THE CHINA MAIL; AUGUST 5, 1941.
Hong Kong's Attitude Of "It Can't Happen Here" Head In Sand, Says MALAYA TROOP
Says MALAYA TROOP CHUNGKING
U.S. Journalist
A SUGGESTION that a large section of
Hong Kong's civilian element was guilty of LANDSLIDE
ostrich-ism, and adopting an attitude of “It
Can't Happen Here" with regard to the crisis
in the Far East, was made by Mr. Harrison Forman, ace correspondent and cameraman, in a broadcast from Hong Kong to the United States yesterday.
CLOSES ROAD
THE JUNCTION OF WYND- HAM STREET AND LOWER AL- BERT ROAD HAS BEEN CLOS- ED TO WEST AND EAST BOUND TRAFFIC UNTIL FURTHER
Alternative routes to Central Police Station and Hollywood Road are by way of Arbuthnot Road and Wellington Street.
Mr. Forman revealed at the same time, NOTICE. however, that the authorities were taking a much more realistic view of the situation. Following is the text of the broadcast:-
N.E.I. Licence
Approval
This has been necessitated by a landslide which occurred at the "Hello N.B.C. This is Harrisonjunction of Wyndham Street and Forman speaking from Hong Lower Albert Road yesterday. Kong, China; on the opposite side of the globe from most of you in America. It's exactly eight-seven- teen in the morning here—Mon- day morning.
"In some respects civilian Hong Kong reminds me if an ostrich with its head burled in the sand, repeating to itself: "It can't hap- pen here!" The new tension in the Pacific which has arisen this past week or so doesn't seem to worry the folk very much. "Just The Netherlands East another one of those crises," they **It'll blow over-as the
say,
Indies authorities have others have done before." There agreed to extend export rush for steamer passage, on the are no visible signs of panic, no licences to Japan such as part of either Europeans, or oil, rubber and tin, pay-a few
Japanese here. Though I did see Japanese the other day ment arrangements for buying suitcases and trunks. which had prior to the N.E.I.'s action in
been settled
Husbands' Plaints
"As a matter of fact, husbands are still agitating to get the Gov-
their wives and kids. back to
freezing Japanese assets, says a Japanese ernment to allow them to bring report.
Hong Kong-crisis no crisis.
ог
You may remember, perhaps, that
MOVEMENT RUMOUR QUASHEL
It was stated in London last night that there is no truth in the rumour that Britain has sent 100,- 000 troops to the bor- ders of Thailand.
The dispositions of the British troops in Malaya are purely defensive and no move of the magnitude in- dicated has taken place. Reuter.
SCORES OF BOMBS
DROPPED
ON
GUNS AT TOBRUK
SCORES OF BOMBS were seen to fall on the enemy gun positions in the Tobruk area, when squadrons of the South African Air Force delivered a heavy attack on Sunday.
The attack was made simultaneously with the increased activity of British ground forces at Tobruk and along the frontier zone.
a similar crisis a little The South African airmen were over a year ago, the Government flying Maryland bombers, states evacuated about ninety per cent. of the European women and chil- the communique from R.A.F.
Japanese residents in the during Netherlands East Indies who are affected by the freezing order, are reported as being allowed to withdraw part of their accounts to cover payments of salaries, telegram fees and rentals upon presentation of detailed claims to their banks.-Reuter
GALLUP POLL ON FAR EAST
dren from
Cairo, and
Hong Kong, most of headquarters in whom were sent all the way to effect was devastating. Australia.
"The Powers-that-Be in Hong
the
Meantime. R.A.F. and South Kong, however, are no ostriches. African fighter pilots carried out There is clear evidence on every offensive patrols over enemy-occu- hand that they mean business-pied areas.
that they mean to defend this
place from attack. And it'll not During Saturday night, a large be merely a token defence either formation of R.A.F. heavy bomb-
with big guns, anti-aircraft, hazi. In addition
to causing
EXPECTS SHOWDOWN
With Germany bogged in Russia, it is believed in many quarters in Chung- king that Britain and the United States may turn their full attention to the Far East.
the
These quarters point to many indications that a show- down is being forced with Japan," such as the freezing of Japanese | assets, the abrogation of
mercial agreements, further American oll restrictions, the arrival of large British forces in" Malaya and
the Burma, and
com-
American
strength ing of the defences in the Philippines.
IF THIS SHOWDOWN SHOULD COME IN THE PACI- FIC, COMPETENT CHINESE OBSERVERS PREDICT THAT THE OUTCOME IS LIKELY TO BE DETERMINED WITHIN A YEAR.
Meanwhile, the Chinese mill- tary position has been greatly strengthened with the continual arrival of American and Soviet supplies.
While oficial quarters decline to make any comment, it is learn- ed from well-informed. sources that not only American aircraft volunteer pilots, but also Soviet artillery, aircraft and
and volunteer pilots are arriving in
China in large numbers. — Reu- ter.
FRENCHMAN'S
ESCAPE FROM
NAZI SLAVERY
A FLAGRANT EXAMPLE of the recruitment of
For Hong Kong fairly bristles ers attacked the harbour at Beng-Nazi slave labour is revealed in a story-recounted powerful searchlights, barbed large number of fires, a direct hit by Henry Stone of the "News-Chronicle,” of a wire and camouflage. And plenty was scored on an enemy anti- of troops, too. The harbour Is aircraft gun battery. Some of young French mechanic, who has now escaped to well mined, and a constant air these aircraft also machine-gun- Britain. and sea patrol is maintained for ned unti-aircraft guns and search- many miles out to sea.
lights at Berka aerodrome from a low altitude.
Air Precautions
"Though there is no naval or
Fighters Destroyed
He was employed in a factory in Occupied France when a Nazi boss walked in one day, and told him he would have to go and make a stay of a few months in a factory in Germany.
Escape
According to a Gallup poll pub- lished yesterday, on a survey ask- ing the question, "Should the
During the same night, air- United States take steps now to air force here, to speak of, the
craft of the Fleet Air Arm keep Japan from becoming more Japanese can never be too sure
bombed the aerodrome at Gam- powerful even if this means risk- but what a British air force, or
but and on the previous day, ing war with Japan?" the result even a fleet, would not suddenly
R.A.F. bombers attacked Misur- "They didn't ask me if I would was 51 per cent. In favour, 31 per make their appearance, Unques-
ata, where they demolished a care to go," the young man ex- cent, opposed and 18 per cent, un- tionably, an attack on Britain out
blockhouse with a direct hit and plained. "I was told I would The young Frenchman told Stone decided.
here would result in an immedi-
also severely damaged barrackleave next morning. It was no how he got fed up with it after ate British military alliance with
-buidings.
good arguing."
a few weeks and having: heard. Dr. Gallup said that if only those China-with cooperative action.
"Escorted by young Nazis armed that others had managed to with definite opinions were con- "Meanwhile, for immediate pro-
with revolvers, a party of fellow escape, made careful onquiries sidered, the survey meant that 60, tection of Hong Kong's million
French workers and I were taken and with some felnds, got away per cent. would be willing to risks and a half civilians from an air. The R.A.F, carried out a suc- by train to a Ruhr district, On war with Japan in an effort to blitz, the hills upon which the cessful attack on a number of Ita talk to each other. I don't know France.
among some huge crates loaded the way we were forbidden to in a railway wagon destined for defend the United States' interests city is built have been literally lian fighters on the ground in the Pacific while 38 per cent. honeycombed with an elaborate Reggio in Italy on Sunday. Frag taken, but I was sent to a Messer- where my silent companions were
"I cannot tell you where we would not
go so far,
Several system of tunnels drilled deep into ments of aircraft were seen flyschmitt factory to do work. I knew
got out. F called: on a frlénd months ago only 40 per cent. were the solid rock, with. entrances ing into the air as a result of the
who gave me money and willing to risk war, indicating a opening right off the streets. Drill-attack and it is known that a. something about.
clothes and I eventually, landed": ed under the direction of a firm large number of Macchi 200s were I was there were about 200 men, "In the part of the works where
'In Parla. of American mining, engineers, destroyed. From all these opera-
"After two days, I left again The poll also showed that 60 these tunnel shelters vary in tions, says the communique,
including some Poles, a few and after many exciting adven per cent. of voters think that capacity from a thousand to one aircraft returned safely Reuter. Czechs and about twenty French-tures, including 60 hours at sea Japan's occupation of Singapore accommodating over thirty thou-
with fifteen other young, French and the Netherlands East Indies sand people.
patriots in £ would be a definite threat to "I now return you to NBC, Ban
sailing-boat, we arrived at a British pórt." American security, 20 per cent. Francisco."
Special. think not and 20 per cent. are undecided-Central News.
sharp increase.
GERMAN STEAMER
INTERCEPTED
PILGRIMAGE TO WAILING WALL.
Offensive Patrols
at
all
men.
Badly Fed
די.
SHANGHAI STRIKE
A communique Issued at British "We were very badly fed. Just G.H.Q. Cairo, states: "Our offen-Ta little bit of meat, half the size alvo patrols from Tobruk have of a box of ten cigarettes, and continued their aggressive activi- that not every day, in the even- ty. Although valuable work has ing, And awful soup. What a been done in locating and destroy- terrible mixture that wast ing hostile minefields, the enemy "Wa had to work ton hours Public traffic services, buses has apparently refused contact by -- a day under the, constant eye and trams, in the French
Con- withdrawing from forward posi "of" young" Nazin. It was vorba cession, Shanghai, were brought tions under the cover of darkness. ten to exchange, a word in to a stop yesterday, by a general French while we were working, walk-out of drivers and . con- We took our meala — If you ductors.
A racord pilgrimago estimated at well over 25,000 persons visit- An Admiralty communique. ed the historic Walling Wall in states: "The German 8.8. Frank- Jerusalem during Saturday and In the frontier area, patrols| furt (5,529 tons) has been inter- Sunday in observance of the an- from our mechanised, units have cepted by our patrols while at-niversary of the destruction of again harassed the enemy, párticu- tempting to run the blockade."--the Second Temple in A.D.. 70-l larly by artillery fire.” British British Wireless.
Reuter.
I Wireless,
could call them, moale. and. Negotiations are procedding and. alept in the factory. It we want it is anticipated that ⠀ an early -aut, ♫ wa ware escorted by settlement will bo reached.
Nazia, osoa
Our Own Correspondent.