1940-10-23 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 23, 1940.

STAGE SET FOR GRAZIANI

Great Strengthening Of British Army In Desert SkirmishesBetween Armoured Units

(By Reuter's Special Correspondent With the British Army in the Western Desért).

A MARKED STRENGTHENING OF THE BRITISH DEFENCES IN THE WESTERN DESERT WAS THE CHIEF IMPRESSION LEFT BY A VISIT I HAVE JUST MADE TO THIS FRONT.

ITALIANS AGAIN RAID ALEXANDRIA

›0990.

Enemy aircraft again dropped bombs in the neighbourhood of Alexandria early yesterday morning, says a naval com- munique.

Very slight damage was caused. Only casualty was one per- son slightly injured.

-Reuter.

0000000

INDIA'S EFFORTS TO AID BRITAIN

Present military activity is not large, con- sisting chiefly of skirmishes and brief clashes between forward armoured units, but it is rea- sonable to suppose that an Italian advance may be ordered by Marshal Graziani in the near future.

Italian 'planes are busy photographing what is visible of the enormously increased British defence posts while the R.A.F. daily pounds the Italian rear between Sidi Barrani and Benghazi.

The Italians attempt to retaliate with raids on desert camps, which are excellently camouflaged, hence casualties are extremely small,

en-

General Gallina, who now.ap. pears to be second-in-command

Graziani, has to Marshat countered difficulties In prepar- ing his troops for a further ad- vance Into Egypt, as Moslem troops are reluctant to further Invade Egypt.

The reluctance has increased as many of General Gaflina's troops are pure Egyptians who settled in Cyrenaica, being subsequently conscripted.

Senussi Tribes

A large number of Libyan troops are of the Senüssi

support of the Italians.

tribe

Hence the advance appears Ilkely to be delayed until after the Feasts of Ramadan and Bairam, which conclude 16 days

AMONG THE LATEST EM-Which is notably lukewarm in its PIRE WAR GIFTS IS A SUM OF £21.000 FROM ASSAM FOR

OF THE PURCHASE

FOUR FIGHTER 'PLANES, WHILE THE WAR SAVINGS FUND IN CALCUTTA EAS NOW SENT ΤΟ THE UNITED £367,500 KINGDOM.

hence.

Great underground defence works have been constructed beneath the desert by the Bri.. tish army.. Almost perfect cover is assured for tents and equip. ment, to such an extent that Italian bombers frequently un- load their bombs on the desert at random in the hope of hit- ting something.

Entire Bedouin tribes have been seen trekking from war zone driving herds and flocks before them.

>Mr. Winston Churchill, accompanied by officials, inspecting the damage caused by German bombing in the East End of London. (Copyright, Fox).

AXIS SCRAMBLING FOR RESOURCES FOR LONG WAR

EVERY MOVE OF THE Axis powers the the Balkans, baulked in their expectation of a speedy victory, is now directed to the acquisi- tion of resources from the Near East and Africa which the blockade denies them, de- clared the London · Daily Telegraph” yester- day in an editorial on the Eastern Group Sup ply Conference to be opened in New Delhi on

They are no embarrassment to the military

authorities for the are mainly nomadic and able find a living almost anywhere.- Reuter.

FRENCH IN ARMY OF KENYA

THE FREE

to

Full use of the difficult desert

FRENCH COM- terrain has been made in the Bri-MUNITY OF KENYA HAS PRE- tish defence system on the pre- SENTED, AN AMBULANCE TO paration of which the British GENERAL DICKENSEN, THE troops enthusiastically engaged.

A Lahore message says that the lender of a large Moslem or ganisation has offered to buy a fighter and also the services of

Quiet Confidence 50,000 volunteers. The Governor

North- of the

Everywhere quiet confidence is West Frontier Provinces has re-expressed. New Zealand troops, ceived a pledge of loyalty from particularly are pleased at being the ruler and people of Chitral, in the war zone after their long

training near Cairo. Reuter.

Picture taken at the sinking

G.O.C.

In accepting the gift, the G.O.C. ea'd it was only one sign of the magnificent effort free Frenchmen were making.

He was glad to say that quite a of free French were number serving in his army. Reuter.

of the Italian alx-inch cruiser, Bartolomno Callooni, by H.M.A.B. Bydney in the Mediterranean. Bydney, accompanied by a small destroyer«forco, en- gaged two Italian cruisers to the north west of Crote. The other withdraw with the British in “pursuit. Vitifs »plain that the "Bartolomeo Goticoni has+felt!tho>woight of the British guns. ~Her

bowe are blown blean away. (Copyright; Fox), SATTA, NATIONA

Friday.

The 'Telegraph' adds the Far East also; if they can invent the means, is to pay them tribute.

While the Dictators prate thus

of establishing a new order," new world order has already come into being.

10-

The free Empire of our Bri- tish Commonwealth is mar. ahalling its united strength for a war effort such as civilisa- tion has never known. After referring to the industrial possibilities of the countries presented at the conference,

these paper adds that

Empire countries, with little other sistance, provide for the British armies of the Near East through

major campaign. ·

the

a5-

Empire Soon To Deploy

Our own resources and those

which we draw from Canada and the Western Hemisphere will be Cree to strike where their blows will be most deadly..

DE GAULLE

MAKESTOUR

OF AFRICA

General de Gaulle Leader of Free French men, has just concluded a tour of French Equatorial Africa, including the in terior of the Cameroons and the Chad region. The strength of the unity of At Yaounde, capital of the be free Empire has never been Cameroons, and Port Lamy, capi- understood by the Dictators. It tal of Chad, and numerou will soon deploy against them re- other places which sources which no schemes or visited by plane, General de drives of theirs can match- Reuter.

KING'S NEW MILITARY AIDES

the party

Gaulle was enthusiastically wel comed by the European, and: na- tive population, local chiefs after coming from afar to affirm the | loyalty.

Perhaps the most moving mo- ment of the whole tour was meeting at the Governor's head quarters at Fort Lamy between General de Gaulle and Genera Catroux, former Governor o Indo-China, who went especially NEW HONOUR FOR BRI- from London to assure Genera TISH ARMY LEADERS WAS do Gate or his full support and ANNOUNCED BY THE WAR bearing new evidence of Bri OFFICE LABT NIGHT IN THE tain's will and growing power to FORM OF THE FOLLOWING carry the war to a victoriou APPOINTMENTS AS AIDES-DE- conclusion. CAMP GENERAL TO THE KING.

General Catroux has left to England again, while General d General Viscount Gort, with et-Gaulle is back in Duala-Reu fect from July 20, in succession to ter. General Sir Edmund Ironside,

who has been promoted Field-retired from the active list, Marshal..

"General Sir John Dill, with ef -General Sir Robert Gordon-fect from July 1; in succession t Finlayson, with effect from June) General Sir Walter Kirke, wh 8. in succession to General Sir has retired from the activo Est- William Bartholomew; who has Reuter.