By now the whole of Dunkirk town is an inferno. The harbor and its approaches are a tragic sight, although the embarking of British troops is in full swing. While the piers are still in use, the troops are being marched as far out as possible, so that ships can dock along the whole length of the pier. Soon, however, embarkation from the docks become impracticable, for the sluicegates have been destroyed and the water is full of wreckage. In the face of the losses occasioned by these dramatic conditions the British Command decides to embark its men from the beaches east of the town. The boats pick them up by anchoring as close as possible to the shore, and the men wade out till they are up to their waists in water.

In the end the destroyers do not even anchor, and the men are picked up in a matter of moments, however possible. The beaches are black with the poor devils, who are quite unprotected and being continuously strafed by Luftwaffe fighters swooping low over the beaches. 'There were innumerable tragedies,' writes Kammerer. 'All our light destroyers, apart from the very smallest, ended their days there' - including the Bourrasque which sinks in sight of Ostend. Of the 800 men who had embarked in her, only 300 could be saved.

The French Cavalry Corps, comprising all three light mechanized divisions, regroup at Malo-les-Bains and begin to embark, without equipment or heavy guns, under ceaseless attack from the Luftwaffe and the German 105-mm batteries. The task of evacuation is still further complicated by the fact that the Germans are installing coastal batteries on either side of the town. These force the Allied ships to sail directly over the sandbanks, which is possible only at certain hours because of the tide.

The British Cabinet has decided that the Commander of the BEF should return to England when the size of the force remaining on land has been reduced to three divisions. This condition now being fulfilled, Lord Gort goes to Bastion 32 to take his leave of Adm Abrial and Gen Fagalde. 'My government has recalled me to London,' he tells them, 'but I am leaving Gen Alexander behind with three British divisions which will act under your orders for the defense of the bridgehead.' This decision in confirmed in writing by Lord Gort. Gen Fagalde at once establishes a plan of defense incorporating the three British divisions.

In the afternoon Gen Alexander arrives at Bastion 32 with two other British generals. A meeting takes place, attended by Adm Abrial, Adm Leclerc, Gen Altmayer, Gen Fagalde and the head of his troisième bureau, Commandant Lehr. Fagalde informs Alexander of what Lord Gort had told him that morning and outlines his plan of defense.

'Unfortunately that is quite impracticable,' says Alexander. 'I have to re-embark for England tonight with my three divisions.'

'But Lord Gort has placed you under my orders!' replies Fagalde.

'Lord Gort is now at sea,' says Alexander. 'I alone am responsible for the British troops in France. If we remain here another 24 hours we shall all be taken prisoner. Consequently I have decided to re-embark without delay.'

This statement stuns the French. Abrial and Fagalde strive to get Alexander to go back on his decision, but in vain.

'All I can do,' he says, 'is delay my embarkation till tomorrow, June 1st. But I can go no further.'

At their insistence Alexander agrees to telephone London. He returns a few hours later. In the meantime Adm Abrial has received a telegram from Paris informing him that in the course of a meeting of the Supreme War Council held that day in the Rue Saint Dominque it had been decided:

1. that British and French embarkations were to be carried out Pari-passu;

2. that the British would form the final rearguard.

Adm Abrial shows this dispatch to Alexander. 'Had my Prime Minister been here instead of in Paris,' declares Alexander, 'he would never have subscribed to these conditions.' He then adds: 'I have been in touch with Mr Anthony Eden. He has ordered me to co-operate with the French forces in the fullest measure compatible with the security of the British troops. I consider their existence seriously threatened and I am sticking to my decision to embark tomorrow, June 1st.'

Abrial and Fagalde try their utmost to get him to reverse this terrible decision, but he will not budge. Exasperated, Fagalde can not restrain himself from telling Gen Alexander what he thought of his behavior.

One of the British generals accompanying Alexander turns to Fagalde and says quietly: 'It isn't too good, is it?'

'No,' Fagalde replies in English, 'it isn't good at all.'

All this time the remnants of the 1st Army are continuing to fight heroically in the Lille area, holding up 7 German divisions. They are in an abysmal position. Ammunition is running out and the wounded need to be evacuated to the hospitals in Lille, which are already in German hands.

At 3pm Gen von Reichenau sends a message calling for the surrender of the French troops. He pays tribute to their heroism and says that he is prepared to accord them the honors of war.

At the council of war in Charleville on May 24th Hitler had timed the launching of the second phase of the offensive for May 31st. The date has to be put back six days to enable the panzer divisions, which have fought without respite since May 10th, to replenish and repair their equipment.

Despite this delay there is unusual activity in front of the French lines between Saint-Quentin and the mouth of the Somme. Anxious that the French should not be caught napping again, as they had been at Sedan on May 14th, Gen Weygand orders a series of reconnaissances and small-scale local actions. Col de Bardies writes:

Each division was visited by an officer from Army HQ, Army Group HQ and GHQ, who made sure that proper anti-tank mesures had been taken.

It is within the framework of these instructions that the French 2nd Armored Division, having regrouped southeast of Roye, moves forward into the area east of Poix to attack the bridgehead that the Germans have formed around Abbeville. The repeated attacks of the French 4th Armored Division on May 28th, 29th and 30th have not managed to destroy it. The 2nd Armored Division has suffered heavily since its action against the Somme bridges. On the night of May 24th-25th it had won back and destroyed the bridges at Epenancourt, Parguy and Béthencourt. On the night of May 25th-26th it had stormed the bridge at Saint-Christ and likewise destroyed it. After which, relieved by conpanies of the 117th and 41st Infantry Regiments respectively, the tanks had fallen back to Morchain and Marchélepot.

A few days' rest would have enabled the division to overhaul its vehicles. Before it has time to catch its breath, it is subjected to a series of marches and counter-marches in support of a scattered and exhausted infantry. These comings and goings cost the division dearly. It has covered 125 miles, with paltry results. The crews have not slept for three days and nights. Officially the division has 196 tanks at its disposal, but in fact only 132 are in use. Over 50 have broken down.