HONGKONG DAILY PRESS
CAPTURE OF BENGHAZI PRELUDE
TO ELIMINATION OF ITALY FROM THE WAR
AFRICAN FRONT
OPERATIONS
Warm Praise For Brilliant Successful Sorties By Exploit Of General Wavell
LONDON, Feb. 9 (Reuter)-The speed and brilliance of" General Wavell's campaign with the skilful and whole-hearted co-operation of the Navy and Air Force, were warmly praised in London editorials yes- terday on the occupation of Benghazi, which as The Times remarks, "completes the conquest of Cyrenaica in strategic fact if not in terms of acres."
The journal adds: "There will be no further resistance nor is any Itallar counter-offensive to be teared. A more interesting ques- tion is whether, to what extent and how Germany intends to increase ald to Italy which she has already rendered without any effect so far upon General Wavell's campaign--by the establishment of an air base in Sicily."
These German aircraft, The Times thinks will doubtless con- tinue to give trouble but they can and will be combatted.
"Referring to Hitler's negotiations with Vichy, The Times, says the fact remains that Germany has been completely surprised by the suddenness and magnitude of the Italian disaster, so that the initiă- tive in that part of the world has passed into our hands
Whatever the upshot of this new. pressure upon France we are n ready in a far better situation to meet any new attempt to wrest from us cuminand of the Mediter-
ranean.
STRATEGICAL COMMAND The Daily Telegraph says: "With
Wavell has completed the conquest of Cyrenaica, incomparable and
most valuable part of the Fascist
British Patrols
CAIRO, Feb. 9 (Reuter)-British operations south of Benghazi are proceeding satisfactorily, announ- ced yesterday's General Headquar ters' communique which also re- ports progress on other African frunts.
"In the Keren' area of Eritrea. British pressure is increasing, while further south British troops are continuing the pursuit of the enemy who is withdrawing towards Arreza
In Abyssinia. the British mobile units are pressing forward along the road to Gondar.
It is the prelude to his complete elimination as an effective force in this momentous struggle.
In Italian Somaliland, penetra- The Daily Express describes tion Sy British patrols is success- Benghazi as the equivalent of fully continuing, concludes the Alexandria in the Italian Empire, commualque and says General Wavel's men have now advanced as far into Mussolini's preserves as Mussolini would have done if he were now in Alexandria.
FORCED MARCH
In the operations leading to the capture of Benghazi a British armoured formation made a forced | march of 150 miles in thirty hours, U.S. PRESS COMMENT
brushing aside resistance en route. NEW YORK. Feb. 9 (Reuter--to close the enemy's last line of "The overwhelmingly important retreat, thing is that It gives Britain the Surprised by the speed of this initiative and compels Germany to brilliant exploit, the enemy, en- begin calculating what the other deavouring to withdraw from side will do next." writes the New Benghazi, found themselves finally York Herald Tribune on the Beng- hemmed In. hazi victory which it compares in
Naz seizure of Norway.
A numerically superior enemy or
fantry and ärtillery, then made
GENERAL
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1941, -PAGE 3
Training air observers and navigators in Britain is continu- ing at full speed. Here are navigators getting' their instructions for a night light at a West Country aerodrome; the pilots of which are all Poles.
Nippon Drive On Chungking Anticipated In The Spring
L:
CHUNGKING, Feb. 9 Renter)-While the outcome of the Southern Fonan fighting still remains to be seen, well-informed Chinese quarters here state that the Japanese drive to Honan appears to be nearing its conclusion without achieving any im- portant results.
It is now revealed when the Japanese launched the drivé from Singyang on January 21, outwardly the Japanese had four divisions but actually the Japanese strength in the drive totalled two and a half divisions.
The Japanese columns pushed northward along both sides of the during early stages of the drive
Felping-Hankow railway. appar- ently with Chengchow as the ab-
the capture of Benghazi, Generna | strategical importance with the armoured forces, supported by in-ective, but after reaching Siping, "It ends the long paralysing de-determined efforts to break through thé Japanese columns "turned our cordon. Every attempt was westward in the direction of Wu- repulsed with heavy losses and the enemy ceased fighting after sixty of their tanks had become battle casualties.
Empire.
ין
"We obtain the most populous city in Cyrenaica, a port much im- proved by costly Italian effort, and a good air base.
"The strategical command of the eastern Mediterranean is secured
to us now that Cyrenaica as well as Crete is at the service of our Navy and Air Force."
The Dally Mail declares Italy is becoming encircled by British alr and sea bases. Benghazi, Crete, Greece and possibly Albania form a ring of advanced striking points 600 miles nearer Italy than our former base at Alexandria.
IL DUCE FINISHED
"Mussolin! as a force is finished. He knows it. So does Hitler."
The New Chronicle is of the opinion that General Wavell's vic- tories are blows not only at an
bastion.
fensive role of the democracies and summons every bellever in demo- cracy to abandon his defeatism."
According to the New York Times the effect of the victory on the Moslem world can scarcely be ex- aggerated.
"The Arab world
•
་་
now
yang.
+
American Nominees For S'hai M.C.
SHANGHAI, Feb. 9 (Reuter)--Mr N. F. Allman, the American lawyer, and Dr. R. J. McMullen, Chairman of the American Association and head of the Hangchow Christian
The Japanese main strength then pushed southwestwards to- wards Nanyang which fell into
hands on Japanese
Wednesday Large numbers of prisoners are
afternoon. surrendering. including an Is, stirring. Army Commander, a Corps Coni-
After vigorous Chinese counter. College, were nominated for elec- British victories are reviving me-mander and, mnay other senior attacks, Chinese forces claimed to tion to the Municipal Council ir the forthcoming election, at the mories of old friendships and. it is officers. Quantities of war mate- not inconceivable that they. may rial have been captured.
Executive Meeting of the Americar Association yesterday. develop into comradeship in arms."
NEWS HEADLINED
BOMBAY, Feb. 9 Reuter)-News AIR ATTACKS ON
of the fall of Benghazi commands the biggest headlines published in every section of the Press in India since the collapse of France.
BRITISH ISLES
have
recaptured Nanyang on Thursday night, after which Jan anese forces retreated southwards in the direction of Tangho. HEAVY CASUALTIES
It
The annual election of members to the Council will be held on April 2 and 3.
seems that the. Japanese
It is believed that following pre- forces are at present continuing vious custom five British and the retreat towards Tungpeb Gr, two Japanese candidates will be in other words, falling back on nominated and meanwhile the
'AR papers praise General Nazi High Command the bases in the vicinity of Sin- Municipal Council has suggested to
Wavell's strategy while stressing the swiftness of the blow dealt by the Imperial forces in the desert "blitz."
Communique
yang.
the Consular Body that the annual The same quarters claim that ratepayers' meeting be held on the Japanese, suffered heavy cas- April 16. LONDON, Feb. 9 (Reuter] -ualties during the fighting
а
KEY TO NAZI DEFEAT A German High Command com. The Chinese military hed ad- JERUSALEM. Feb 9 (Reuter) munique yesterday mentions at- vance Information of the impend- already reeling Italy but at Ger-The British Middle East cam-tacks on the British Isles many as well who, It would appear,paign might well prove the key to several
bying Japanese drive, at least single German bombers week before the push began, as is hurrying south to patch the the defeat of Germany declared and claims that gas-works in yawning fissures in the Fascist | Lieutenant - General
athe Chinese had heard of the Sir Philip Scottish East Coast town were set heavy concentration of Japanese Neame. V.C.. General Officer Com-on fire by a low level attack. History may yet prove that the manding, Palestine
troops and of mechanised units in and Trans- The communique also says that the vicinity of Sinyang. hurrying began too late,
Jordan, in a broadcast in the course a small merchant vessel was des- Therefore the Chinese High of which he gave lie to the Axlstroyed by a direct bomb, hit off Command rushed The Daily Herald says this vic-broadcasts regarding Palestine and Dundee.
strong forces Lato Southern Honan where they tory is much more than a nail in Transjordan.
On Friday evening and during arrived in time to meet the Jap- Mussolini's coffin. It inaugurates. These countries, he said, are comm- the night the communique adds, anese attack. the funeral of the Duce.
pletely peaceful.
PRELUDE TO ELIMINATION
'Mickey Mouse' Releases Bombs On Germany
Nobody knows who first gave the nickname of "Mickey Mouse" to the electrical distributor which releases the bombs from the racks of R.A.F. bombers. The name goes back four. years at least, but its origin is now a mystery.
German bombers attacked аето- It is further stated that Japan- dromes at Luca and Halsar and lese forces in the drive clashed a seaplane base of Marsa, Scirecce with two of China's strongest and port installations at Valetta military mits which dealt very in Malta and states that. "bomb severe püufshment to the Japan- hits destroyed hangars and bar-jese columns, resulting in Japanese racks, causing large- Ares.
RAF, RAIDS
abandoning the objective of their campaign and turning southwest- It mentions Friday night'swards. retreating back towards R.A.F. raids on Channel ports and their bases.. states that no relevant damage }} was done, adding that one enemy
Pulling his "Mickey Mouse" isjand photographs are often memo- the last and simplest action in arised before the aircraft takes plane was brought down. series of highly intricate moves off.
SPILING BATTLE Well-informed Chinese quarters here, however, predlet an early
It may be recalled that a R.A.F. (outbreak of a big Sino-Japanese
which fall to the lot of the bomb- At the moment of bombing the communique stated that the battle in the Spring. almer.
tomb-aimer gives the pilot direc-RA.F, suffered no losses during
In the very earliest days of air tion. The bomb sight is set and this raid.
bombing, sighting was a primitive matter; there were no proper in struments, and bombs were drop. ped largely by guess-work
•
•
the run across the target is made. It-is essential that the aircraft be kept on an even keel and that its i |course, air speed and height should | remain constant during the few
The bomb aimer, for instance, precious seconda of the run 'in, might squint down past the lead- The bomb-almer is forward in ing edge of the wing, releasing his cockpit, connected by telephone| his bombs as the target came into with the pilot. line with it.
"Left-left" he says, "Tight a
Prominent S'hai Banker Kidnapped
SHANGHAI, Feb. 9 (Reuter)
It was the best he could do, and ttle. Right a little more. Straight Ying Ing-seng. 55-year-old Chair- small wonder that bombing Was a ahead." very inaccurata busines
His eyes are on the bomb sight
Nowadays the bomb-almer needs and nis band on the Mickey to be a mathematician and Mouse.
lightning calculator. With the aid "NOW...and round goes the
of a "ready reckoner," known as handle.
the Computor, he allows for height speed and wind direction, atmos- pheric pressure and temperature.
and adjusts his bomb-sight ar- cordingly.
"He MOURE
BRITON CONVICTED FOR
also allow for the ESPIONAGE
"trail-angle" of the bomb, that in
to say, its "direction on release. OSAKA, Feb. 9 (Reuter)--The
weight
man of the Chinese Gold Bar Stock Exchange, was kidnapped by four men in front of his home in the western district, adjacent to the International Settlement yesterday morning.
It is believed that the Jap- desperate anese may make a drive towards Chungking from Ichang along the south bank of the Yangtse" via Enshih. near the Hapeh-Szechuen bor- der.
It is estimated that the Japan- ese will require 15 divisions for the drive but that transportation will be the principal difficulty of the campaign.
JAPANESE AIR TRAGEDY
The victim's car was later found High Navy Officers
abandoned.
Mr.. Ying is well known in bank,
ing circles and has been a resident
Killed In CrashTM
TOKYO, Feb. 9 (Reuter)-A
of Shanghal for the past 30 years. former Japanese Navy Minister and The kidnapping is believed to be member of the Supreme War Coun- politicar as Mr. Ying has been as- soclated with the old Chinese Gold til in Tokyo, Admiral Baron Osumi has been killed in an aeroplane Bar Stock Exchange which is a
Gold Bar Exchange. The latter is
With him were 'Rear-Admiral
This depends on its shape and conviction of Vincent Peters, 47-strong rival to the newly-formed crash in South China.
year-old British subject, on. P: charge of espionage, was upheld by believed to be sponsored by the Hikajiro Suga and four other naval
Nanking regime.
In peuce-time practice bombing the Court of Appeal yesterday but there 18 · little to distruct the his sentence' was reduced from bomb-almer while he makes thèse | eight to five years' penal servitude. calculations. In war, he is up Peters was one of the number of conducted wholly in Japanese, of akalnist enemy fire and he has to Britons who were arrested in Jan-which language · defendant was set his bomb sight with the leastuary last year.
practically ignorant. possible delay.
officers.
The machine, which was on its way from Canton to Hainan Island, struck a mountainside in Kwang- tung Province.
All the occupants are reported The sentence was pronounced in. The defending counsel also spoke to have been found dead in the To save time the target mais September at Kobe following a trial only Japanese.
wreckage.
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