Day And Duel In
Early Fall Of Stronghold Not Likely
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL ́ ́)
A STEADY ARTILLERY DUEL IS RAGING DAY AND NIGHT IN THE BATTLE FOR BE- SIEGED BARDIA, BUT IN CAIRO LAST NIGHT IT WAS INDICATED THAT EARLY CAPITULA- TION OF THE ITALIANS IS NOT EXPECTED.
Both from sea and land the Bardia defen- ders are being steadily pounded, and the acti- vities of British armoured units on the western and north-western sides of the perimeter have been intensified, indicating preparations for an assault on the flanks.
The Italians, however, are so- curely entrenched in their e- erete pillboxes and emplacements, key connected underground Areas and there is no disposition other to regard the operation as
in
than difficult and arduous as long as the morale of the Italian troops besieged holds high. Internation- al News Service.
Dive-Bombing Attacks On British Troops Spasmodic artillery
both sides continued
mus
fire from on Christ-
while the Day at Bardia, British forces have been subject- by ed to dive-bombing attacks enemy aircraft, though front line observers state these attacks were mostly ineffective,
casualties.
causing few
Throughout the Western Desert, a simple British padres held
Christmas Service for the troops.
Air Marshal Longmore's
Message
Air Marshal Longmore, Com- Middle mandier-in-Chief R.A.F. East, bus sent a message to all ranks of the R.A.F., the Austra- South Force and the liary Air
Air Force, sending African Christmas greetings.
The message says: "With ever- increasing resources and the high morale of the squadrons, we shall look forward to a victorious New Year and a proper Christmas in
Reuter. the years to come."
HAVE
QUEEN WILHELMINA'S CONFIDENCE
"Having followed
the course
of events
in
with tense attention I believe myself to be in a position to tell recent you that months prospects have, greatly improv- ed. We face the fur ture with ever grea ter confidence in ulti mate victory than before."
So declared Queen Wilhelmina of the Ne- therlands in a broad- cast speech on Christ- mas Day to her peo ples in the Nether- lands and the East and West Indies. Reuter.
AN H.B.-
HOR
-AND THEN TRY!
THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 26, 1940.
Night Artillery Bardia Battle
NOT SNOW-MEN, but experts testing asbestos fire fighting suits for the Fleet Air Arm, The Fleet Air Arm la being equipped with these asbestos aulls for rescue work. The main ob. ject is to permit the rescue of airmen who may be trapped in a blazing aircraft. They can a:30 оп a warship which may carry used in helping to combat fire on board aircraft carriers or aircraft. (Copyright, Fox).
be
DISMAY AND
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
UNCERTAINTY IN TO NAZIS
BENGHAZI
RUDOLF
HESO;
HITLER'S
DEPUTY; SPEAKING FROM. A. BOMBER AERODHOME, BROAD- CAST A CHRISTMAS: MAGE TO
MES.
GERMANSAT
HOME. AND. ABROAD IN WHICH
HE USED THE
HONOURED
THE DISMAY AND uncertainty caused THEME OF THE "CERTAINTY
OF GERMAN VICTORY."
in Libya by the British offensive is described in the Athens newspaper "Vradyni” by a Greek who escaped from Benghazi a few days reached ago.
The inhabitants of Tobruk, and. Derna were fleeing south as refugees and the mative population was already discussing a possible Italian capitulation,
The morale of the native troops he described as very low. chiedy because nine-tenths of the thour sands of wounded coming from the Sollum region were natives.
He quoted a report: that a whole Askari regiment station- ed in the southern Rector of the Libyan frontier had broken up and disappeared in the desert. When the Greek left Benghazi no Italian convoys had arrived for
a fortnight, which was greatly
worrying the authorities as sup-
plies by plane were for from ade-
quate. Reuter,
GENERAL WAVELL'S ORDER OF THE DAY
General Wavell, in an Order of the Day to his troops, says the opera- tions have not ended and further efforts with a similar spirit will bring further successes.
The Order thanks all ranke, and: says the success of operations in the Western Desert was due to dureful preparation,, good. aɖtnin- istration and hard training balind the lines, as well as in the then- tre of wan
1
Hess, added: "We all know, and above all the enemy knows, that Germany even to-day has not yet"
the culminating point' of her strength in carrying out this fight."
•
Goering also sent a Christmas message: to the German air force; for their courage thanking them and initiative.-Reuter.
BETHLEHEM'S FIRST CHRISTMAS BLACKOUT
BETHLEHEM IS HAVING its first "black-
out Christmas in history, and even the Church of the Nativity and the old St. Chris tian Church are wrapped in a protective: gloom instead of being a blaze of triumphant lights as is the custom on peaceful Christmas. Eves.
The traditional bpnåre in the fields where shepherds still watch their flocks by nights must this year be put out early lest it gulde Italian raiders..
This: conformity to regulations, however, will not prevent sheep
being roasted before the fire as in past years, and Watchinight ser- vice in the Church of the Nativity.
ASSAB. BOMBED
The RAF on Monday night bombed, Assab,. the objective, be
·ing a pumping, station, says, a communique. in: Aden, All bombs, fell within. the target area, -- Reuter.
FALSHAN TO SAIL Preparations are being made te sie. Fatshan to sail for
Behind, curtained "doors and darkened windows,the hall of worship and the cave in' which! Christ was born will be ill-for minated: by a myriad candies Canton on Tuesday (Now Year's and globes and at midnight the Star of Bethlehem will stino forth serene and, Bright: above -the-warshippera. ››
Jerusalem has been a cosmo- Only troops trained to the high-pollan olty, for over 1,800 years este moral and physical pitch and but to-day it. has, a new cosmo led with dashing confidence, could pelitanism, of armed men from
Czechoslovakia. have carried through the opera the British. Empire,, Free France, tion so swiftly and successmiyat Poland and such small cost-Router.
Reuter,
Eve).
FERRY THEFT
the
• Mr. Collins, residing at No. Prun Building, has rentr theft of a basket. containing clothing valued at Star Ferry launch, at abou a.m.-yesterday.