1940-11-01 — Page 55

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 1, 1940 ---

Page

CHINA MAIL British Sea Power Will

WINDSOR HOUSE

DUCE DESPERATE

The rift in the Axis lute, temporary and apparent ly overcome, is among the most significant develop

•

In the second week of the Ger- man invasion on the Low Coun tries I left Belgium after having cxperienced some of the Nazi air raids as well as their Fifth Column activity was so intense that many rumour-spreading activities. This people in Belgium, with whom: 1 was in contact, actually believed

the stories told about Great Bri-.

more that I have land.

Prevail

By B. MOLLER

routes to the brilliantly executed evacuation of 335,000 troops from Dunkirk and, subsequently, to securing that the betrayed fleet of France should not be put to Once those use against herself. operations had been successfully.

carried out, the Navy went back to its daily task and recent mer-

cline of pot far from Bity per The Germans were boasting only a few weeks ago that British cent. of what they were at their sea losges amounted to such

aheight. high tonnage total that she was actually blockaded and would 'in the near future be forced upon I and my family have experi-

her knees by famine and want of enced

raw materials. That was at the With my be able to afford to pay for in-moment when the bulk of British knowledge of shipping matters. I creased imports: in other words Naval know that stocks of raw materials the whole world's output of arms, from the surveillance. of sea months of "unlimited submarine

anything we wanted,

no shortage

of food or

But even when torpedoing was at its height, lösses from this cause had only just attained the figure at which they stood when, after distracted the heavy losses of the

ments of the past few tain being on the verge of collapse have now reached such a peak of food and of all other commodi weeks of tortuous Hitler-and her people starving. How en- that the British Government has ties necessary to win the war are chant shipping losses show a de

tirely untrue were these lies about been able to establish free ex-at Great Britain's disposal. ian diplomacy. In order shortage and queues of depressed ports. This means that she will

people in front of to delude France into a and anxious

closed shops I have seen for my course of action which self during the two months and

been in Eng would gain him strategic advantages, Hitler was prepared, on the surface, to give yet another display of his contempt for his Axis partner. On this oc- casion, however, Musso- lini demurred, unmistak ably, and the Fuehrer's rush trip to Florence was necessary to assure Il Duce that in the final double-cross, France would be the sufferer.

.

In the result, however, Hitler loses at both ends. The purpose of the Flor- ence trip will not be lost upon the more intelligent minds at Vichy. Mussolini, with a long list of reasons for suspicion, will have had his doubts lulled but not eradicated.

Even during the months that Hitler's successes were dazzling and fright- ening Europe, some reve- lation of British power, some idea of the strength that the nation could put forth when organised and led with conviction, was provided in the successes of the Air Force and Royal Navy, and these kept Italy's leaders anxious

forces were

Hitler's blockade of Britain is not too successful judging by this photograph. warship keeping a watchful eye on the convoy as it passes up Channel, on porte-marking the end of another safe voyage thanks to the Royal Navy.

It shows a British route for home

The Dodecanese Islands

On its western edge the high.

against the time when plateau of Anatolia, in Asia Minor,

Hitler

would call

from armed forces. In addition to subsistence agriculture, there are several other industries, of which

first

warfare" in 1917, the British Gov-

ernment could declare that sink- ngs had been reduced to such an extent that the danger of being cut off was definitely under con- trol.

Now, in spite of the losses by submarine, mines and air bomb- ing the British merchant fleet is larger than in September of last. year what with the Norwegian, Danish and Allied ships which are now cooperating with Great Britain under the protection of her fleet.

In effect, such is Britain's naval power that only 47 out of twenty- eight thousand ships in convoy, have been sunk. On the other. hand Great Britain's blockade of Germany and of all the occupied countries of Europe, by stopping their imports of South American cereals, coffee, etc. has plunged Ine Central Powers into the heaviest economic crisis they have ever faced.

+

Under the very nose of the and Germans

Cherbourg at Calais, British and Allied ships are daily sailing the Channel to London and other British ports. Food stocks in Britain are larger than they have ever been.

Long before the war, the Ger- man standard of living had been cut down to its lowest level and nothing more can be extorted. from this source for the running

Italy for action. When the of modern Turkey, breaks dawn By R.N. Rudmose sponge fishing is the most impor- of war. When the subdued peo-

signal did come,

which politically is the chief, part

reluct- extending into the Aegean Sea. Beyond to the west is the island-

ance was overcome only studded sea. The whole of this by the clear opportunity sea, its coasts and its islands, may be regarded as Grecian both lin- for the stab in the back guistically and historically. The of France, and Hitler's as- Aegean Sea is a Grecian lake. But surances that the British Isles would be smashed -within two months.

The attack upon Greece

is, by and large, confirma- tory of the conviction that Mussolini is fast losing confidence in himself and in Hitler's pictures of the Axis way to victory and the glory of force.

With his fleet unable to sail the sea he claimed as

It is also a highway, and from

Brown.

prosperity, probably because the hours to the South-East, North been forced to introduction of diving dress, which and West, have temporarily increased the output, give up their stocks, to hand over work to the has depleted resources. Then, too, their reserves, to there is some actopus fishing, some marrow of their bones for in- they silk manufacture, a little pottery-satiable Nazidom, when making and some wine manufac-have been brought to starvation, are starving by ture, the last. on volcanic soils hay when they time to time other Powers have spelling, but she has been unable which, flavour the output. True to millions such as is already the impinged on its borders. In the to change the Greek traditions of their age-long traditions, the out case in Poland, and is imminent so the Greek names come of circumstances, many of in Denmark when they are south-east, off the coast of Ana-centuries. tolia, a long festoon of islands may well stand. Few of these is the inhabitants are town-dwellers, themselves facing the fate they called the Dodecanese is one of lands are large; most are only ten for the islands have had trading brought deliberately upon others,

miles in area. communities for many centuries. then the haughtiness of the "Her Italy's least-known oversea pos- to twenty square

on the island of that renvolk" will give way and we As the name implies, Rhodes, with 545 square miles, is Rhodes, sessions. there are twelve main islands, but the largest: Kos, with 112 square name, has a population of 27,000, shall see them as Brussels saw there are also many smaller islets miles, comes next. The total area and Caling 15,000. Among the ur- them in 1918, begging for mercy. in the group. From north to south of the group is only a little over ban population Jews are numer

Danish seamen are eager to see the twelve main islands are Pat- 1,000 square miles. Several of the ous. Patmos is famed for the mon

eleventh this happen as soon as possible doing their share in mos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, As- islands are lofty, rising to three astery, founded in the

feet in gentle century, and Kos had an ancient and are but there is flat land city of fame.

bringing about the downfall of opalia, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos. or four thousand Charki. Rhodes, Karpathos, and slopes,

around many coasts, With vary-

Nazi tyranny. They are willing Kasos.

ing structure, the islands have.

to take their share in the strife, different velues, Sarne are made

side by side with their brethren Navy, Ancient of

crystalline rock

of the British Merchant and yield poor soil and are

by manning Danish ships as mine- cruisers, as auxiliary little cultivated except in the val- Others, built of limestone,

sweepers or in any other sphere of leys,

The islands have a long and where they can fight the common tend to be grid in the modest rain- fall of the Mediterranean climate, varied history and were likely, foo and help to restore the but others again, with newer clays enough outposts of the Minoans freedom. of the world and of their or volcanic soils which hold the in the declining years of their own country, Denmark. water uit vation, it up news been pre-eminently Greek. In Not only spectacular heroism is

give abundant opportuni- civilisation, but they have always great variety of produce, though 1808, however, Knights Hospital- needed. The war is not won only it is irregularly, distributed. Bar- lers of St. John of Jerusalem in- by sinidint German submarines

וי

Italy has changed several his own, his armies in these names or modified their Egypt stuck at Sidi Bar- Frani, the totally unpro-

further complicated his voked attack on Greece readily explained as a des- problem of achieving a perate attempt to entice finally satisfactory solu-

ley and vines do well; the olive, stalled themselves at Rhodes and or bombing German aerodromes, almond, and fg, and even the claimed adjacent islands, which but also by steady and silent Britain into a division of tion.

date palm, are cultivated in, they held until dispossessed by the work. Stokers as well as the Hitler's career of vic-places. There is a little tobacco Turks in 1622. Under Turkish masters or the mess-boys--all are her forces and to break

some prosperity needed to keep up Britain's com- the grip of the Navy on tory stands checked in and some vegetables. Goats thrive rule there was

on the drier ground and sheep and eventually a measure of au- munications with the Empire and the Middle Mediterran- Western Europe in its manage to survive, Cattle are tonomy, but the population fell in with the yet free countries abroad, ean, which imperils the most confident and strid- serce, as always is the case in numbers. During the war with the lines behind the lines. which the Mediterranean, with its lack Turkey in 1912 Italy seized the are not less, necessary than the. islands, and she gained sover fighting squadrons themselves, in whole system of transport ent hour. When to escape of summer verdure.

eignty over them in 1024, but order to supply them with food, Greece has never. abandoned hope arms, munitions and last but not and supply between Italy from the mess, he is will and Libya.

ing to attempt to rat: on

of regaining her rule over those least, with the moral support outlying Grecks. The value of the which gives the final victory. his closest political inti-

islands as g. naval base must not

It is certain that no Danish The crude shameless- mate, Mussolini, that

small, but good, and among the seaman, nor any other. Dane" ied food production the population group a deot might lurk.. As worthy of the name, will take up. is surprisingly large, rather over source of supplies, however, the work for Gormany and help to 140,000, who are nearly all Greeks, islands could have little value prong the war and the sufferings with a few Jews. There are bald There are no railways, and only of his own to be 12 per cent of Italians.aportin few roads of value,

ess of the attack, how-worthy's mood—as well. In view of the relatively misbe overlooked. The harbours 'nro

ever, has merely added a be hung for a sheep as for determined people to the a lamb can be under 1st of Italy's enemies and stood if not condoned.

ones at home.

country, of his dear