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FIRST NEWSPAPER IN THE FAR EAST. ESTABLISHED 1845. Australia's Choicest
No. 33,055
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1941
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BUTTER
PACIFIC DEFENCE STRATEGY Singapore Chiefs Confident
R.A.F.
Not Afraid Of U.S. NAVY
SWOOP ON Blockade Threat CONVOYS
BETHUNE
Two squadrons of Blen- heim bombers escorted by a strong formation of fighters attacked the power plant at Mazin- garbe, near Bethune, yes- terday afternoon.
IT WAS LEARNED IN LON- DON THAT BOMBS WERE SEEN TO HIT THE TARGET FIRES WERE STARTED.
AND
German fighters attempted
to
prevent the attack but failed.
At least six German fighters are known to have been troyed.
des-
One Blenheim bomber and seven British fighters were last but one British fighter pilot! was later rescued from the sea by the R.A.F. Sea Rescue! Service.
German fighters attempted to interfere with the rescue opera- tion but were driven off by Bri- tish fighter patrols, one German 'plane being shot down,
Observers along the English Channel state that the weather was excellent with remarkably clear visibility when the British 'planes raced across to the French coast.
Sky Full Of 'Planes
a
R.A.F. IN ACTION IN RUSSIA
The R.A.F. Wing now in Russia under the strategic com- mand of Russian head- quarters has already been in contact with the Germans, it was learned in London yes- terday.
а
Of hundreds of Bri- tish machines sent large number have already arrived. Reuter.
Reprisal Raids
Demand
AN EXTREMELY ENCOURAGING PIC- TURE OF THE GENERAL DEFENSIVE POSI- TION IN THE AREA OF WHICH SINGAPORE IS THE STRATEGIC CENTRE WAS GIVEN AT
BY A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
SIR ROBERT BROOKE - POPHAM, C.-IN-C. FAR EAST, AND ADMIRAL SIR GEOFFREY LAY- TON, C.-IN-C. CHINA STATION, IN SINGA- PORE YESTERDAY.
Sir Robert said they were not afraid of the blockade threat. They had ample re- serves of food and ammunition. He did not think any blockade was tenable as long as six months but even within that time they were even without the as- fully able to break it sistance of the U.S. Navy.
Questioned concerning his re- cent visit to the N.E.1, Sir Robert said that from what he had seen he was perfectly satisfied the N.E.J. would put up a perfectly!
do good show if called on to so-they were not going about treading on people's corns but if attacked the NE.I.
were fully
FLYING
VISIT
determined to give a good ас- MR. MALCOLM MACDONALD, count of themselves.
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION-
Robert
REVEALED
The United States Navy
is now employing convoys to ensure the safe Gr- rival of Lease and Lend goods in Britain.
THIS WAS REVEALED IN WASHINGTON LAST NIGHT BY COL. FRANK KNOX, SECRE- TARY OF NAVY.
Speaking at his press confer- ence. Col. Knox declared: **The escort of convoys by combatant vessels is only one of many methods that can and are being used."
Emphasising that cince they fart war many more methods of safeguarding shipping have been. developed, he said the United States "la employing them all."
Asked whether U.S. warships were escorting vessels to Iceland and there passing them on to the Knox British Navy's care, Col. said it would be "unwise and in- discreet" to go into details.-Reu- ter.
Asked if there had been Staff ER IN CANADA, HAS ARRIVED the same bomber as the Duke of talks with the N.E.L or any tacit IN LONDON FOR IMPORTANT Kent. arrangements, Sir
said CONSULTATIONS WITH THE This is Mr. MacDonald's first he had nothing to add to what DOMINIONS OFFICE.
visit since he took up his duties in- he had stated in a previous
Mr. MacDonald made the Atlan-ip Canada and he is expected to terview, nathely, that in a huge tic crossing at the week-end in return shortly-Reuter.
of
arc from Burma to Australia what happened in any part the area affected the rest of it.
"YOU CAN'T SEPARATE ANY OF THESE COUNTRIES," HE DECLARED.
Assistance To N.E.I.
{SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL"
THE FIRST AXIS AIR RAID ON CAIRO, IN WHICH 39 CIVI. Another big force swept across
LIANS WERE
HAS KILLED, RAISED THE QUESTION the French coast last evening.
OF The sky was described as be- POSSIBLE BRITISH REPRISALS ROME, AS BOTH ing full of Spitfires and Hurri- | AGAINST canes, some flying at great CITIES ARE
AS REGARDED height.
Other fighters, however, PRIZED RELICS OF ANTIQUITY, were only just above sea-level. Britain, during the Greek war of the N.E.I. if the latter were Shortly afterwards heavy ex- warned of а possible reprisal attacked, Sir Robert said he Athens were would act on instructions from Whitehall whose decisions would The London newspapers yester-be accelerated as a result of the day demanded raids on Rome as reprisal for the attack on Cairo, labours of Mr. Duff-Cooper.
Questioned regarding International News Service.
plosions were
heard from French coast.-Reuter.
LAMOTTE PICQUET RUMOUR
the against Rome
bombed.
FORMALLY DENYING RE-
if
V.
AMERICAN LEGION FOR ALL AID
Asked if Malaya would im- mediately move to the assistance
Thai- land, Sir Robert sald relations with that country were better. They had come to realise, he said, that we were their friends, and they looked to us for advice, as witness their sending two offi- cers to look at our defence plans and to see the working of our fighter squadrons.
"I shouldn't have thought such a thing possible a few
months ago Sir Robert said.
Thailand's Attitude
· PORTS. EMANATING: FROM
THE AMERICAN LEGION CHUNGKING THE INDO-} CHINA GOVERNMENT-GENER WHICH 16 COMPOSED OF AL YESTERDAY DECLARED VETERANS OF THE LAST THẬT THE YOYAGER OF THE WORLD WAR, AND IS ONE OF
In reply to another question CRUISER LOTTE PICQUET THE MOST INFLUENTIAL OR:
GANISATIONS IN THE U.S., Sir Robert agreed that Thailand "TOJATNOT CONNECT PASSED A RESOLUTION YES had begun to show an indepen
ED WITH THE FRANCO-
TERDAY PROPOSING THE RE- dent, attitude towards Japan. JAPANESE AGREEMENT...
MOVAL OF THE GEOGRA- They were realising, he said, The cruiser left Saigon ro-PHICAL LIMITATIONS ON THE that they should not become too cently for Osaka for repairs, and USE OF AMERICAN- TROOPS.
much dependent, economically dry docking, as facilitiesTM--- pre The resolution also demanded and financially, upon Japan, j
the defent of Hitler und all the
lacking in Indo-China,.
Admiral Layton told "a""ques- The Lamotte Picquet, major stands for and favoured repeal of tioner that the radio report that French warship in the Far East, th American Neutrality Acc. Ja raider was at large in the Paci played a decisive part in the The resolution was greeted fic and that a number of ships main naval engagement of the with shouts of approval and was had fallen victim, was untrue.-- Thai-Indo-China war-Reuter. carried orally. Reuter.
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