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The
Stubbs Id.
Hongkong Telegraph.
Thursday, December 19, 1940.
Wyndham St., Hongkong Telephone: 20015
THE prex "Special to the Telegraph" le wed by the tongkong Talegra to Indiente news which is strictly copyright ander the provisions of the Telecommuni 'cations Ordiganer, 15th. Such news as bears the indication “VP" is received in Hooghong on the date of publication by the United Pren Ascociations, who rai serva kit rights and torbid republications, either wholly or in path without previovi arrangedien.
PREPAREDNESS
PREPAREDNESS for a new move by Hiller against Britain has again become the keynote of the speeches by the country's spokesmen. Lord Beaverbrook yesterday told in measured terms of the probable German plans for the future. Simul- taneously it was announced that Britain had officially requested financial aid from the United States in order to carry making purchases of essential war materials, while the Ad- miralty gave added emphasis to the current situation and the threats of the future by reveal- ing the heavy losses which had recently been suffered at sea.
on
On the face of it there would appear to be good grounds for despondency, but such is not the case, and neither is it intended that the revelations mado by British leaders during the past 48 hours should pro- inote any such reaction. This is an honest, sensible appeal to face reall- Eles and to be prepared for anything. It is a necessary attitude, for only by complete preparedness can the Empire thwart the evil machinations of Hitler and his allies.
Britons have never been guilly of underestimating their opponents in a Cght, though, perhaps, they have been in the past, too generous in the willing acceptance of specious pro- mises and alleged goodwill. But this is war, and the whole. Empire is ready to take the Nazis at their face value. The onemy...stil retains several advantages, but he has lost, onc of his greatest weapons-the element of surprise. Britain new has a thoroughly good working iden of what totalitarian warfare means, and dolly she is discovering means to counter and defeat it...,
Preparedness is the watchword, and this applies both to the supply of war weapons and in the mentality of the nation. Because of this, it is no sign of weakness that Britain now asks the United States for even greater ald than she has been givingi on the contrary, Britain says to her cousin nation: "We are proposed; wo aro preparing we are doing, our utmost in a night, the result of which means as much to you as it does to un; therefore, give us generously the ald of which so much is in your power; Wo. nak only assistanco against o com nons
seremys is hot on appen
(Like) Lord Beaver-
enure the United States, whenever a crisis has arisen. Has never failed to demonstrate her good sense, there in every Hope that at the particular t'me she will sundort the British tion in her preparedness effort.
$125
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action at Oran It raised our prestige as much as the. Dakar episode and our gen- teral treatment of Vichychas
lowered it.
Oran was
́no half-measure. - We want more action of a similar kind."
THIS is no time for half.
measures. In diplo macy economic warfare and military operations, we have to go all out.
The brilliant successes of our Air Force are due to bold tactics. In this war, whenever the Royal Navy has been given its head, our seamen have 'won success by, similar
methods.
Why, then, the apparent hesitancy and- vacillation of our diplomacy?
We had a sharp lesson from Japan, which ro warded our temporary closing of the Burma Road by joining the camp of our mortal enemies.
Another example is our dealings with the Men of Vichy.
Too Tendor
Are we persisting in tender- ness towards these traitors? They have betrayed their own people as they have botrayed
18.
In every direction they have acted against British in- terests, which are also the interests of France in the long run, in order to curry favour with their German and Italian masters.
They
provented mahy French soldiers, sailors and airmen from “Joining ~ul“ to continue the struggle.
It is known that hundreds of their airmen would have flown their own machines over to Britain if they had been allowed.
Instead, French aeroplanes. are used to bomb Gilbraltar and kill British subjects as a so-called reprisal for the Dakar incident.··
We seem to blow hat and cold towards. Vichy. British subjects of military age in France are prevented from leaving, while we repatriate any Frenchman who wishes to return to Vichy-controlled France..
According to the official communique issued after the Dakar episode, we sent back the entire crew of a French submarine after the vessel had been caught red-handed
December 19, 1940.
WHY THE VELVET
W
GLOVE
and sunk while trying to tor pedo our warships.
In Africa
We encourago and support General de Gaulle and his ad- herents, and we are helping those French Colonies which succeeded in throwing off the yolte of Vichy.
But when there is scricus unrcat in Algeria and Moroc- co, and the Vichy Government accuses. the British Govern- ment of encouraging it, we lesue an official denial that this is-80.
If it is right for us to fement rebellion against the men of Vichy in French
Equatorial: Africa, why is it
wrong for us to do the same thing in Algeria and Morocco?
Surely we should use every means at our disposal to en- courage the "Inhabitants of the French overscad Empire to join General de Gaulle.
And Indo-China Observe what has happened in Indo-China.
The Japanese are obtaining complete military, control of that rich territory. From it they will be able to threaten both Burma and Thailand, and will have advance bases for possible operations against Singapore.
The local French citizens, Europeans and native, were eager to resist. The Vichy Government had to replace the Governor with one of its own creatures.
What has His Majesty's Government beon doing to en- courage resistance in Indo- China? The United States of America was willing to help.
Then Dakar. The failure to stop the French warships sailing to Dakar from Tou- lon, manned by bitter anti- British elements and adher- ents of the Vichy Govern- ment, was due, we are told, to a professional failure on the part of certain elements in the Services to inform the War Cabinet or the First Sen Lord of their departure...
We must accept this in- formation, but it would be interesting to know which de.. partment was responsible.
Was it the Foreign Office, which la in superior control of all the Intelligence Services, or was the Secret Service it self at fault?
Or did
the
news reach
FOR VICHY?
Gibraltar, but was not relayed from there?
Though по doubt the easiest place to intercept the ships was the Straits of Gibraltar, once contact had been made in the Atlantic, surely more vigorous action was called for.
The kindest explanation is that our Intelligence Service was hopelessly out in its rec- koning, and not by any means for the first time.
If this is the ease, and we had not the right information from West Africa, then the sooner there is a complete overhaul of all our various 'Secret' and Intelligence Ser-
vices the better,
In the last war, our Secret Service, as I had the best means of knowing on the' Ad- miralty War Staff; was admir- able. Two men of outstand~ ing personality were in charge
of
their respective Intel ligence Departments.
Admiral Sir Reginald Hall looked after Naval Intelli- -gence, and General McDonagh the military side, and between them they were highly suc-. cessful.
Have they no successors?
More Sinister
There is a more sinister. explanation; and in the na- tional interest it is desirablo. that the fullest possible in- formation should be given to Parliament and the public, in open session, as soon as possi- ble.
It is being stated in circles which have means of informa- tion that there is still a good deal of tenderness in high places towards the Petain Government.
The reason given is the old story of fear that if they fall they will be replaced by a Socialist, Communist or other Left Wing Government.
The same policy, in pre- wir days, hampered our ac- tions and diplomacy in deal- ing with Italy, especially at the time of Sunctions..
Certain powerful elements were frightened lest Musso- lini and hie confederates would be thrown out by the Italian people and replaced by a. Left Government.
We all know how this same "Christian tenderness for Conservatives"-influenced-our- dealings with Spain, and we may yet ent the bitter fruits of that blunder.
I feel sure the Prime Minis- ter realises that this is no
Spain's Position May
Prove
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UP). Diplomatic and mill- tary observers here are close- ly watching for any sign as to the position Spain will take in the "new European order" which the Axis powers are at- tempting to create.
Many informed quarters be lieve that the course taken by the Franco-government may prove decisive in determining the outcome of the present' European hostilitics, The shifting of the centre of mill- tary activities to the Mediter- ranean region has given new Import to Madrid's role.
Military observers generally are agreed that any full-senie. Axis attack on Gibraltar, Britain's guar- diun to the gateway of the Mediter- ranean, cannot be attempted with- out the use of Spain as a base of operations Ma
NOT IN POSITION Axis naval forces are not at pre- scut in a position to attempt on assault of the "Rock" and their aircraft, while capable of Inflicting condiderable damage, would appar- enlly have little chance of forcing submil."""" Alreralt G'hälter
could open the way for an invasion;
but
bey
could
Decisive
..By
Otto Janssen
(United Press Staff Correspondent)
Some quarters have speculated that the Axis might "reach some sort of agreement with Madrid whereby. Axis troops would be granted passage across Spain with- out bringing that country formally into war against Britain, How- ever, there appears to be no indica- tion at present that such an agite- ment has been reached or is active- ly being discussed.
BRITAIN'S LIFELINE
The loss of Gibraltar' would be a serious, although not necessarily fatal blow to Britain. With, the Axis in control of the western en- trance to the Mediterranean," Bri- tain's "Ilfeline" would be cut and Italian warships would be 'free to movd into the Atlantió to Joli with Germany in attacks of British shipping.
.....
Spain,recently acquired complete control of the “International zone" across the Straits of Gibraltar; mi Tangiers. This action created. widesprend Interest in government and unofelul quarters here, an
Spain's entry Into", the "war" of more active, collaboration with the Axis powers, "might" endanger
alo Britain's alternative route to her colonies and the East-that is, the route around Africa. Spain pop sesses territories along a food rart of this route which would be valu- men and material, alpha2 eh nakon ku ables bases for air and naval
to sentiment, but loʻreason, and bes fock Tofu NOELVEEN O" the
x
concerted land and air effort, A concerted however would seriously threaten this vital buad, and informed mill- tary opinion holds that the Rock are willing to pay the price | in could be taken if the attackers:
operations against British shipping, and perhaps for land operations against Allled possessions In Africa.
ATLANTIC BASES
by
Lord Strabolgi
longer à Nationalistic war. Since the French surrender he must know that we pro fighting the Quislings, the Lavala, the ex-King-Leopolds and their Ilko in a number of . countries.
These men of Vichy are na hostile to us as are the Nazis. and Fascists.
They made their miserable surrender to Germany partly because they were afraid of a revolutionary Government in their own country.
They hate us for continuing the struggle, and algo for look- ing like winners, because this destroys their main argument (for public consumption); namely, that further resis tance was hopeless.
Away With Foar
Mr Churchill knows all this, and he also knows that one of our strongest weapons in the future will be to on- courage insurrections in the enemy occupied territories themselves.
That being the case, why does he allow certain elementa in his own Government to adopt this hot-and-cold atti-
tho tude towards
Vichy Government?.
We need not be afraid of the Vichy Government offici- ally declaring war on us. If it tried to remobilise the French forces under German and Italian command there would be a revolution in France; which would be a good thing from our point of view.
If the Vichy Government committed this final madness, wo would at least know where we were. We could tighten our blockade and there need be no more Dakara,
up
No Half Measures Other French warships have recently been allowed to leave the Mediterranean and pass the Straits of Gibraltar, and at the time of writing I have no news of their intentions or -whereabouts
The finest thing we did this year was the somewhat be- inted but strong-handed ac- tion at Oran. It raised our prestige as much as the Dakar 'episode and our general treat- ment of Vichy has lowered it.
Oran was no half-mensuro. We'' want more: action of à similar kind.
OFFICER WHO SAVED B. E. F.
R
HOW a British amcer "prob ably saved the B.E.F." was told. recently.
Probably the most important of these Spanish possessions, from a strategle standpoint, is the Canary Jalands, lying in the North Atlantle off French Morocco. These islands
He is Maior William Robert are regarded Ideal as baser for air-Reeves, D.S.04 of the Tank craft and submarines...
Regiment, once well known! 28.
a runner at Cambridge,
This is the story of his ex- ploit:s.
"
On the African mainland, across from the Canary Islands, les the Spanish Gold Coast and, the tiny. colony of Ifni. Farther down the African coast, below the "bulge", Ho was in charge of a' cruisor are several small Spanish Islands,tank and three light tanks dur-- and overal possessions on the ing the evacuation from Franco.
niland including Spanish
Guinea, It may be significant that He took his tanks atraight down.
a road held by Germani
General Charles De Gaulle's "Free French" forces recently attacked and conquered the Vichy-controlled garrison in nearby Gabon lerritory. TAGS ATTITUDE OF U. 5.
create The
the
The light was falling, and Germans, thinking they were German: tanks, let them go throughag
Fought All Day
Further down the road the British The United States maintains officer found three anti-tank mines cordial relations with General Ho feed at them. One exploded, Uut.
the others did not.
· Fronco's · "government "in" Mødrid, and has indicated a desira lò greater friendship between two countries. Shortly after the Spantsli war ended.. for example, the United States made a substan- Val loan to Spain for the purchase Arriving there in the early mórn- cotton loʻrehabilitate,thit coun- ing, the officer turned his tank round, try's war-devastated textile indus- stayed there, and fought all the adi triostate
of
Hils sergeant removed them by hand and they went onto Grave.... times, fi q5 7: Ving and
With his own lank he destroyed any real cordiality in United States-Spain relations seven German armoured vehicles and wou'd-" apparently be determined held the bridge at ven by Spain's attitude toward Great what probably saved the BEF. Britain, eine the United States cause if the bridgedringohe the nale pursuing polley of situations Would certainly have been. maximum bid short-of-war to the critical idated at that, umspin latter chuntry, The 1th War? Store Erfukt omter and two o
two of his. dialnat the Axle RC UNTUK
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