London, May 19.
The public is awaiting further news from the front calmly. Although the importance of the actions, which began with a German hammer blow against French defences to the west of Sedan, is now fully realized, there are no signs of nervousness. New opportunities to serve are eagerly seized, as in the case of the local defence volunteer force. The appeal for this force has had an overwhelming response, Opinion is reassured by the knowledge of complete understanding existing between the British and French governments. That understanding expresses the will of the two peoples. and is therefore independent of changes of personnel such as result from the recent reconstruction of the British Government under Mr. Churchill and M. Reynaud's reconstruction of the French Ministry.
The name of Marshal Petain, associated as it always will be with the heroic defence of Verdun, inspires the same confidence in Britain as in France. The result of Mr. Churchill's visit to Paris on Thursday has given satisfaction both in France and Britain. The unity of feeling and purpose which has grown up between the two peoples under stress of the common struggle is notably illustrated by the manner in which the minds and hearts of the British public have responded to General Gamelin's Order of the Day "conquer or die."—British Official Wireless.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.