THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 1, 1940
MYSTERY OF DEATH OF MARSHAL BALBO FRANCO-GERMAN
Another Von Fritsch Affair?
London, To-day.
THE FOREIGN OFFICE NEWS department says careful investigation shows no British aircraft were concerned in the crash of Marshal Balboʻs machine and there is no truth in the statement that he fell in battle.
His death in an unexplained aeroplane disaster recalls simi- lar accidents in the past, particularly the death at Warsaw of General von Fritsch, opponent of Hitler's home and foreign policy.
The German wireless itself drew the parallel when it said last night: "Bal- bo's death thus occurred in the same spirit as that of von Fritsch. As in the case of von Fritsch and many others, the truth probably will never be known. Only fact which can be established is that Balbo did not per- ish in combat with the R.A.F."
ter.
CAIRO UNABLE TO SOLVE MYSTERY
Reu-
London, To-day.
A mystery has developed about the circumstances sur- rounding the death of Mar- shal Balbo.
On Saturday night, the Rome Radio which announced that the 'plane in he was flying was shot down in flames during a British raid on To- bruk, in Libya.
Yesterday morning, however, Rome
GENERAL BALBO
LINCOLN REGIMENT
OFFICER'S
INSPIRED HEROISM
London, To-day. FURTHER AWARDS FOR gallantry with the B.E.F. were published yesterday: they include a bar to the D.S.O. for Major Raleigh Charles Joseph Chichester-Constable.
Major Chichester-Constable "throughout a fort- night's fighting on very wide fronts showed marked leadership and a complete disregard for safety.
His handling of his brigade after he had launched a counter-attack which
ARMISTICE COMMISSION
Berlin, To-day.
The first sitting of the Franco-German armistice commission was held yester- day morning at a hotel in Wiesbaden, says the official German news agency.
The German delegation was led by General von Stuelfangel and com- prised Lt-General Mieth (Army), Lt- Gen. Foerster (Air Force), Com- modore Wever (Navy) and Lt. Huenermann (Economies and Indus- try).
The French delegation was led by General Huntziger who also repre- sented the Army, and included presentatives of the air force and navy-Reuter.
CHAPLIN'S HITLER FILM
Mr. Charles Chaplin is 6x- tremely worried about his film satlrising Hitler. It has almost been
completed at a cost of £400,000, but he feels it is use- less to release it now.
He has told close friends that he does not belleve it will be possible to do so as long as the war lasts or indeed until long after it is over, because nobody is in a mood to laugh at Hitler now.
re-
ON TO ADDIS ABABA
Nairobi, To-day. "I hope we shall meet one day in "The following day the unit was
Addis Ababa. Good luck for all" shelled and bombed almost ceaselessly
telegraphed General Legentilhomme, night, Major Jones assisted
'from good wishes"
Major-General organise the remains of the battalion Djibouti, replying to a telegram and prepare for embarkation the
Dickinson, G.O.C., East Africa.-Reu- the following night."-Reuter.
ter.
Radio said that there were eight peo- drove the enemy into a marsh was but despite his ordeal of the previous commander of the French forces ple in the 'plane with Marshal Balbo, and the other prominent Italians who
such that there was in his sector no more pressure during the final with-
drawal." lost their lives included the Federal Editor of
The 5.0.'s include Major Gilbert Secretary of Tripoli, the the "Corriere Padano" and other im- Sydney Jones, of the Lincoln Regi- ment, who "during the withdrawal, portant Tripoli officials.
with complete disregard of his own day and night in a safety, worked manner which inspired officers and men alike.
been In a
Obviously, therefore, Marshal Balbo could not have fighter 'plane.
The Italian account of his death- that he was "killed in action"-has, therefore, caused some surprise in the took R.A.F. The R.A.F. pilots who part in Friday's raid on Tobruk state large that they did not meet any passenger-type 'plane.
They saw a 'plane burning on the
unable ground, but they were Identify the type.--Reuter.
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FIFTIETH AIR RAID ON MALTA
Valetta, To-day. Malta had its fiftieth. air raid at 9 a'clock yesterday morning when the alarm sounded. No firing was heard. An hour later. there was a second raid accompanied by heavy anti- aircraft. fire.. and machinegunning. A number of bombs was dropped. Reuter.
HEAVY DAMAGE IN HAMBURG & COLOGNE
London, To-day, Neutral observers confirm that much damage has been done to docks, and warehouses in Hamburg and to an industrial plant in Cologne as a result of recent R A.F. raids.
Several ammunition dumps have also been blown up beyond all hope of even salvage-Reuter...
"In particular, at Dunkerque on the night of June 1, standing up to his chest in the water under heavy shell
assisted fire, ho
exhausted soldiers into boats, who in sodden clothing and with equipment and arms, might otherwise have been drowned,
Gulded Remnants
"It was impossible to embark all the unit that night but it was not until after the last boat left that Major Jones ceased his self-appointed task and, although on the point of collapse, he guided the remnants of the two companies remaining to com- parative safety.
AIR MINISTRY CASUALTY LIST
London, To-day. The latest Air Ministry casualty communique gives the names of 14 killed in action, 14 previously report ed missing now reported killed in action, → 16. wounded or injured in,Į action, three died of wounds, or in- Juries received in action, seven-miss-· believed killed in action, - 184 ing missing, 19 killed on active service.
The list includes Sergeant R. C. Caldwell, born in Singapore, who is missing, and Pilot-Officer G. T. R. Johns, born in Hong Kong, who is wounded or injured on active service. -Reuter.
to re-
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