THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 14, 1940.
Library, Supreme Cour?
FIERCE NAVAL BOMBARDMENT
Fleet Has Things All Its Own Way In Coast Shelling
Watch On
OLD NOAH -FARMER'S
100000
H.M.S. ENTERPRISE ARRIVES IN
Supplies For BOY AT 96 MONTEVIDEO
Libyan Forces
(By Reuter's Special Correspondent on Board A
British Warship in a Western Desert Port) HOW THE BRITISH Mediterranean Fleet has been cooperating with the British Army and Air Force in their victorious advance across the Western Desert towards the Libyan frontier, can now be told.
Old Noah Parsons leaned heavily on his fork handle, wiped his glistening brow and turned to Young Jira.
"These be better tatero than I've seen in fifty years," he sald.
"Aye, granter," agreed, young Jim "They be a nice crop."
And so they were happy on the Farm Where Age Doesn't Count.
At half-past eight in the morn-
ing Old Noah plodded the mile home at Southwick, Sussex, at six years.
down the lane from his cottage
a speed that belied his ninety-
1
He got to the farm and went in to report to the "Gaffer," Alfred Upton, aged eighty-eight.
The British cruiser Enterprise arrived in Montevideo yesterday and is expected to re- main about 48 hours. Enterprise had pre- viously been rumoured to be on the track of the Nazi raider which had a brush with Car- narvon Castle.-Reu- ter.
Then he set about digging WEAR MASK
I am writing on board one of our units which participated in the bombardment ofs." By lunch time a pile of the coast and which, with other warships, is now anchored off a small Egyptian Western Desert port.
During the past few days thou- sands of bedraggled prisoners have been pouring into this base, pro- food and 'viding tremendous
transport problems and necessitat- ing their speedy transfer by rail and car in order to make room for more.
our
SHOT THROUGH WINDOW PUT OUT THE LIGHT
The brilliant operational move- ment of
combined forces. which is driving the Italians into
When he said. he could get no. the Libya, was initiated with
reply after knocking at the door greatest secrecy.
of Mermaid Cottage, Old Bosham, There is no doubt the Italians the house of Lady North Elizabeth were taken completely by surprise Legge, a soldier put a bullet and purposely misled in regard to through the window and broke a
would lamp which the direction
showing the attack take, by the sea bombardment of much light. Sidi Barrani, the bombing of all Private George Tipton said at Libyan aerodromes and what ap- Chichester Country Police Court peared to be a large land force that the light, which shone on prepared for a big-scale frontal the ground, would be a landmark attack..
Fierce Naval Bombardment
The British naval bombardment of the Italian forces in the West- ern Desert has been "fierce in- deed," Reuter was informed in London naval circles yesterday.
Yet the ships carrying out this intensive bombardment have sus tained no casualties.
was
for enemy aircraft.
too
501b. chcice potatoes had been unearthed, selected and boxed.
Old Noah sighed, sat under an clderberry tree, ate his sand- wiches and smoked his old briar, After half an hour's break he was back at work.
Then came an air raid warn- ing.
Old Noah didn't hear it, went steadily on digging. I called to him.
"Dang those things," said Old Noah. "Why can't they let a man work in peace?"
the work.
the
ONCE A WEEK
WC
It is still important that should be prepared against gas, Sir John Anderson stressed this in a broadcast,
"You all have a gas-mask,” he said, "and you ought to practice wearing it,
"Put it on for ten to fifteen minutes one day each week. It may be a little irksome at first, but you will soon get used to it, and it is very important that you should get accustomed to wear- ing it,
GOOD NEWS EXPECTED IN GREECE
The situation in Al- bania continues to deve- lop favourably for the Greek army, according to the Greek Propaganda Ministry quoted in an Athens broadcast last
night.
The spokesman is quoted as saying that in many points of the front the Italian Command" þas.... been replaced off-hand.'
At two points on the front bat- tles are raging which are turning.. completely to the advantage of the Greeks, and several strong points have been taken by Greek troops.
In the central sector an ex- ceptionally important battle is progressing the Issue of which will greatly Influence further development of the war,
The spokesman added it is ex- pected the Greek Command will. be in a position to announce good
Reuter.
news.
GUNMEN. CHASED IN
KOWLOON
The Life For Him When he was ready to get Young Jim down to it again, Noah's Saunders,
sixty-seven-
and year-old son-in-law "spare time boy" around the
"If there is a gas alarm, after farm, turned up after a day's you have put on your mask you thatching, to give a hand.
may think you can smell gas or
Shantung Constable Until nearly dusk, Old Noah feel a smarting in your eyes, nose and Young Jim went on with or throat. Don't let that worry you; P.C.D. 288, attached to the it will pass off in a few minutes. Shamshuipo Police Sta- "When I could not make any- Instead of breaking off for tea, And whatever you do, don't take one hear, I kicked at the door | Old Noah spared a few minutes the mask off.
tion; had a narrow escape and I believe I knocked panel to show me round the farm.
"It is possible that liquid gas yesterday afternoon, when out," he said: He then put a
Four acres of rich produce, may be sprayed from the air. This he tried to arrest an arm- beans, peas, marrows, cabbage, is another reason for keeping un- bullet through the window.
A fine of £2
and 10s. costs beet every inch planted and der cover in air raids."
tended by himself: In-the-or- was, imposed on Lady Legge.
chard, tree after tree weighed down with crimson Permains,
"It makes life worth living to se the crops coming along ke this," Old Noah said. "I've been looking after this land twenty- five years now. I've been on the
PARSON GOES TO GAOL
In addition to playing an im- portant part in assisting the Army and the Royal Air Force, the Navy
A clergyman fined £10 at Bir-handle a farm. is also keeping a ceaseless watch on Italian sea communication and mingham for improper conduct it is becoming increasingly dif- ficult for Italy to get convoys of supplies across to Libya.
It is not generally realised, according to naval circles, that the British Navy also substan- tially assisted the Greeks In their rapid mobilisation.
ed Chinese at Kilung Street.
Sir John sald that quite sori...” ous fires started. by Incendiary bomba had been stopped hy people with little training with The constable. was off duty at: nothing
more than a stirrupthe time and was without his re- pump and a few gallons of volver. Acting on information he water.
approached two Chinese in Kilung Thousands of these pumps had Street about 4 p.m. and challeng- been distributed for the use of ed them to stop. house-holders' fire parties, and
"Some people say I'm too old
dred. Don't take any notice of refused to pay the line and elect- just because I'm nearly a hun- many more were on the way.
of alternative
'em. I can manage this all right. ed to serve the
Work when I like, play when. I like. That's me.
thirty-one days' imprisonment.
Wynne He is the Rev. David Owen, forty, rector of St. John's, Wednesbury.
+
ten)
-
He added: "One final hint and quite an important one-in an air-raid you will probably find that the noise is very exhaust.. Ing.
One of the men drew a revolver and fired a shot at the constable, but missed. The men then and the constable gave chase.
гап
When near. Boundary Street, "I have ma pipe of baccy. and a pint now and then, and
"Keep handy a tin with some another constable, P.C.D.134, who He left the dock and stood for
to I'm as happy as when I was pieces of cotton wool in it, each was on patrol, joined in the chase a few moments talking
smeared with a little. vaseline. and fired a shot at the men. The friends and, thaking, hands with Many Greek reservists live on
to the "Young Jim comes along of Stuff one of them armly, but not armed man, Cheng Wan, 21, was them before returning islands surrounding the mainland
dock to say. to the officer: night to give me a hand. He's tightly, into each ear when the apprehended after a long chase,
knows how to noise begins.”
while the other man made good and it was the British Navy which
"Please take me to prison." a good lad and
his escape. enabled these men to be carried
Owen's defence was a complete handle a farm. safely and rapidly
"It used to to the main-
denial. He agreed to being in cer- land there to play a part in hamtain streets in which the police mering Mussolini's armies in At said they had seen him, and stat- bania-Reuter,
ed that he was "so completely horrified by the whole thing" he had only a jumbled memory of what had happened.
CARETAKER CAN'T BE J.P.
Nine months after being | op- pointed-caretaker of their offices,
• Mr. Joseph Walker has been told
LOVE LETTERS READ IN HOUSE SEARCH
Panic action, by, the authorities
be different when
the Gaffer had more land. Young Jim and me and the Gaffer used But they had to to do it all. take a lot of the land to build on, and five years ago the Gaffer had to take to his bed.
A Pipe Together
TAMPERED WITH BLACK-OUT BLINDS
A revolver with four rounds of ammunition was found in posses- sion of the captured man.
It is understood that the man will be charged at the Kowloon Magistracy this morning.
For tampering with railway "I go in and let him know how
train window blinds that were things are going and we have al pipe together. He's the manager designed to prevent light escap- the train, Alexander he tells me what to do and Ing from
Young, of Queen's-court, Church. Road, Norwood, was fined £2, do it.",
Young Jim told me: Absolutely wonderful. His whole Police Court, London.
"He's wonderful," he nodded. with two guineas costs, by Mr. at Lambeth Bertrand Watson life is right here on the farm.
APPOINTMENTS IN THE "GAZETTE"
by Newcastle Public Assistance in searching private houses, and Committee that he cannot con- even reading people's love letters,
The following appointments are tinue to sit as a magistrate, was referred to in the Lords by
Mr. Connolley, Southern Rail-notified in the "Government Ga“. A leading Liberal and social Lord Strábolgi, worker in the city for many years, He understood there had been a He'd die if he had to give it up.way solicitor, said that Young gette" this morning.
where Never a day does he miss. Win-was a passenger on the train Mr. R. D. Gillespie to be t ter and summer he comes along which left Blackfriars at 9.17 Member of the Volunteer Advis-
ory Committee. every morn.
"Black-out" time was not Mr. L. J. Davies to be a Mem- until 9,35, but the blinds were ber of the Committee to adminis- drawn just before the train ter the Mercantile Marine Assis→ started. That operation coula tance Fund of H.K. not very wall have been done en route without delaying the train. P
Mr. Walker: was made a magis-hundred cases or more trate in 1985. Since then he has houses had been searched up and sat regularly on the bench,
down the country, and even love "I cannot understand the letters, of newly married couples committea's refusal," Mr. Walk- had been read. This was exces- gr told a reporter. :-
sive, zeal."
"My request was that I should Vicount Simon said he agreed ba allowed to alt on the bench with Lord Strabolgh, but in times. In my rota, which would moan of crisis there, was a risk that my being away from the office sometimes action might be taken for an hour or two enco, overy, at the expense of quite innocent zoven wecke.
people,
nothing
When I was appointed cars I might to be some extent in taker, I was told I would have to evitable. but there was give up some of my public active whatever in the Defence Regula- Lies, but nothing was, orpoeially tina connected with the Bill mentioned, and certainly not my which provided for anything of position as a magistrate."
the kind.
Sometimes he stays till dark if he's got a job like sowing which must be done.
"He had, a bit of trouble with hla knoes and paid fiftoon chillyng for one of those now- fangled siseltle bandages. [Ha gets along better with it. "He's a wonderful fellow."
ip.m.-
Young objected to the blinds
Mr. E. M. Bryden, resumed his appointment as a member of the Board of War Taxation,
Miss E. S. Atkins to be a Mem
Old Nooh handed me a bag of being down on the ground that ber of the Board of Education for
he preferred to read by daylight: a further period, apples as I left.
"Take these home for your The guard reasoned with Young, wife, son." he said, "You Just who, however, "made himself a and pulled come back in ten years' time thorough nuisance," T'll have some better ones for you the blinds up in his compart then."
ment,
Mr. C. A. Owon to be Acting: Sub-Lieut. In the HK.N.V.F.
Mr. FA, Xavier recognised us
H.K. Honorary Consul for Mexico at