Show 1 mu oW The German Bli kr 1 Massed Planes Tanks Cracked Border Fob W Q pr r Editors Editor's Note This is the third of a series of or articles giving the inside story of or Germanys Germany's blitzkrieg through the low countries countries countries coun coun- tries and Into northern France By SIGRID SCHULTZ Copyright 1940 19 Chicago Tribune BERLIN When BERLIN When the German assault divisions invaded Holland Belgium and Luxembourg o oMay on May 10 the very first day of the German drive they completely upset the Hie plans of operations of the allies for the defense of Belgium Belgium Belgium Bel Bel- gium and northern France On this day the Meuse defenses defenses de de- de- de lenses in the Liege and Maastricht Maastricht Maastricht Maas Maas- tricht district which the allies hoped would withstand the German German German Ger Ger- man onslaught for weeks if not months were practically over over- run This spectacular feat which opened to the German armies the gates leading into Belgium Belgium and and eventually to the English channel channel channel chan chan- nel ports was ports was mainly due to the daring and efficiency of a first lieutenant of the German air force and a few dozen men under his command At dawn on May 10 and his men landed in the midst of the fortified area of Eben one of the worlds world's strongest fortifications WATER DEFENSES PROTECTED FORT Eben was constructed according to the latest principles of Belgian and French engineering engineer engineer- ing science To the west against Germany it was protected by a triple belt of water defenses the river Meuse the Liege canal and the Albert canal Lying between the towns of Liege and Maastricht Maastricht Maastricht Maas Maas- tricht this fort was to prevent the enemy fro from crossing the Meuse and the Albert bert canal inthis in inthis inthis this sector The deepcut Albert canal represented represented represented rep rep- resented an obstacle at least as formidable as the Meuse LeadIng Leading Leading Lead Lead- ing to the northwest against the Albert canal the fortification works of Eben were protected protected protected pro pro- on the other side by deep moats and electrically charged barbed wire entanglements Its 36 guns were mounted in armored armored armored ar ar- mored turrets feet above the water level of the canal They had a wide field of fire making the crossing of the Meuse and the Albert canal seemingly sible How and his men landed landed landed land land- ed in Eben was not revealed revealed revealed re re- although it is thought likely they were dropped by parachutes because of the comparatively comparatively comparatively com com- narrow space available available available avail avail- able for landing Some circles believe that small force landed in gliders NEW GAS USED i iTO TO CAPTURE FORT t j 1 jAn An interview that a German staff officer had with members of the Belgian garrison makes it appear beyond doubt that the Germans employed a new gas to temporarily disable the defenders defend defend- ers of Eben We were stunned one of the Belgians said while another alother made the cryptic remark We discovered that our guns failed to operate Whatever was the nature of the novel combat means employed employed employed em em- by the Germans they put t the e main fort o of Lie Lle O tion ion and enabled get s sto to cross the Ib Me Meuse on the same day day at bombers No fewer tha than surd Germans were to host empo em hOI 07 gaL SOLI French rench guns of an t f Yu ing from the fo forit f J for rt crossed the when Ih mola o 1 a river k cons v conspicuous rubber by 3 f r few hours hours later late 1 a ahad 5 had h built Ce ii 5 C emergent ftc c movable K cf r I i bridges I R l and d SpannIng this vital point lh the e k 1 Sta e THAN BET BETTER BErIER LLER ERI a The German theory ifa replaces a w Z Ih of l heavy eavy guns found foun foj Q cation One I lk hold hol is cheaper to toY V easier to mend than p long range guns ll It a I finitely faster hits fug L 1 St cura tely has a i drops bombs which to deadlier charge of I than a heavy i gw gun gunny shell needs c thick wa oi stand the impact of b. b I. I D b charge when b- b being thus carries less lea exp The German t prop chine pre and w S t German army leaden kB views all cooperated a deavor to create lh the 1 K that the real decision 1 in Belgium on the h of Brabant Brabant T tragedy happened tu he r I St St. Cyr famed French Fren French b institution fell for for them e by the the i of encirclement s flower of the French Recd army some to In tu Ki tu divisions na were dJ iri p to the north to Ih the t expeditionary force fora ore fight Belgium Throe Those forces force soon to be cut oU ond and German pints met md the channel ports i DECISIVE BLOW J JON j ON FRENCH FRECH BORDa I IThe The German stall staff ni rii plans with the ut ing to it that the d der si seem to fall in Bel Belg Beige leaving the German assi assion on the Franco Franco-Belgan powerful enough for orthe Hut blow As a result of ib th Ib of forces heal t j ensued along the Dyle Dylen Ii from Antwerp in the t r 8 Namur in the south On the seventh day daj dale drive May 16 the dew deep f fill ll with lightning likes and inconceivable strike Masses of tanks such sudi I world had not see sees seen smashed their way ti ih C French border tween tureen Maubeuge in the Carignan in m the east not only in brigades and but in whole corps the tanks drove in endless into northern France ii- ii si all resistance in their pi left behind them a gas g French border fc fort fo some 60 miles in brea bm opened the way for lor t la Ii armies to pour thrash Paris and th the English ish a aThe ishI I The End I |