The withdrawal of the Netherlands' forces from the provinces east of the Zuyder Zee is reported to have been orderly, and in accordance with plans previously arranged. As they were quite plainly outside the general scheme of natural defence, which is possible in other parts of Holland, it would have been a waste of men and material to endeavour to hold them against the enemy. The move has the effect also of shortening the Netherlands' front, and merely involves the withdrawal of important forces from an area, which, in view of the scheme of flooding which has been carried out. would have been isolated. The claims put forward by the Germans concerning their rapid advance in that district have, therefore, to be taken as greatly exaggerated. They met with no opposition there and the claim that they advanced 148 kilometres in three days merely indicates the speed with which their mechanized units could proceed without meeting with resistance. In southern Holland and Belgium the German invaders have been able to progress only very slowly, and while some advance has been made in the Maastricht region, even that has been slowed up, representing an advance upon a comparatively narrow front of no more than twenty miles in about five days. It would be idle to contend that the latest example of Blitzkrieg has failed, for that is an issue which may not be decided for several weeks, It has been slowed up, however, and it is to be assumed that the German timetable has already gone awry. It will be remembered that something of the same sort of thing occurred during u last war. Only time will show what effect this will have on the outcome of the present struggle, but the fact that it has taken place is undoubtedly heartening. It is to be expected, however, that the enemy will seek to continue pouring increasingly large fores into the war arena which Herr Hitler has so callously chosen, but if the Allies maintain their present resistance, which is taking a hea' toll of the invaders, this latest venture may prove exceptionally costly to them. Without a doubt the progress which the Germans have made does not compensate them for the large expenditure in men and material which they have made.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.