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THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 12, 1940.
UNCEASING ACTIVITY
BY R.A.F. OVER
DESERT
Camps, Concentrations And Transport Bombed Command Of H
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
were
Further enemy aircraft destroyed on El-Aden aerodrome during..a particularly heavy. raid- on Tuesday night. -
$1,00
whila'
High explosive bombsTM. fire to severaf hangarg
direct hits were registored oni dispersed alroraft, several of which exploded. Fires were vialble 60 miles away.
In the Bardia-Sollum area many bombs were dropped on: motor transport concentrations, while the enemy camp at Sofafi was heavily' bombed." .
Sollum Attacked
of Hitler's speech on Mon-ed with the RAF 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, tired and dissatis- fied, were clearly the real objec- tive of Hitler's attention," the pa- per continues.
The Fleet Air Arm cooperat
barracks at Bardia ande the escarpment road at Sòllüm," while other aircraft bombed the land- ing ground.
One enemy aircraft on the. ground at Gazala' was `déstroy"" ed, bringing the total to 10, In” addition" to "a fürther” un" known number destroyed. or badly. damaged. During these operations; which one British aircraft continued throughout 24 hours,
failed
"They have seen the Promised return to base. Reuter. Land for years but the gates are not yet open."
The Washington "Post", thinks that the most significant aspect of -- the speech was. its silences there was no inention 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 # contingency.
•No doubt he has been studying campaign the progress of the against Italy and the opening of the British offensive in the West- ern Desert-Reuter.
FRENCH AID IN DESERT OFFENSIVE
CANADIAN AIR ACE IN
COMMAND
to
A CANADIAN AIR "ACE". Is LEADING THE R.A.F. SQUA- DRONS WHICH HAVE COM-
PLETELY DOMINATED THE IN THE WESTERN DESERT. AIR OVER THE OPERATIONS
He is Air Commodore Raymond Collinshaw, who shot down 60 cuemy planes in the last war.
Reuter.
MIDDLE EAST STIR
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 R.A.F. structural experts and are now in flying condition, enabling our pilots to know just what the other man la undergo- ing wille in the air. RAF, sergeants are heré seèn 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 Lon- don yesterday evening emphasised that the operations in the Western Desert are still in the pre- liminary phase.
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.
enormous.
Experience gained then anul 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 Taking into account both in the Sudan area. Libya and Italian East Africa There is no question of a break-
the front extends 3,600 miles, or through, as there are no establish- ed lines in the accepted sense of
longer than the Canadian- the term, but just perimeter
American frontier.
;
camps, some of which have al- Present operations, from THANKS
the
ready been attacked with com-viewpoint of a mechanised, army, plete, success.
are most timely as the sand is much harder thun at any other time of year.
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. ed.
SYRIA RESTIVE
NEWS OF THE BRITISH SUC- At the same time, if the British CESS IN THE WESTERN DE-hold on to Bug Bug, a large force SERT OPERATIONS HAS BEEN ot Italians is in danger of being RECEIVED. WITH GREAT EN-cut off.-Reuter.' THUSIASM IN THE, MIDDLE EAST AND PARTICULARLY IN EGYPT AND GREECE,
The Athens newspaper "Hestia" yesterday commented that" from the bottom of their hearts the Greek people "desire that the val- liant soldiers of the British Ein- The part taken by the pire" should give a good lesson to Free French Forces in the the Fascist troops. 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.
that
While Italian Bersa- 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
Reuter,
TO COLONIES
Decisive Success 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 Ifallans. and on ficent sum £50,000 to the Spitfire the internal political situation in Fund and thereby proclaiming to Italy.
the world their unshakable de-. termination to play a part in the From "bare detalis at prezent Empire's struggle against- tho available: thiɗi wouldɛssem? : tą | forces of evil" : be the moment to push, ghead
The Madras Governor's War with the utmost vigour and Fund. has been increased by determination, says Reuter'é
£15,000 to £404,9841 milltary commentator.-
with view to pressing the advantage already gained and obtaining far-reaching, benefits; The problem of Libya is not a
be
In
the Free French move sive probleme situation ment and increasing feel-divorced the
Greece. The two must be con Government are evident At all potnits, the Italians must
ing against the Vichy sidered together.
throughout Syria.
General de Gaulle's appeal for
be given no respite and the utmost pressure" must be main- tained on every front in order
Gambia has given a further £500 as acfurther contribution: to the Colony's Spitfire Fund. British Wireless....
ROOF SPOTTING ACHIEVEMENT
Tho Parliamentary Secretary: to the Ministry of Labour said in a 2,000 More Prisoners Commons answer yesterday that very many hours of. production OVER 2.000 MORE ITALIANS had been saved by the roof spot- HAD BEEN TAKEN PRISONERter" system during air raids and IN THE WESTERN DEGERT that an increasing proportion of
The communique states
AIR MARSHAL A. W. TEDDER advanced units of French troops have taken a number of prisons HAS: ARRIVED IN CAIRO 'AND' cooperation is reported to be to obtáin“ décisive results, ers and war material in the COMMENCED DUTIES AS DE- finding widespread sympathy de- Sidi Barrani district,
PUTY TO THE AIR OFFICER spite the severe censorship but it It adds that a battallon of COMMANDING THE R.A.F. IN is understood that the Inck of a marinea has been specially THE MIDDLE EAST, IT WAS strong leadership within Syria to mohtloned" In army - quarters' DISCLOSED YESTERDAY. marshal this anti-Vichy feeling is by General de Gaullo, This was the post Air Marshal seriously feltä. At the frontier of Chad and Boyd was en route to take up The arrests of Free French DURING OPERATIONS IN THE aged on wat world wore Libya, Free French. Forces have when captured by the Italians sympathisers continue, supporters 24 HOURS UP TO VERTERDAY Operating schemes whereby pro-
etely occupied n zono-
MAKES A auction coiltinued untily danger. of after a forced landing'in Sicily in of the movement being replaced EVENING. THIS. territory: Router.
November Router
by Vichy supporters, Reutor). TOTAP OF 6,000 50 FAR Iwas imminent-British Wireless
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