THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 3, 1940.
ENGLAND SHAKEN OUT OF HER COMPLACENCY Former Shanghai Boy's Story Of Dunkirk
NECESSITY OF DYNAMIC ACTION
ENGLAND WAS SHAKEN out of her "complacency" by the withdrawal of the British expeditionary force from Belgium, an epic in which the British Tommy showed him- self magnificent. These are amongst the comments made by a captain, a Shanghai boy who a few years ago was a private in the S.V.C. to his father in a letter, extracts from which are given below.
"I trust that you received my cable on my safe return from Flanders, and that its contents relieved your wor- ries a bit. Believe me, after our pro- vidential experiences during the long days since May 10-I am grateful to be alive. I do not wish to give de- tails of those grim but heroic, days- nor I think would you care for a nar- rative until time makes them remini- scences rather than recent happenings of other men's sweat and sacrifice. -Suffice to say that my unit was pri- vileged to be in the thick of activity from the other side of Brussels right back to Dunkirk-and beyond.
"For most of us the veil of death was lifted on more than one occa- sion and in spite of land, air and and fury, sea attacks of all types
my most treasured memory of this episode will be of the supremely confident and ever resourceful. Bri- have tish Tommy-honestly they
Their conduct been magnificent.
admiration throughout compelled and affection.
for us all to do our part, and I think they are now roused to the necessity of dynamic action.
"I lost all my kit and landed in only my service dress, having spent the trip in a sailor's civilian sult. The navy saved the situation, and all of us now they are the fully understand why senior service. Were there ever men more brave? Although I landed three days ago, I did not write at once, a certain reaction has been felt by most of us, and I was rational letter.
anxious to write a
RECRUITING IN PALESTINE
JERUSALEM, TO-DAY. PALESTINIANS AND OTHER RE- SIDENTS, INCLUDING NATIONALS OF ALLIED BELLIGERENT POW- ERS, ARE RESPONDING IN LARGE NUMBERS TO THE ARMY AND R.A.F. RECRUITING CAM- PAIGN.
ALL ANXIOUS TO RETURN "This war is of furious speed and all of us are fanatical tempo-and
soon as anxious to return to it as
be- Crowds of Arabs and Jews, after possible. I will never grudge these days-as I see them-the reading street posters printed in Eng overture triste of our martian sym-lish, Arabic and Hebrew, are queuing
the up at recruiting offices where it phony--already I can ascertain
expected that enrolments in the vari- ous units will speedily All the quotas required.--Reuter.
strident chords of our triumphant
finale.
"Our return to sanity at home for a short period caused us to be grate- ful for. England. People have been most kind. I wept for the first time in years on landing at a S. E. port to see with what affection we were, wel- add that my comed home. I may men wept too-in sheer defiant emo- tion-and with a grim look which spells doom for the Hitlerian hordes,
"Our unit is to be reformed as soon ás possible. Our colonel set a won- derful example throughout-and we are prepared to follow him anywhere. I would not be surprised if I were sent out with another unit very soon; If so I shall wire my new address,
WAITED ON BEACHES
"I landed in England on June 1, and am now awaiting a notice to re- Join my unit. We marched 25 kilo- metres to Dunkirk-and waited 22 hours on those infamous beaches— and finally waded and rowed out to a paddle boat which with 550 men crammed on board covered in 12 hours.
Jerry did not leave us alone very
much.
.
"If our experience was not plea- sant, the infantry must have had it a thousand times worse. I have lost many friends already their passing only accentuates one's determination to make match with the enemy again. Incidentally Kwas my subaltern throughout the Flanders battle, and am.most was truly magnificent. I proud of him, and will see to it that he is promoted.
COMPLACENCY SHAKEN
For the rest, "It'
that Eng-
land's, complacency tak boón Wall:
has
shaken at last. 'It will bd ̧necessary
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BIGWIGS GET A SHAKING
One of the beat stories of the withdrawal from Dunkirk has never been printed. When the Germans first rushed on Boulogne a destroyer was sent to bring off several bigwigs connected with Но hospital work and the like. had got them on board and was pushing off when he saw a num. ber of German tanks coming over the hill. This was too much.
Forgetting all about his rofu- gees the Commander let fly. He got one tank with his first shot and then steamed up and down blazing away til he ran out of ammunition having accounted for. several more of the enemy. Then for the first time he remembered the refugees. They were com- pletely shattered by the involun- tary part they had taken in the action, but forgiving.
RAIDS ON OIL TANKS IN SICILY
London, To-day.
An R.A.F. communique issued in Cairo states R.A.F. machines bombed Gondar and Azozo aerodromes in Ethiopia setting fire to one trimotored bomber and seriously damaging five others.
Buildings were set on fire and a was scored on the main direct hit road. The R.A.F. suffered no casual- ties.
Oil refineries and tanks at Augusta, in Sicily, were also bombed and set on fire.
Italian planes bombed Mersa Matrun yesterday afternoon but there were no casualties and no damage was done.-British Wireless.
ED REED 2-2 and Tribune Bynacle "Say, Buddy, could you spare a
Here's. Luck
By Ed Reed
Oh, I'm sorry!"-
EWO BEER
Tek 30311
INTAKE OF MEN INTO THE ARMY
London, To-day.
All men registered for military ser- vice up to the end of May have now been called up with the exception of a few special categories.
Giving this Information to the Com-. mons at question time, Mr. Anthony Eden added the intake was being further accelerated and this would apply to those age groups now re- gistering.
He declined to accept the sugges- be- tion of another questioner who lieved a seaborne invasion of Britain on a serious scale was a remote con- tingency and that the policy in res- pect of enrolment for military train- ing should be reviewed.--British Wire.. less.
M. CORBIN SEES KING
London, To-day.. The King received in audience at Buckingham Palace yesterday after- noon M Corbin, who took leave on relinquishing his appointment French Ambassador in London.--Bri- tish Wireless.
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