Page. 2
THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 9, 1941.
Italian Air Force
Loses
Half Its Strength In Libya
Damaging Blow Dealt By The R.A.F
(By Reuter's Air Correspondent)
ITALY'S EMPIRE AIR FORCE HAS SUF- FERED AS DAMAGING A BLOW AS ITALY'S LAND ARMY, PARTLY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN BRILLIANTLY OUT-MANOEUVRED BY THE R.A.F. AND PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE BRILLIANT STAFF WORK OF THE BRITISH NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE.
Undoubtedly the Italian air force is be- ing reinforced and refitted across the Medi- terranean at the cost of big hazards but the history of its participation in the desert dir war is one of growing failure.
One month after the British "blitz" open- ed the Rigia Aeronautica in Libya has lost probably 50 per cent, of its original total of front line 'planes in combat with the R.A.F.
It has lost several advance bases and is suffering a severe shortage supplies, particularly petrol, thanks to the British Navy.
Meanwhile the R.A.F. in the Middle East is growing stead- lly stronger.
The R.A.F. spokesman in Cairo has just said that reinforcements
A total of 250 Italian aircraft, namely about half the original are pouring in "more rapidly thau Italian strength in Libya, were two months ago."-Reuter. certainly destroyed between De- cember 7 and January 7, for the luss of less than 20 British 'planes.
Losses May Be Heavier R.A.F. SNOW
It is considered highly probable that 123 were battered on the ground during R.A.F, raids, and the capture of 40 of these in un- serviceable condition at El Adem suggests that as the British cap- ture new airfields it may be found that Italian air losses have been much heavier than is at present known.
RAID ON ELBASAN
on
A successful raid military stores and build-
Desert aerodromes are parti ings in Elbasan was made
cularly vulnerable, as it is al- most Impossible to hide aircraft by dispersal.
The strain on Marshal Graziani's Italian air activity has dropped steadily after the British capture of Sollum, rallying only for two days-January 4 and 5—in a fran- tic and fruitless effort to Bardia.
air arm is shown by the fact that
suve
on
Tuesday by R.A.F. bombers, says an R.A.F.Į communique issued from headquarters in Greece yesterday.
Snow, sleet and rain were falling in the target area, making observation difficult, but high ex- plosive and incendiary bombs were seen to hit several buildings and
A number of fires were started.
All aircraft returned safely de- canese Islands since the outbreak spite heavy anti-aircraft fire.
Dodecanese Strafed
No Italian air operations
been reported
have
from the Dode-
of the Greek war, the Italian air force there having been virtually "strafed" and starved out of ex- istence by combined R.A.F, acti- vities and the naval blockátle.
The plight of Italian squadrons in East Africa is nearly as bad and it is noticeable that their operations have been severely res- tricted for some weeks.
RAF. Growing Stronger
Router.
RESULT OF BARDIA
ONE RESULT OF THE BRI- TISH VICTORY AT BANDIA IS
花
A number of evaouse children from the bombed areas of London have found safety at the London County Council Ash- ford Nursery, Middlesex. The nursery is equipped with #hel. ters where the children can sleep and have their meals if neces- sary. Photo shows bables sleeping in the shelter. Fox).
MORE G-MEN TO COUNTER ESPIONAGE
An increase of 500 in the number of "G-Men" (Federal Bureau of Investiga- tion) to counter espionage and sabot- is recommended age in President Roose- velt's Budget posals.
(Copyright,
LOSING NO TIME
TO HELP BRITAIN
Progress is being made, said Representative Rae- burn, Speaker of the House, after conferring yesterday with Mr. Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, and Mr. Henry Morgei thau, Secretary of Trea- sury, about aid for Bri- tain.
Mr. Raeburn hinted that legis- lation might be considered by the House and Senate simultane- ously.
He said: "There is going to be as little time lost as pos- albie,"
to
Other sources in Washingtop disclosed that an arins prografi- me of $10,000,000,000 for and Britain was being studied. Reuter.
GREECE WILL NOT
RUHR HIT YIELD
BY R.A.F. RAIDS
"Whatever the circum- stances are the Greeks will not yield," declared the Press Minister, M. Nicoloudis, in Athens yes- terday replying to New Year wishes from foreign correspondents.
"Our
Coal production in the Ruhr district of Germany Mr. Nicoloudis declared: has seriously declined, great leader and Premier Meta- probably owing to RAF. as, by his historic refusal on the night of October 28 to sub- activities, according to mit to Italian violence, broug
back a tired world to the realisa- for information reaching the tion of the duty of dying Ministry of Economic honour and liberty. pro-
"The struggle continues and Warfare in London yes-will be long and hard.
The strength of this body already equals the peak of the last war at 1,500.-Reu- ter.
A CHANGE OF OPINION IN any support for Italy in favour of BRITAIN'S FAVOUR IN THE Britain. KINGDOM OF YEMEN, AC-
terday.
"We do not know what com iplications, what forces and what
not be afraid, they will not yield; they will fight on to the end, and will conquér.” —- Reuter.
One estimate puts the reduc-trials we shall have to face, but you can tell your countries and tion as high as 40 per cent com- the world that the Greeks will pared with pre-war production.
On the whole, however, there is evidence that coal production generally has been maintained but there is a considerable short- age of supplies to consumers, owing to distribution difficulties. R.A.F. Interference R.A.F. interference with rail-
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE
It is considered that the squa-CORDING TO RELIABLE RE- One indication of general opin-way traffic and the shortage of drons, numbering at most 150 air- PORTS RECEIVED IN ADEN ion as to an Italian defeat in the railway wagons appear to be the
Business on the London Stock craft, are in such straits for lack| YESTERDAY;
war is that lire are nowhere ac- main causes of the shortage. of supplies that maintenance .ol Many prominent people in Ye-cepted while sterling circulates
There is also said to have been Exchange yesterday was mainly of a specialised character. Spacus operations is impossible."
Imen are stated to have abandoned freely-Reuter.
a considerable falling off in Gerlative buying and the satisfactory man coal exports to Italy. and other countries.-Reuter.
·00000000000
ERROL FLYNN Sea Hawk
BRENDA MARSHALL CLAUDE RAINS CHAEL CURTIE
TO MORROW
Storm Advetitura?
10000000
Kobin Hood of the
KING'S
000000000000
DAYLIGHT RAIDS
SHOT
AF FIGHTERS DOWN" AN “ENEMY BOMBER OFF THE SUSSEX COAST, AT ANGMERING BEN HE
YESTERDAY"
progress of the war in the Middle East were responsible for a rise in ails. Broadening demand, espe cially from the provinces, caused a sharp advance in home rails, Kaffirs, „notably non-producers, advanced on Cape buying. 'Else- where conditions?" were
quiet
though industrials showed some firm spots. Wall Street was quiet and stehdyReuter.
FRENCH SPITFIRE
FUND
The bomber was one of a few
A Spitfire Fund for the Free which attempted single daylight French Forces in Britain has been ralds in widely scattered areas of opened with £800,
England.
This sun was handed to Gener- Bombs were dropped on a town al de Gaulle westerday, by the As- in the Mildlands and a town (in sociation or Kreachman in iritain. acant = Anglia Wout the number of The Best Spitäre to be purchas-
PART DE med casunitles was intall cant damag
--Reuter., p
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