VIVID
Thursday.
STORY STORY OF OF
AND AIR ACTION IN
(By "Reuter" With Mediterranean Fleet)
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH April 24, 1941.
BRITISH FLEET NORTH AFRICA
ABOARD FLAGSHIP OF BATTLE FLEET, Apr. 23.-For 50 minutes, 1 watched battleships and light units of the Mediterranean Fleet plaster Italy's main North African port of Tripoli with 653 tons of shells.
The bombardment which began shortly after dawn on Monday, was, the heaviest of the war. The results so far confirmed from alr observation include hits on destroyer berths with one destroyer badly damaged, five merchant ships burned out or sunk, and at least-four others hit and set on fire..
The Spanish quay, which, was one of the principal objects of the bombardment, received two 15-inch salvos with two further probable direct hits from 15-inch guns.
of
This was followed by ten minutes
continuous hits
from lighter
We hardly seemed to move as we drifted past the target, fring on al- most the same bearing for 25 minutes, tion was encountered.
Throughout this period, no opposi- All efforts of the defenders appeared to be centred on shooting down the numerous flares which the British planes were drop- pingg in batches of 12, lighting up the
town.
armaments, resulting in the destruc-coloured duming ontons rose from the An unteuning stream of multi- tlon of warehouses and oflees.
Further damage was done to power station, railway station and army stores depot while a building, thought to be the army headquarters, was sten to collapse.
Finally a large fire blazed following hita on an oil fuel depot.
smoke-smothered town. They looked like broken necklaces, leaving strange patterns in the sky as they flouted up Jarger, a gigantle frework display.
Fleet Air Arm
Apart from these successes, pilats of the Firet Air Arm also scored; heavily during the five days that we had been at sea. They
shot
down two shadowing planes and four large Gerraan tromp transports and forced down into the sea and badly damaged a large Dornier flying boat,
During the operations, we just only one fighter. Otherwise there no damage or casualties.
wer
|
Soon not only the whole coastline but also the dim forms of shipa astern were completely blotted out by a palt cf,smoke, but the British guncers had their range.
Shore Batteries Open After 25 minutes, we altered course and swung our guns to starboard. Not till then did the enemy shore batteries open fire on us. All our ships continued firing for a further 25 minutes until 5.50.
ап
Flashes were now visible from two shure batteries and there was unpleasant sound of shells whistling os celicnd. The operation for which we went!
As the bombardment progressed, to sea ostricably was to enver certain spotting became more difficult and which was successfully car- we did not learn the full results until .convoys ried out. It was not until the third late that afternoon. My Inst impres day at sea that the Commander of sion of Tripoli as we drew away was this ship sunoticed his intention to a solid blanket of smoke and sand, bombard Tripoli early the following Flames and dense columns of smoke morning.
were rising into the sky as an all Our fir
fuel depot blazed furiously,
Seven-Mile Range
first two days at sea were en- tirely uneventful, We were folura !
by other units of the Fleet which ai Our firing range was about seven few days previously had carried out; miles and one ship alone fired over |
a bombardment of the Cirenaican 150 tons of shells into the port. coast and sunk five merchantinen | With less than two hours in which
in the Central Mediterranean.
New Type Shot Down
day.
for
Exchange At A Glance
SELLING
T.T. London Demund London TT. Shanghai
TT. Singapore
Tr. Japan
A
T.T. India
T.T.
TT. Batavia
U.S.A.
TT. Manila
T.T. Bangkok
T.T. Saigon
T.T. France
1/2 1/27%
400
.6234
102
.829%
..24 .48 45
140
.104
.102. .1/0/%
BUYING
4 m/s L/C London
4 m/s D/P London
4 m/s L/C U.S.A.
1/3% 1/3% .24%
4 m/s France
30 d/s Indla
.34%
T.T. Switzerland TT. Austratin
U.S. Cross rate in London 4,02% U.S. Cross rate in N.Y.
MATSUOKA NOT ASKED TO LONDON
Main Greek Army
Remains
Intact NEW
CAIRO, Apr. 23 (Reuter)—It is believed here that the sur- render of the Epirus Army does not affect the main Greek force.
Italian Statement
news
LONDON, Apr. 23. (Reuter). The official Italian, agency says that the surrendered forces numbar. between 16 and
18 divisions the greater part of the Greek army...
CHINESE
NEW ENVOYS POSTED
Albanian Frontier Forces LONDON, Apr. 29 (Reuter),—--Au- thentle figures of the extent of the Greek
capitulation are not yet forth- CHUNGKING, Apr. 23-(Central coming,
News). It la emeially stated that The military commentator of the Dr V. K. Wellington Koo, Chinese onietal Vichy French news service Ambassador to France, and Dr Wei says that 100,000 Grecks have sur-Tao-ming, Secretary-General of the alated rendered, including the crack troopa Executive Yuan, have been engaged on the Albanian frontier Chinese Ambassadors to Britain and
December. He claims that this France respectively.
Dr Koo was for the greater part of accounts
Nas Minister of Foreign General Papugos's forces and leaves Affairs and Acting Premier 1022-4, only few Greek units in the line Minister of Finance and then Minister co-operating with the British forces, of Foreign Affairs and Premier 1928-
༡ Minister The commentator thinks that the 17,
for Foreign Affairs, surrender Jays open an area bounded December, 1931, Chinese Assessor to
Commission of by the Pindus Mountains and the he
Inquiry, Gulf of Patras on the Ionian Sen.
been Minister and then Ambassador to France alred October, 1932.
Confidence
In Wavell
Remains LONDON, Apr. 23 (Reuter)
January-September, 1932, and has |
Dr Wet, Tao-ming was Minister of Justice, 1928-9, and Mayor of Nan- king, Aprli, 1930 to December, 1931.
Dr Que Tal-chi, Foreign Minister- Designite, is expected to arrive in Chungking toward the latter part of May when he will assume his new post.
Bomb Expert Blinded
LONDON, Apr, 23 (Reuter).A categorical assurance that, with their escort of three destroyer: to withdraw from the Tripoli const.Mr Yosuke Matsuoka, the despite any rumours to the con- we prepared for nst unpleasant Japanese Foreign Minister, did trary, General Sir Archibald
We did not expect to sit down not receive an invitation from Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, Hopes To Resume Work On the morning of the third days had been busy the previous the United Kingdom during his idence of the Government and a midday meal and the ships the British Government to visit Middle East, enjoys the full con- the Fleet Air Arm had its first evening, preparing Cornish pastries visit to Europe, declared Mr cest when one of Italy's newest types of planes was shot down. The same for plenic luncheon, but the im-
a formation of three large did not materialise,
mediate retaliation that we expected Anthony Eden, the Foreign alow vint planes, presumably enl
Secretary, at question time in We sighted an route to Benghuzi from
Sicily,
enemy seaplane, the House of Commons to-day. sighted astern. British dighters -er and a large Dornier dying bout which our fighters promptly destroy-
Mr Eden added that the House had mediately
Have chase, whereupon two more enemy planes were sighted. All which was forced down on the sea
to be Junkers 52%-large and took off again, only to be forced ent to the press about the purpose
of his visit to Europe. back into the sea badly damaged.
Ambassador'a Job Commander Dower: Is Mr Eden to watch but I learned afterwards that the fighters shot down four of ree Junkers 88's came over but satisfied that Mr Matsuoka is obtain- the planes before running out
not too inuch in- of before they reached gun range, our enough and
fighters had intercepted them. One formation about
T Wis (ffor!
WIN
-
Ple-engined troop-carrying planes.te on Tuesday
The combat was too distant for me were hastening, as we
our base,
no doubt seen Mr Matsuoka's state-
to-day.
has suffered no
LONDON, Apr. 23 (Reuter).—One curtailment of Lord Beaverbrook's "Back Room whatever of his powers of direc- Boys" the trio who in virtual ob- tion in the Middle East and the scurity devise the RAF's imple- been blind- Balkans, was made by Lord outs of session has be Moyne in the House of Lords
ed, temporarily it is hoped,
This disclosure was made in the course of Lord Beaverbrook's state- ment in the House of Lords to-day. reviewing the R.A.F. expansion. He is Air Commodore Huskinson, whom, Lord Beaverbrook in a broadcast on March 23, described as the designer of "big bombs, fat bombs, thin
Left Shelter During the flerce blitz against London on April 16, Air Commodore Huskinson, left his shelter and stood watching the effects of bomb_ex-
The rumour in question was men- Lioned by Lord Elibank, who said that i arose from General Sir John Dilt's recent visit to the Middle East.
Lord Moyne, in reply, pointed out that General Dill's visit Was in
under which personal contact be- tween the highest milltary authorities. Mr Eden-1 cannot answer for the at home and in the deld is consistent- exercise of the ambassadorial func-ly maintained. tions of other states.. I feel sure that the Japanese Ambassador dots 1.
ammunition. It was in this bent was shot down and the port engine through the medium of the Japanese | accordance with normal practice, bombs and beautiful bombs."
that one of our fighters was lost.
Submarine Reported Towards dusk that day, a sub- marine was reported in the neigh-
of a second was set on fire.
bourhood and British destroyers NAZI BARON]
dropped depth charges for over an i hour but no effects were observed.
Meanwhile preparations had been made for the next day's bombard- ment. Decks were cleared of !! unnecessary gear Pictures, shelves.. book-cases and doors were all stripp- ed from the ward-room.
Aviator Jumps Bail
In America
SPECIAL TO the "teleGRAPHI
Ambassador?
task.
plosions, Unhappily, said Lord Ben-
STOCK EXCHANGE
verbrook, an explosion résulted in the Caution Main Feature loss of his sight, but "I am glad to say that there is some prospect of LONDON, Apr. 23 (Reuter).-The his sight being restored shortly, and Stock Exchange to-day was very we are anxiously awaiting his return. cautious. Apart from a little lower- to the Ministry."
Red Cross Ship -Attacked- WASHINGTON, Apr. 23 (UP).-) The State Department revealed to-
HAIFA, Apr. 23 (Reuter).A ing of gift-edged prices, changes So far, we had been extremely day, following an investigation, that British hospital ship carrying wound- were few and business was idle. lucky and had not received any air Patron Franz von Werra has taken arrived here to-day. It is reported white sils and horne rails also were
ed German and Italian prisoners Industrials
steady ruled fairly httacks. When darkness fell, the flight to Peru.
Unofficial enemy was apparently still entirely
that the vessel was seen to be deli-about unchanged. Among the Kaf- circles speculated 011
berately dive-bombed by Intentions. At whether or not this would result in a
five Nazi firs, non-producers were occasional- nightfall, we altered our course, go a request for the withdrawal of one and British wounded at
planes while embarking both enemyly offered.
a Libyan ing full speed ahead for Tripoll.
more German offlelals in the
Spanish 4 per cent. bonds declined barbour. United States who are involved in
Captured German airmen, said that from 42 to 38. Japanese and
Greek were also dull bat Egyptian Cattle Feed Shortage holdings were higher.
unaware
of
our
Air Attack On Tripoli While still, two hours distance from Tripoll, we could see violent anti- aircraft fire and faming onions as the RAF and Fleet Air Arm had al- ready begun their attack, engaging the port's, defences while we took up position for the bombardment.
We also passed
fully illuminated hospital ship about ten miles from Tripoll, but it is very unlikely that she saw the blacked-out battle fleet as the moon had not
yet risen. Although the raid carried out by
the British planes had
green,
01
von Werra's bond jumping. they had been ordered to attack
Attorney General Robert Jackson anything and everything they found. has ordered the border guards to All five dive-bombers were shot down turn back any escaping war prisoners by the harbour defences. who may be attempting to enter the United States from Canada with
whatever force necessary" as a result
Nazis In Cuba
Wall Street was dull.
French Wheat Crops Increase
SAVED FROM SEA 7,000,000 neres in 1940 to 10,000,000
VICHY, Apr. 23 (Reuter).—An increase in wheat crops both in Oc- cupied and Unoccupied France, from
acres in 1941, was announced in a FUNCHAL, MADEIRA, Apr. 23 specchi ai Limoges by the Vichy of the "flagrant abuse of American LONDON, Apr. 23 (Reuter)-A(Reuter). Twenty-one survivors Secretary of Agriculture, M. Caljot. neutral hospitality" by von Werra Nazi spy organisation has been from the British steamer Aurillac The Minister added that through who escaped from a Canadian prison discovered in Cuba and a number of sunk by enemy action, landed here in the dearness of foodstuffs the rear train but was placed in custody in people arrested, including a man said a lifeboat which was towed to porting of eattle had proved insufficient, United States where he was to be offleer in the German Ariny, ae-by Portuguese fishermen. Search for amounting to 40,000,000 quintals being held pending deportation pro-cording to a report reaching here, a second lifeboul is procecting. to start ceedings,
the
Any big fires, the large number of The German Consel General post- blue, yellow and white daming fed $10,000 bond. Von Wesra fed onion: Lent up by the Tripoli de- from the United States about April 4, fenders provided an ample guide us
we approached. For half an hour 1 watched the intermittent burrage]
against our aircraft as weg Troops For Manila
crept near the shore.
Solitary Searchlight
A solitary Italian searchlight tried! to pick out the encircling aircraft which continuously dropped boobs and flares.
MANILA, Apr. 23 (Reuter).—The United States troop transports, Mari- PS and Washingtom, are expected to rive in Manila, the first about May and the second later.
Both are bringing lige detach-
Half an hour before the naval ments. bombardment was due to begin, I left the flight deck from which I was
watching the progress of the rald and Axis Forbids Reports climbed into the after 15-inch control On Leaders Movements tower which was my action station.
It
most cerle watch In this WOB
gun
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
prohibited
ITALIAN TERMS
OF SURRENDER
Greeks To Become Prisoners
equivalent to the sustenance of 1,200,000 eattle.
M. Callot thanked agricultural workers for having made the spectre of famine less threatening.
AXIS NOT READY FOR TURKEY YET
LONDON, Apr. 23 (Reuter)-The agreement on the capi-hus assured the Turkish Government tulation of the Greek forces in the Epirus and Macedonia; lasued to-night by the Italian High Command, reads:
and all war
LONDON, Apr. 23 (Reuter)— The Bulgarian Minister in Ankara
that the occupation of the Greek port of Dedegach by Bulgarian troops Im- plied no hostile intention towards (1) The High Command off to remain under their onleers and Turkey, according to an Istanbul the Italian forces and armies in shall take early mensures to carry out despatch to the Free French Agency. Supplies, and The Agency also reports that part Albania and the High Command their capitulation. BERLIN, Apr. 23 (UP)—An om- of the German troops in Greece for the start be maintained by the on the Island of Chies off the coast of services for Greek prisoners shall of the British colony in Asirn arrived malt circular control tower, situated cial German-Italian joint announce-accept the unconditional surren-Greek High Command imniculately obave the 10-inch after ment was read to the foreign conceder of the Greek forces.
Asia Minor, turreta, The only light cime from the instrument panels and the forth the, foreign press in Berlin and pondents to-day stating that benee-
Spoils of War
Papen To Return SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH” glore tron the slowly dropping lures Rome would be
(2) Troops belonging to the
arins (4) The
İSTANBUL, Apr. 23 (UP)-Ger- from Greek Army of the Epirus and material and reserves of the Armies mais quarters stated they expect the through the narrow observation slits. Roe
Wearing white helmets and long sending any reports, antess omcimy Macedonia are prisoners of war. of the Epirus and Macedonia, includ- Nazi Ambassador, Colonel von Papen, white gauntlets, we walled for the announced or released in preas
In view of the valour displayed by ing aviation material, shall constitute to return early next week, at a time zero hour, 5 nm. The sen was dead between flitter and Mussolint or the Greek troops on the battlefield spoils of war.
to, colricida witli, tlie occupation of calm. The slowly moving ships sent Ribbentrop and Ciano or high mill- and the fact that they safeguarded (5) The High Comimind of the Athens in order to give the Germani out long ripples us they took up their tary oficials et boils countries, or their military honour, Greek Officer Creek troops shall employ, all means demands the maximum psychological positions, preceded by destroyers.
This last quarter moon appeared meetings between any of the fore-shall keep their swords and equip-immediately to brif, hosuilties to an effect.
the horizon dead nstern,oing with representatives of a third ment. just over
brightly startit, Visibility ahead had been good as we approached within 11,100 yards of the shore, but owing to the prelimin- ary bombing, the raid had thrown up clouds of dust and smoke.
First
The
Right
was
Salvo
con-
ferences, regarding trips or meelings
Power.
New Raid On Nazi Battleships
end and prevent all damage, and des truction of war thaterial and supplles and see that the roads in its territory are repaired without deldy...
BOMBER FUND
A total of ŝi,méõ10,00,jean zuschel
B. G. M. Port, Lid, with the follow- by the und haugurato by donations ALP.Upper Level Divisions Dance on April 19, 1941 (second in- Capt de Mire L, N. Deer (in memory
Klimont). of the late Miss Me 2. Hup Portuguese Comparties, TURV.5,2.
econd dónation) ichni 10.
Return of Prisoners All tallan prisoners of war in the territory of the Greek Army of the Epirus and Macedonia must im Signed Near Salónika · mediately return-to the Italian troops. LONDON, Apr. 23 (Reuter)The in
Greek prisoners
will
be
armistice between Axis troops and assembled SPECIAL TO THE "telegraph"
camps. Greek forcen, which surrendered, In concentration while After the conclusion of military came into force at 8 o'clock this after LONDON, Apr. 23 (UP) The Air operations in continental Greece and noon, states the German news agency the question wil The armistico | was; alghed Tour, in the harbour before our first salvo were made on Brest last night where ba
of considered grashed into the town, sending up the German battle cruisers Scharri- and men.
It is estimated that between, 10 Central Police large volumes of dust. That was the horst and Gneisennú are takling shel- (3) The Greek High Command and 12 Greek divisions, have surron-special ranch, Poilco
donation) signal for nil ships to open fire.
sholt arrange for Greek détachments dered in the Epirus drd. Macedonia, Cente" (third donation)
It was, nevertheless, possible to
pick out a large two-funnel ship lying Ministry announced that twp. attacks the Ionian Islandtonalng all ancers Salonika.
ter.
Canteen
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