'Only a successful French counteroffensive across the Somme River can save the British Expeditionary' force and units of the French Army trapped in Flanders, British mili-y quarters said last night, Earlier the Minister of Tnformation, Mr, Alfred Duff Cooper, nounced" that" British forces in Belgium would have to be withdrawn. from their positions because of the Belgian capitulation, it will be necessary to do our utmost to withdraw our army from the positions they now occupy," revealed. "But it won't be a defeated army we shall withdraw, British military leaders said the BEF. would continue to fight in northern France with the hope of giving the French time to strengthen the new front along the Somme and Aisne rivers, Because of the neces sity of consolidating the French position along this new line, the possibility of a French offensive. to relieve the BEF, was regarded remote, 'The Germans, taking advantage of the Belgian surrender, "turned on terrific pressure" north of the Lys River yesterday, British militar reports revealed, The situation in this area was admitted to be "very' serious."
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