Heavy Casualties Said Inflicted on German Troop Concentrations in Lightning Attack London, June 26.
RITAIN yesterday countered the German Blitzkrieg with a sian Hahining Yond tae on German troop concentrations on the French Channel coast, it was officially announced today.
British ""Tommies" and mari ines landed at several unspecified points on the French Channel coast yesterday, attacking German positions and inflicting severe casualties, il was revealed.
'Making the first move in the present phase of the European' wa the British landing parties completely surprised the German fe rees and captured many prisoner the announcement. said, The British landing parties suffered casualties, according to the one Howneement issued by the Ministry of Toformation, Conjecture Aroused Over Movement of U.S. Fleet News of the British attacks on the German Channel positions greatly.
Washington, June 26. With movements of ihe United heartened Britons today and. many" observers predicted the launching of States fleet shrouded in oficial great English attack on the Nazi secrecy, naval experts here today armies in France.
Presented theories for the unusual These observers believed the Activity, all indicating that the Navy British. Wigh Command would not was. prepared for any eventuality.
be satisfied with merely "drawing The United States naval dispositions first blood" but would continue at present were intended to emphasize attack before the Germans are able American's readiness to fulfil its permanently consolidate th obligations under the Monroe Doctrine positions In Franc challenged by any quarter, either Meanwhile, the Air Ministry an-overtly or through an attempted nounced today that nine British transfer of belligerents' territories Spitfire patrol planes, while cruising within the western hemisphere aren. over the French coast yesterday dur~ The maintenance of powerful units ing the British landing operations, of the US. Fleet in proximity to the encountered 17 Nazi Messerschmitt Panama Canal was taken as evidence planes, Six of the German planes that the United States was fully deter-were reported shot down after a mined and prepared to defend the severe, but short, aerial battle, All canal and Intercoastal shipping routes. of the' British planes returned' safe~ The secrecy regarding the fleet's y to their bases, it was understood, movements showed that the naval "United Press, authorities desired to have the fleet in a central position for an alternative Germans Raid SE. Scotland movement, either toward the Pacific London, June 26, othe Atlantic, in the event of an German planes carried' out a raid urgent emergency arising in either over south-east 'Scotland early this ocean. morning, according to an announce went by the Scottish Regional Com-the event of a missioner at Edinburgh, reg against Bombs were dropped' in several many European authorities in disiriets. Fighters took off and anti the western hemisphere, including alroratt batteries went into action, British and French" naval stations Three German aircraft were would be placed on an unprecedented brought down, and two or three fand indefinite status, This might others are understood to have been constrain the movements of United 80 badly damaged that they were States naval units In accordance with Unlikely' to reach their base, the national defense policy, it was The latest reports indicate that five Pointed out. people were killed and 20 persons Unofficial opinion apparently. esti-Injured in Monday night's raids, mates Britain's ability to survive according {0 the Ministry of Home Germany's threatened blitzkrieg. As Security, Incendiary bombs were the major and gravest question confronting the United States in the fulure, the jeopardy of British sea-'An air-raid warden stated he saw power' would outweigh all other mat-raider evash in flames after being fers in extent to repercussions of chased by 9 British fighter, Fighters United States. policy. were elsewhere, and spectators saw President Roosevelt yesterday de-thrilling dogights, Many raiders clined to clarify the whereabouts of were chased out to the sea—Reuler, the United States Fleet, stating that Five Enemy Aircraft Downed he had no news of its movements. Before the President's press London, June 26. ference, however, some officials During last night, enemy" aircraft speeulaied on whether the Fleet might carried out bombing attacks on several be bound for Far Eastern waters, in Gistriely_of Great. Britain, ecordins view of Japan's decision to send a {ovan, offic} communique' ised this Aotilia to French Indo-China. morning.
The Secretary of State, Mr, Cordell "The raiders, ying at a great height, crossed both ihe English and Scotish Hull, said that, so far as he has been officially notified, the Fleet remains oasis, Anteaireratt gunfire Was heard berth-east England, and an aero~ at Hawaii, "He declined to answer plane, Velieved to be German, was questions on whether Japanese pres-Reard in the Midlands. Distant ex sure on Indo-China would affect the plosions were heard, which were be-policy of the United States in regard Fieved to: be bombs. A plane, thought fo the maintenance of the status be German, was heard over Wales in the Pacific. "He said he only knew Bistant explosions were also heard what he had seen in the newspapers auth-west England, where an air raid regarding Japanese actions in con-Sinem lasted 40 minutes, nection "with Indo-China—United Anti-aireralt guns ahd. searchlights were in action throughout the coun-Aigrant fuer machines went the Africa" fronts following the ague the raiders. At teest five enemy aircraft were brought down.
French capitulation, British air units were again active Reports received up to the present over italian concentrations in east indicate lat the damage cated Africa and bombed Asmara and Dire Uislouse and "that casualties were property by. enemy bombs. was.
No damage was done to in military objectives, however, slight. and we British planes were shot important damage was done down, the communique said. any miltyy objective—Reuter, British attempts to raid" Naples German Towns Bombed were foiled yesterday by quick action the part of Itatian pursuit. planes Tome, Jue 26. and anti-aiseraft guns, which suc 'A. Berlin telegram to the Stefan ceeded in beating back the attack, Agency states Brilish planes bombed the "communique star ni WMe"German towns of Bielefeld. and Press, ce etna Fissure, vemuring numerous des Weyrana and destroying houses.—Reuter, Rome, June 26.
London, June 26 plomatic "ahd consular 'The Jerusalem "correspondent for representatives have left Italy, A he London "Daly Mails reporte for humber of Exyplian resident, day that General Maxime: Wesgaa Ing curuaists, also have Tet.;|former commander "of forces. in' France, would Meave "fo me allan Decrease Mostiities Syria within a few dap Rome, June, 28.
'Authoritaive Prensh' circles. here With hostilities "between "France believed! Generat"Weyeand would Sco and. aly now officially. halted, the Sune the command "250,000 Pes dian. High Command announced Midive sat "troops Gen, "Weva today that action on the French front Before taking over' the Allied: Some Tied reaty decreased.
Phe attention of the allan Tigh mand wa appa commander Ghiet of the allied -Armny in the Ness Command hus "apparently. shifted ast in Febriary, 10 -United Pres
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