1940-06-07 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 7, 1940

Page

Highland Regiments In Action On Somme

ALLIES

MEET

TANK ATTACKS

LONDON, TO-DAY.

HIGHLAND REGIMENTS OF A FAMOUS DIVISION YESTERDAY WERE FIERCELY RESISTING THE GERMAN ATTACK ON THE SOMME FRONT, SAYS "EYE-WITNESS" WRITING FROM ADVANCED BATTLE HEAD- QUARTERS ON THE SOMME FRONT.

These troops are part of the British forces on the

front which are holding a section of the line near Abbeville.

The Germans, launching a strong push in the dark- ness on Wednesday night from the Sómme, where they already held several bridgeheads, isolated several of our positions, but the British troops, though surrounded, fought on tenacious- ly, living up magnificently to the division's putation for toughness and courage.

German penetrations made it neces- sary to withdraw our line at certain places to positions several miles south of the Somme, but every inch of ground is being contested.

Men of every profession and trade have been among those who met the German onslaught fearlessly and calmly, and many militiamen who were called to the colours only a year ago showed themselves as good soldiers as any.

Excellent Spirits

Our men are in excellent spirits de- spite heavy artillery, machinegun fire and low flying bombing.

The general said: "They just shake themselves afterwards and laugh."

Yesterday's fighting was in blaz- Ing sunshine and almost tropical heat, and many fought

In shirt sleeves.

their

in

|

TIENTSIN SILVER QUESTION

RESERVED OCCUPATIONS

+

London, To-day.

and

A request to the Minister of Labour. in a Parliamentary question to revise the schedule of reserved occupations "so that men kept out of the Army may no longer be employed on work Tokyo, To-day. · which is not of sufficient national im- At an interview between the British portance" gave an opportunity which Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, and was taken by the Parliamentary Se-

the purpose the Japanese Vice-Minister for For-cretary to recall eign Affairs, Mr. Tani, a final Anglo-meaning of the reservation and to Japanese understanding was apparent state that the schedule is constantly rely clinched on the settlement of the under review and is revised whenever long-standing Tientsin silver issue, the necessary to meet the changing re- "Asahi Shimbun" reports.

quirements of the defence forces and The paper adds that a formal ex-of industry-British Wireless.. change of memoranda in that connec- tion between Britain and Japan and France and Japan will take place shortly-Reuter.

by the Germans, the whole of the French centre is holding firm. Reuter.

from

au-

Only Just Beginning

Loridon, To-day. Reports reaching London Paris indicate that the French thorities, while not dissatisfied with the military position, emphasise it is yet too early in the battle to give rise either to optimism or pessimism. The French military spokesman de- scribed the day 'as being "not unsatis- factory" and described the new anti- tank tactics as "working.”

Arrangements had been made, he said, to ensure tanks were unable to obtain French petrol and consequently a certain degree of penetration could be allowed without much danger.

He emphasised, however, that the battle was only just beginning and the full German strength is by no means yet engaged.--British Wireless, Masses Of Tanks

Adam Artillery Barrage

Probably the German attack this sector would have been fiercer but for the terrific

Paris, To-day. bombardment of several bridges

A French communique says the bat- Wednesday, in which more than 30,000tle continues on all fronts between the shells were fired.

even artillery

on

DS-

So far it is not clear whether or not this attack on the Lower Somme is merely a sideshow to distreet at- tention from the much heavier sault further east which the French armies are so gallantly resisting, but whatever should develop, every pre- paration has been made to meet the situation.-Reuter.

Morale Splendid ·

Paris, To-day.

the

A French communique says morale of our troops is splendid.

de- Our aviation continued the struction of the Rhineland rallway system and factories in the region of the Rhine.

་

In the course of the day of June 5, 36 enemy planes were shot down with certainty by our fighters and anti-aircraft guns, and seven other enemy aircraft were hit and probably destroyed.

There. Is nothing to report on the rest of the front and enemy attacks which might have been expected not. in the region of Rethel did materialise Router.

Centre Holding Firm

Paris, To-day. Military quarters state the Germans flung over 2,000 tanks into the battle yesterday several hundred of them being destroyed.

The tanks failed to penetrate the French defences which are disposed in great dept

-Infiltrations of alx or seven miles

urred: the lower" Bon

the Franch, pël

rench cannor

acked German tanks

It is indicated that enormous quant

of mate

sca and Dames.

the region of Chemin.

DOCK DOG BITES

FINANCIAL PLANS FOR MUNITIONS

London, To-day.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer A house coolie, Chan Yip, was said yesterday, that all firms producing treated at the Kowloon Hospital yes munitions will not be held up by terday after being bitten by a dog lack of money to pay for wages and at No. 9, Albion Terrace. The dog materials, special arrangements having belonged to Mr. W. Gray, and was been made. All work will be paid for sent to Mataukok for observation. while it is in progress.-Reuter,

McEwan's

RED LABEL

des

BE

the

BRITISH

the

The enemy has thrown into fray masses of tanks in groups of 200 and 300 at numerous points on battlefield. The number of tanks en- gaged can be estimated at more than 2,000.

Our divisions fought magnificent- ly. Clinging to strong pointe, batta- Ilona, companies, platoons and bat- teries faced up to the onslaught of with the tanke, smothering them their fire,

Our aviation is giving aid and is at- tacking armoured vehicles with bombs and guns, supporting without respite our infantry and artillery and claim-. ing it as an honour to return to the battle..

The number of tanks destroyed ex- ceeds several hundreds.

...In the face of this unprecedented Conslaught of the enemy, cortain of our units were submerged and out- flanked, particularly in the region Próf the lower Somme, where enemy elements succeeded in ponstrating and

Bfiltering In-as far, as the River |

Also in the region of the Alllette, detachments of the enemy pushed for- ward until they reached the heights bordering the right bank of the Aisne.

-Reuter.

DUKE OF WINDSOR RELINQUISHES POST..

To-day,

BUY

BRITISH

BEER

BREWED

AND

BOTTLED

IN

EDINBURGH

Lager

PARK

BEFR

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