Tage 2
THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 12, 1940.
UNCEASING ACTIVITY
BY R.A.F. OVER
DESERT
Camps, Concentrations And Transport Bombed Command Of The Air Established
THE BOMBING of all Italian aerodromes in the Libyan desert continued throughout Tuesday; two enemy camps, troop concentra- tions and motor transport were repeatedly bombed, stated an R.A.F. communique issued in Cairo yesterday.
Six enemy aircraft were certainly shot down while three others were seen falling out of control.
HITLER LOSING GRIP
As might have been expected, the press of the world did not think much
Further enemy aircraft were destroyed on El-Aden aerodrome during a particularly heavy raid on Tuesday night.
High explosive, bombs bet fire to, several, hangare while direct hits were registered on dispersed aircraft, several of which exploded. Fires wera- visible, 60 ̊ miles away.
In the Bardia-Sollum. aren: many bombs, were dropped on. motor transport concentrations, while the enemy camp at Solan was heavily bombed.
'Sollum Attacked
of Hitler's speech on Moned with the R.A.F in, attacking, day..
The New York "Herald Tri- bune" .comments that it is "not quite the speech for the Conqueror of the Universe!"
The New York "Times" calls it an apologetic performance. ·
"The German workers, under- fed, underpaid, tiped and dissatis- fled, were clearly the, real; objec- tive of Hitler's attention," the pa- per continues.
"They have scan, the Promised Land for years but the gates are not yet open."
The Washington "Past" thinks that the most significant aspect of the speech was its silences-there- was no mention of the Italian, dis aster, the "New Order" or the in. vasion of Britain.
Instead, Hitler's, audience was. told that the Reich, was safe from invasion.
The London "Times" dealt with this point yesterday,
Hitler, says "The Times," was at pains to emphasise what would happen if Britain tried to set foot on the Continent.
It is the first time that he has publicly contemplated: such a contingency.
No doubt he has been studying the progress
campaign of the against Italy and the opening of the British offensive in the 'West- ern Desert, Reuter.
FRENCH AID IN DESERT OFFENSIVE
The part taken by the Free French Forces in the Egyptian offensive, in co- operation with the British forces, was described in a
communique from Gen quarters in London yes-
eral de Gaulle's Head-
terday.
The communique states that advanced units of French troops have taken a number of prison ers and war material in the Sidi Barrani district, It adds that
the
The Fleet Air Arm cooperat-
and barracks at Bardia escarpment road at. Söllum, while other aircraft bombed the land-. ing ground.
•
One, enemy aircraft on the, ground at Gazala was destroy-"
10, ed, bringing the total to
In addition to a further un- known number: destroyed,,sion badly damaged.
During these operations, which continued throughout. 124 hours, one "British aircraft failed to return to base. Reuter,
CANADIAN AIR ACE IN
COMMAND
A CANADIAN, AIR "ACE" IS LEADING THE R.A.F. SQUA DRONS WHICH HAVE COM
PLETELY DOMINATED; THE AIR. OVER THE OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN DESERT.
Many. Nazi 'planes shot down in Britain have crashed and yet remained in fair condition. Some of these have been, repaired and; carefully, examined by the B.A.F.. structural experts; and are now in flying condition, enabling our pilots, to know. just what the other man lo undergo- Ing while in the air. R.A.F. sergeants,ane here soon examining the engine of a crashed. Messer: schmitt: 109. ". (Copyright. Fox).
ARMY'S BOUND ACROSS
ROADLESS DESERT TRACKS
STILL IN EARLY STAGES
Military circles in Eon- don yesterday evening emphasised that the operations in the Western Desert, are still in the pre- liminary phase.
There is no question of a break-. through, as there are no establish- He is Air Commodore Raymonded lines in the accepted sense of Collinshaw, who shot down-00 the term, but just perimeter enemy planes in the last war camps, some of which have al
ready been attacked with com- plete success,
Reuter.
MIDDLE EAST STIR
These circles stressed that the operations must be kept in the proper perspective in relation to the vast area of the desert in which they are being conduct- At the same time, if the British CESS. IN THE WESTERN DE- hold on to Bug Bug, a large force SERT OPERATIONS HAS BEEN of Italians is in danger of being RECEIVED WITH GREAT EN- cut off--Reuter, THUSIASM IN: THE MIDDLE EAST AND PARTICULARLY IN EGYPT AND GREECE,
NEWS OF THE BRITISH SUċ-
The Athens newspaper "Hestia" yesterday commented that from the bottom of their hearts the Greek people "desire that the val lant soldiers of the British Em
SYRIA
RESTIVE
pire" should give a good lesson to. While Italian Bersa the Fascist troops. tish victory, the paper says
The Greeks are sure of a Briglieri troops are policing Reuter.
the Palestine-Syrian fron- tier a steady extension of
NEW AIR MARSHAL
ARRIVES IN EGYPT
THE BRITISH BOUND.across the roadless track of scrub-covered. desert has already justified the foresight of the British Army authorities, who for nearly a decade, have worked on the adaptation of motor transport for desert warfare, **
The story starts in 1931 when, military circles in London recall, a medley of different types of vehi- cles were tried out for over 5,000 miles over all kinds of terrain in North Africa.
Experience gained then anu An official communique, an- since proved of utmost value to nouncing this, said that quantity of war material has also been cap- the Army in Egypt.
Compared with the campaign in tured but this has not yet been Albania, distances in Egypt are sorted out.
Active patrolling is continuing
Reuter. Taking into account both in the Sudan area. -- Libya and Italian East Africa the front extends 3;500 miles, or longer than the Canadian- American frontier."
enormous.
Present operations, from the viewpoint of a mechanised. army,
THANKS
are most timely as the sand is TO
much harder than at any other time of year.-
Decisive Success -
COLONIES
News of the capture of Sidi The Minister of Aircraft Pro- Barrani suggests that the British duction has written to the Gover arms. have scored a. decisive suc-nor of the. Gold Coast: thanking re him for the action of the "gen- cess which, if followed up solutely and hard, may have erous hearted people of the Gold tremendous repercussions on the Coast in subscribing the magni- morale of the Italians, and on. ficent sum £50,000 to the Spitare the internal political situation in Fund and thereby proclaiming to Italy..
the world their unshakable, de- termination to play a part in the,. 'Empire's struggle against the
forces of evil
From bare details at present available this would seam to be the moment to, push, phead with the utmost vigour and determination, aaye Router military commentator, with a view to pressing the advantage already gained and obtaining far reaching : benefits,-"
The problem of Libya, is hot a
the Free French move- single problem. It cannot
divorced the situation
be
ment and increasing feel- Gracco. The two must be con ing against the Vichy sidered together.
in
Government are evident At all points, the Itxilaon must
throughout Syria.
be given no respite and. the ubmost pressure: must be ma1n tained on every front in order to obtain decisive results.
AIR MARSHAL A. W. TEDDER General de Gaulle's appeal for HAS ARRIVED IN CAIRO-AND Coeneration is reported to be COMMENCED DUTIES AS DE- Anding widespread sympathy do PUTY TO THE AIR OFFICER spite the severe censorship but ib 2,000 More Prisoners
mentioned lok son of COMMANDING. THE RAFIN is understood that the lack of u
marinen
The Madras, Governor's War Fund has been increased by £15,000, to £404,954.
Gamoin has given; a further £500, as a further contribution to the Colony's Spitare Fund., British. Wireless,
ROOF SPOTTING ACHIEVEMENT
The Parliamentary Secretary to. the Ministry of Labour said in a Commons answer. yesterday that vary many hours. of.. production specially THE MIDDLE EAST. IT WAS strong lenderahin, within. Surins to - OVER 2,000) MORE ITALIANS had been saved by the root spot.
marshal this anti-Vichy feeling is HAD BEEN TAKEN PRIBONER: ter system, during air raids, and:: army quartors DISCLOSED YESTERDAY:
IN THE WESTERN DESERT that an increasing proportion of by Generat da. Goutto, This was the post Air Marshall'seriously felt..."
At the frontiers on Chad and Boyd was en route to take up The arrests of Free French, DURING OPERATIONS IN THE Brna ngaged on, war work were Libya Free French Torces have when captured by the Italians sympathisor. continue, supportera 24 HOURS UP TO YESTERDAY operating, schemes whereby, pro completely occupier a zone of after a forced landing in Sicily in of the movement being replaced. EVENING THIS MAKES A duction continued, unul danger. "French" territory"-Router:- Novemb Noutor
by Vichy supporters Router - TOTAL OF 0,000.00. BARY
was, imminent_British
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