THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 4, 1941;
*Page 3
BRITISH TROOPS IN PALMYRA
French Garrison Surrenders To Tank Attack
NAZIFIED
OLD MEN
New Invasion Indian
OF VICHY Begins From Iraq Officer's
"The internal and ex- ternal policy of the mad- dened old men of Vichy gives sufficient confirma- tion they are now nothing| but agents of German Fascism," says the Mos- cow newspaper "Pravda." giving the first reaction: to the Vichy Government's decision to break rela- tions with Russia.
"The Vichy leaders have taken a fatal road and continue to be.
whole interests of the tray the French nation. Their policy is criminal and anti-national.
"The rupture of diplomatic relations with Russia is justi. fied by nothing. It is an offence against the dignity and honour of the French people, whose fists!
clenched, teeth set and sinews taut,
are
"The hour of retaliation is com
ing, when the Fascist bandits and their agents will be thrown out of France
The Soviet newspapers mention mass arrests in France of people suspected of sympathising with Russia. Reuter.
ONE FIGHTS EIGHT
A sergeant pilot tackled eight Messerschmidt fighters single-handed in yesterday's R.A.F. fight
er
one.
sweep. He damaged
This is revealed in an Air Min- istry communique which recalls the same pilot brought down twa Messerschmdits on an earlier raid, Another pilot shot off the port
Messerschmidt wing of a
with one burst and a third left his viction a mass of burning wreck age on the ground.
These incidents occurred during a dog-fight between R.A.F. and German fighters in which the Ger-
THE FALL OF PALMYRA FOLLOWING “A POWERFUL ATTACK BY BRITISH ARMOURED FORCES," WAS ANNOUNCED IN AN OF- FICIAL VICHY COMMUNIQUE LAST NIGHT.
It was also stated that a new British
>
motorised column entered Syria from Iraq SHAPE OF yesterday morning and is attempting to ad- vance along the Mosul railway.
THINGS
The communique states: "The British TO COME
V.C.
THE KING HAS APPROVED THE POSTHUMOUS AWARD OF THE VICTORIA CROSS TO SUBADAR RICHPAL RAM, OF THE 6TH RAJPUTANA RIFLES FOR OUTSTANDING GAL- LANTRY IN ACTION DURING THE FIGHTING IN THE MIDDLE EAST,
This was officially in Simla yesterday.
announced
have increased their efforts in the Syrian
It is the second award of the desert and continued to bomb Beirut town. Visualising China's leading role V.C, to an Indian officer in this awarded to in things to come, Mr. H. G. Wells, 2/Lt. Premindra Singh Bhagat,
war. The first was "After subjecting our positions It will be recalled that an cminent British writer, yesterday to violent fire by reinforced ur-R.A.F. Cairo communique report-sent the following message to the of the Indian Engineers, serving tillery,
the British occupied ed an attack on Vichy shipping Chinese people for the Double- with the Royal Bombay Sappers. 155 minefields Palmyra on July 3 as the result of in Beirut harbour on Wednesday
Seventh, anniversary of China's for clearing up a powerful attack carried out by night when explosions were caus-
following the capture of Meremoa. ed on the central quays.-
-Reuter. armoured vehicles.
"This post fell after its heroic defenders had for 13 days put up admirable resistance against the enemy forces which had a crushing Euperiority both in numbers and material, "South-east of Dier es Zor, on
the right bank of the Euphrates, our troops are opposing the ad- vance of a motorised column from Aby Kemal.
Damour Bombed
Vichy Protest
war of resistance:
war.
"China, Russia, the Americas. Britain, and India, the greater half of mankind, are allies in this
After this
сал war they pro-and must secure the Rights of
federal control Man, world
of transport and oil, and the conser- vation and just distribution of natural resources throughout the
Central News.
The Vichy Government has lested to Britain against the bomb- ing of Beirut.
According to the Vichy news agency a Note has been handed to the British Ambassador in Madrid, Sir Samuel Hoare, by the French Ambassador to Spain, M, Pietri,
earth."
Vichy Troops Cut Off PLAIN
111
"Further north a new motoris- Palmyra, key town on the wil ed column from Iraq this (Thurs- | pipeline in central Syria, surren- day) morning crossed the Syriandered at 1.30 pm, yesterday, it is frontier at Tell Kotchek and is officia ly announced: In Jerusalem. trying to advance along the Mosul Lying 150 miles north-east of railway.
Damascus, Palmyra also has
mportant airfield.
The Allied forces have gradual- y encircled Palmyra in order On the coast the British cul off any
attempt by Vichy fleet bombarded our positions at troops in the fortress to retreat to- Damour. Our air force continued wards Homs.--Reuter. to bomb enemy troops in the Palmyra and Aby Kamal sectors.
"In the mountainous sector in southern Lebanon there is patrol activity and artillery fire on both sides.
"On July 2 our fighters shot down a Hurricane and a Blenheim
another and seriously damaged aircraft.
Beirut Bombing
by
"Beirut town was bombed the R.A.F. with increased violence during Wednesday night, Several districts where there are no mili- tary objectives were seriously damaged by incendiaries and high explosives. There were casual-
FRENCH ANTI-SOVIET
ACTIVITY
10
Many of the Russians
man fighters were in formations ties among the civilian popula-rounded up in France
of eight to 12.-Reuter.
tion."
TWO OFFENSIVE SWEEPS OVER NORTH FRANCE
TWO OFFENSIVE. SWEEPS, over-north- ern France were carried out by R.A.F. fighter squadrons, yesterday, says an Air Ministry communique.
Eleven enemy fighters were shot down and six British fighters are missing.
"Bombers, which also took part |man 'plane - definitely destroyed if the operations,attached, rail, but said that another five German way torgets in the Hazebrouck'planes were solternged that
after Vichy's break with the U.S.S.R. have been released, according to a communique released by the Vichy Government yesterday.
The communique says: "A great number of arrests were carried out as a necessary measure of national security ordered by Admiral Darlan."
It explained the authorities had to absure. thomselves that "the position of all Russians in France was regular,”
The arrested persons are to be brought before local "sifting com- missions whose task is to decide Whether they can be tafely set at
liberty."
ני
Round-Up Continues
The rounding up of Communists
in France continues, according
to: Hilversum, radio, which re- ports that all Soviet citizensin unoccupied France have been arrested. Reuter.
St. Omer gren, "One bomber: 15|their retur was doubtful-Reu- U-BOAT
missing.
Wster.
Tu¤nlywane · German alr aft was
· øver Britain yesterday. This crush-
ed on crossing the coust. In afternoon.
the A.FL.P. EXERCISES SUNK IN
* Many of the squadrons report-
sted on their return that it
had
15 boch vindult to bring the enemy
IN MANCHUKUÓ
no chancess: Inirview of
BALTIC
now [
to ʻactión, saya tha Air Ministry (the present uncertain situation, An enemy submarine, probably nawa service. Actions took place three day air raid exercises aro German, has been destroyed with mostly on the return journey, being staged throughout Man- depth charges In the Balile by an 13. One squadron met à dozen Mes- chukuo beginning, to-day.
unnamed Soviet torpedo-boat, de- serschmidt 100's head on, dived is Blichs will want the populace cording to "Krasny Flot," the through them and found itself all day to take cover from sham Russian Navy's newspaper. mixed up with more than 30 Ger- air attacks until the all clear has The Russian Gallors said they Bounded. The capital has a distinctly saw, the submarine's hull In the fight that ensued the complete blarke-out with search- from which," "air" "Bubbles “ wöre squadron claimed, only one Ger-lights raking the sky-Reuter. issuing-Reuter.
mans.
SPEAKING
CHANGING
B
COATS IN SYRIA
WHILE THE ALLIES CON- TINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS IN SYRIA, IT IS. REPORTED FROM CAIRO THAT A NUMBER OF VICHY TROOPS WHEN CAPTURED ARE ENLISTING IN THE FREE FRENCH FORCES.
It is believed that when it is. known that they will not be em- IMMEDIATE REPERCUSSION ployed against their former com- TO THE CHANGES IN THE rades, many more will come over. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION-Reuter.
IN THE HOUSE ANNOUNCED OF COMMONS YESTERDAY WAS THE NEWS THAT DIRECTOR-GENERAL,
WALTER ΜΟΝΟΚΤΟΝ, RESIGN.
THE SIR
MAY
FARNBOROUGH HEAD RETIRING
Mr. Arthur Henry Hall, Chief His comment was: "If
the Superintendent of the Royal Air- Establishment Powers-That-Be want to attack craft
at Fårn-:
a tank with a pitchfork, we will borough, retires to-day, says the go to it.
Ministry of Aircraft Production.
He was due to retire in April but agreed to continue. He has been in charge of the establish- ment since 1928.-Reuter.
"But don't start telling us that our pitchfork is a tank because we think we know the difference," -Reuter.
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