THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 2, 1940
"OF MICE
MICE AND MEN'
IL DUCE'S Hitler's Tortuous Diplomatics Prove AFlop
Agreement
OFFER OF
SUBSTITUTE With France Evaporating
MECCA!
Arab religious circles in Aden have been raised to a high pitch of indigna- tion by reports that the Italians are trying to ar- range a substitute pil- grimage for the great an- nual Muslim pilgrimage
to Mecca.
The ersatz pilgrimage would be
in Abyssinia.
to the Muslim tomb near Harrar,
The Italians who, in their Arab broadcasts, claim to control the Red Sea, excuse their inability to transport pilgrims across that sea,
by alleging the British are pre-
venting a genuine pilgrimage from
being held this year.
EXPECTATIONS OF an early settlement between France and the Axis have evaporat- ed. This is the widespread conviction among well-informed diplomatic circles in Zurich.
It proves the appositeness of the old French proverb "Jamais deux sans trois," for it was already becoming taken for granted that Hitler's wheedling of General Franco had miscarried and many are at least doubt- ful whether Mussolini's bolt in Greece has not misfired.
As a matter of fact it was an-
The Vichy correspondent of “La nounced only this week that the British Government would pro-Suisse" telegraphed yesterday that! vide a warship_convoy for the now that the proposed basis of the time-honoured Mecca pilgrim final settlement has been upset by
age.
End Of The World The Aden Muslim leader told Reuter yesterday that the Koran states definitely that pilgrimage to nowhere but be made may Mecca. He added: "The downfall of Mecca will be a sign of the end of the world and it seems Musso- lini is trying to bring this about." Arrivals in Aden from Italian East Africa report that owing to shortage of labour in the princi- pal towns the Italians are for- bidding pilgrims to go to Mecca in case they fail to return. — Reu- ter;
U.S. AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION PROGRAMME
A new American aero-
Italy's insistence on the fulfilment of her territorial claims, political circles consider the scope of the Franco-German negotiations lim- ited to alleviation of the armis tice terms.
BRITAIN'S
NAVAL
DOMINANCE
Though M. Laval apparently is willingly
extreme to go, to the limit in concessions to Germany, and his
newspaper, "Le Moni-
The "dominance" of the teur," is maintaining an extreme anti-British tendency, other voices British Navy in the Medi- have been raised.
"Le Temps" wrote yesterday terranean was stressed in "It would be an insult to the French people if certain mater ial alleviations weighed down the scales in order to facilitate
acceptance of concessions.”
Weyand Article.
On the same side of the picture is placed Geners Weygand's sign- ed article in the Moroccan prèss, affirming that the Petain Govern- ment will make no concessions. harmful to French honour and in- terests.
Nevertheless the suppression of dissident elements in France proceeds rapidly.
Lady Terrington, who is the organiser of the London Re- glon for the registration of animals under the N.A.R.P,A.C.,. scheme, recently visited Covent Garden, London, where she fix- ed identity discs on the horses. (Copyright, Fox).
yesterday's edition" of FINDING OUT THE
"Trud," the Soviet trade union periodical in Mos- cow.
The paper says: "The strategic position of Italy, cut off from ocean communications, is much more serious than that of her ally."
The paper expressed the ex-
TRUTH
MORE GIFTS FOR
German propaganda in SPITFIRES
pectation that naval bases in the Spain has been giving one Greek islands will play a most
Important role in the coming version of the damage Among the latest con- struggle for leadership in the done in recent raids on tributions towards
eastern Mediterranean.
the
An Italian drive towards Suez Britain and this does not purchase of "Spitfire" the paper, tally with reports from fighters is the sum of been "is prevented by the dominance
of the Royal Navy in the Medi- other quarters, says a £5,000, which has been
of
transferred elsewhere.
Nachrichten" stated that earlier semi-official
com-
terranean.'
." — Reuter.
DRIVER'S NARROW ESCAPE
plane production pro- that 50 sub-prefects have
"La Suisse reports from Vichy from Libya, writes gramme, aiming at in-retired" and 143 who gained con- creasing production capa- siderable local influence have been city of 50,000 'planes a The Berlin correspondent year, may be launched as the "Basler" soon as Congress reassem-ments that the Franco-German bles after the elections.. negotiations would lead to a big designed political demonstration. President Roosevelt made this announcement at his press confer to influence the United States pre- sidential elections, are now Te~ ence in Washington yesterday,
tracted and the warning given stating that such a programme
that nothing has been settled with was a probability.
The question arose when the! France other than the principle of
cooperation.-Reuter. President was asked whether it was possible that there would be a new programme based on Britain
her fight
continuing
through the winter. Asked whether reports that the Perry Gyroscope
MORE
Company was WOMEN
making the United States secret! bomb sight for Britain and would be starting shipments across the Atlantic, President Roosevelt re- plied he had not the slightest idea whether the story was correct.
stories, it is: not."-Reuter.
RHODESIANS RALLY TO CALL
POLICE
Jumping out in time from the lorry in which he was sitting a Chinese driver narrowly escaped death yesterday.
The vehicle went to the edge of the road, turned two somer- saults, and crashed 500 feet be- low into a small valley near the Shing Mun Catchwater Fourth The lorry was stationary while
Schemes for extending Section.
the embankment.
.T.
leading Spaniard des sent by the town of Ed- cribed as a close friend of monton, Alberta (Cana- Senor Suner, Spain's For- da) to the fund being who is raised by Edmonton, Lon- eign Minister
now visiting the country don.
to find the truth for him- Another. £5,000 has been re- ceived from a Dutch tin company, self.
representing, the cost of the ninth He has already discovered the "Spitfire" to be presented by_the falsity of the Nazi claims.
people of the Netherlands East Indies during recent weeks.
We Imagined that your city was. In rulna," he said yesterday. The Lord Mayor of London's "I am glad to say that it is not." fund for the rellef of distressed He is sure that Spain will con- air-raid victims has received the
remain neutral in the
sum of £75 raised by the ship's tinue to
Reuter.
company of H.M.S. Warspite, to- gether with the cheery message. "Well done, London!"
war.
ALIENS ON SERIOUS CHARGES
South Africa continues to do its bit in aid of the fund to provide comforts for the naval patrols.
The Eum of £100 has been 'received from the town of
Bethlehem, In the Orange Free*
State.
This is the second to be received
turned the
He added: "If it is like other the, numbers and activit-sand was being loaded on. Sud- The flashing of lights from this city, the first "consist-
ies of women police in denly the vehicle started to slide
backwards and before the driver during air raids led to the ing of over £48 having been. received a few weeks ago, Reu- Britain will shortly be could apply the brakes, was over appearance of aliens be- ter, made public.
The driver, Wong Wan-pui, fore police courts in Lon- Rigid prejudice against such extension in official quarters has jumped out in time.
don and North-West Eng- the torch to let me see while I gas out under the He sustained slight scratches. finally been broken down in the
kettle." face of war-time conditions and The lorry was damaged beyond land. repair.
In each case they were re- It was stated at the North- THE RHODESTAN SECTION the consistent pressure of a com-
manded in custody. BLS
Western Court that while an air OF THE EMPIRE AIR TRAINING | mittee formed from more than 20
Chief Constables" ·
are being Standing close together in a raid was in progress a torch was SCHEME WILL REACH ITS of the leading Women's Organisa- PEAK BY THE MIDDLE OF tions representing many hundreds asked to review the whole position small, low-ceilinged room under seen to flash several times..
A man was detained and n NEXT YEAR, WHEN THERE of thousands of women and other in their own areas. Where police West London Police Court during
women are appointed in a force an air raid, an elderly Swiss flash-lamp was in his possession. WILL BE NINE SCHOOLS societies.
The man, a anifor, of Dutch TURNING OUT AIRMEN AT Cooperative guildswomen, wo where there have been none be couple were accused of making
members of wo fore, the local authorities are ad-signals intended for aircraft.
nationality, was, accused an an THE RATE OF 2,000 A YEAR, men teachers,
and Alma allen of being absent, from his. ANNOUNCED. THE SOUTH men's institutes have at last vised that the now recruits can They were Emil AFRICAN MINISTER FOR AIR succeeded in obtaining a definite receive training provided either Wirth, aged 02 and 60, respective ship during prohibited hours...........
The prosecution stated that an YESTERDAY:
promise of action from, Sir John by the Commissioner of Police of ly, of Childs Street, Kensington.
the Metropolia or the Chief Con- Divisional Detective-Inspector aircraftman saw a light flash five The South African Minister for Anderson.d
circular which stable of Birmingham.
Young, stated that when charged, times. He found the man, who Defence said that 700 Rhodesians. A new official
It is now admitted that women Wirth replied, "Why should. I dented flashing a light, and sald are now serving as officers with Sir John has authorised for issue military units in Egypt and a to police authorities throughout police are likely to prove of speci- want to malce signala?. I. nover that he did not possess a flash- further 800, are serving, in the the country is considerably in adali value az u. steadying influence flashed any torch. My wife used lamp. When he was searched at a My police station an electric torch. ranks outside the Colony. Reu-vance or anything previously in time of emergency, particularly the torch."-
among women and children. -- · Mrs. Wirth replied: “I only used was found, produced.
ter,
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