war in German hands, held the Grand Cross of the French order.—Havas.
London, June 1.
Amazing allegations were made at Portsmouth yesterday when a woman and two men appeared on charges under the Defence Regulations or the Official Secrets Act.
The woman, Marie Louisa Augusta Ingram, 42, who was said to be the wife of a sergeant in the Royal Air Force and the sister-in-law of a staff officer serving with the German High Command, was alleged to have tried to obtain information about tanks, and the men. William Swift, 57, and Archibald Watts, 40—were censed of trying to help ber. All three lived at Southsea.
Swift was described as an assistant storeman in the naval dockyards at Southsea. Ingram was said to have been born in Germany of German parents, and to have expressed a hatred of Britain.
Proseeuting Counsel stated that if alleged offences had taken place a week later, the accused would have appeared on charges the punishment for which was death.
Two separate charges inst Ingram concerned an act prejudicial to public safety and an attempt te obtain documents or information calculated to be useful to the enemy.
Swift and Watts were charged with communicating and associating with Ingram, endeavouring to cause dis-election among His Majesty's forces. and possessing documents the dissemination of which would be likely to contravene the Defence Regulations.
The Prosecutor said that both Swift and Watts knew that, Ingram was engaged in activities helpful to the enemy and had tried to help her.
Ingram, he declared, had been heard to express anti-British opinions, and had told one man that when thi country was invaded by the Germans, the Royal Family and members of the Cabinet would be publicly executed and Sir Oswald Mosley nade ruler of England.
Ingram acquired British nationality by marriage, and had been employed in a domestic post by a senior naval officer engaged in important work for the Admiralty. All three defendants were committed for trial at the Old Bailey.—Reuter.
Members of women's voluntary services, working eight-hour shifts, handed supplies of food, tea and cigarettes to the soldiers A number of skilful Withdrawal wins High Praise Remarkable Feat Under Rain of Bombs; London Press More Cheerful London, June 1.
The most cheerful tone in many days is perceptible in this morning's press comment on the "miracle by Which the British. Army in North France could be saved from capitulanon or annihilation,"
News of this skilful feat of arms is given great prominence under such headlines as: "B.E.F. Turns Defeat Into Victory," "Withdrawals Far lu Excess of Expectations."
"The Times" says: "There is no more difficult and dangerous operation than the rearguard action of an outnumbered army, culminating in embarkation under fire. This becomes vastly more difficult in an age of mechanised warfare and bombing from the air. Three is no possibility of concealing operations from the enemy's eyes, and embarkation is carried out under a constant rain of bombs and very largely from open beaches, where the navy can employ no vessels larger than destroyers, Perfect Understanding "The maintenance of resistance under all these disadvantages was only possible by the most perfect understanding and ce-operation between the three Services and the three Allies, including Belgium units who have refused to lay down their arms."
"The Times" adds; "It is supremely important that the men are now being brought to England not as fugitives from a lost battle, but as unbroken units and formations, diminished in numbers, but with discipline forged to a steely edge by the experience of war. After the necessary rest they will be ready to take new posts in the fight. This is also true of the French regiments who had farther to go to remcu the ports of embarkation, yet who are known to be arriving in increasing numbers."
The "Daily Telegraph" comment "This almost incredible feat of courage, endurance and skill which has been accomplished will rank among the most famous battle honours of the British Army."
Valour and' Endurance The "Daily Mail" "The retreat from Flanders has already written an immortal chapter of valour and endurance,"
The "News Chronicle";"The circumstances of the withdrawal have thrown useful light on the old controversy of ship versus plane, Only minor injuries were inflicted on the innumerable craft assisting in the great task. Without the almost superhuman achievements of the Royal Air Force the losses would undoubtedly have been far heavier, but the fact remains that Nazi planes were in immense numerical superior. ity, yet failed to prevent the withdrawal."—Reuter, Japaneee Hint to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.