The dramatic evacuation of the Czechoslovakian Army from France has been successfully completed by the arrival in England of the final contingent, led by the Commander-in-Chief, General S. Ingr.
When the French Government requested an armistice, two regiments of the Czech Army were in action on the Loire front, serving with two French divisions. Abandoned by the French units, the heroic Czechs rejected the order to cease fighting, and established contact with the British Government. Obeying Admiralty and War Office instructions, all Czech troops in France started to converge upon a certain French port. Here, after innumerable complications, two transports of the British Navy departed with the first contingent. But the units from the front were still far from the coast when the French forbade further embarkation. Baffled but resolute, General Ingr started negotiating with the French High Command while he and his staff awaited the arrival of the weary men from the fighting line. By the time they arrived permission had been granted, and evacuation proceeded.

Even more adventurous was the escape of the Czech Air Force. This consisted of about 200 first-line pilots, then engaged in severe fighting, about 300 pilots under training, and 200 air mechanics. When France capitulated the British Air Ministry announced that it would bring all the airmen to England, and instructions were broadcast by the BBC. Two days later they began to arrive. Some were flown in British bombers. Others eluded French control and landed in their own planes. Still others flew to North Africa. The rest assembled at Atlantic ports. There are now two Czechoslovakian camps in Britain. As Dr. Benes, head of the Czech National Committee (soon to receive recognition as the Czech Government), declared on June 19th "We are remaining here and shall remain here to fight for our future together with Great Britain, this great nation, however matters may turn out."