1940-12-19 — Page 1

See

CANADIAN MINISTER'S ESCAPE Page 2

Your daily need is

RICKSHAW

BRAND

CEYLON TEA

THERES NONE BETTER

CHINA MAIL

FIRST NEWSPAPER IN THE FAR EAST. ESTABLISHED 1845.

APP

No. 92,026

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1940

Price: 10 cts.

FIRST

INSIST ON

En

Daisy

Brand

Australia's Choices.

BUTTER·.

BRITISH TRIUMPH IN DESERT BLITZKRIEG

ABETZ TONAPIER STAR" Troops Gain Firm

RESCUE OF LAVAL

Reports from Vichy suggest that the strenuous efforts by Otto Abetx, Nazi Ambassador to Oc- cupied France, to rescue Pierre Laval from political disgrace have met with

success.

Laval was yesterday received by Marshal Petain to "discuss the general situation," and was also talk present during part of the between Marshal Pelain Abetz.

Presumably Laval has

and

been

released from the house of de-

tention to which it had boen reported he was confined since his

dismissal by the Vichy Gov.

ernment.

REPORTED TORPEDOED

According to the Mackay Radio in New York yesterday the British liner "Napier Star" (12,000 tons), of the Blue Star Line, was torpedoed last evening.

Position was given as 3 degrees 58 min- utes north, 23 degrees 13 minutes west. Reuter.

The mystery

about Laval's

whereabouts was cleared up yes-

Foothold In Libya

(By Reuter's Special Correspondent With Advanced Headquarters). TEN DAYS AFTER THE START OF BRITAIN'S DESERT BLITZKRIEG, BRITISH TROOPS ARE WELL ESTABLISHED IN- SIDE ITALIAN LIBYA.

I have now been touring a dusty desert outpost where the army's front line adminis- tration is carried out in camouflaged tents, flapping in the wind, travel-stained radio lor- ries or new dug-outs, which until recently were the pride of the Italian army.

Brilliant patrol and other military Intelligence work contributed to the British victory.

For instance, it was owing to the fact that a patrol had previously, at great risk, located mines terday afternoon when a semi-outside the camp at Nibeiwa that Indian infantry

were enabled to assist the tanks in assailing it with out a greater loss of life.

official announcement stated

he

had left for Paris "in his private

capacity."-Reuter.

OF

RETREAT ITALIANS TO

DERNA INDICATED

com-

The careful planning of the whole campaign was supplement- ed at the right moment by dash and initiative on the field of ac-

tion.

"Achilles Heel"

tanks Many Italian

have an

ITALIAN BARDIA DIVISION RETREATING

Latest despatches indicate that part of the Italian division sta- tioned at Bardia be- fore the British attack is retreating towards. Tobruk.-Reuter,

ABYSSINIA

Achilles Heel in their rear, where REVOLT

the armament is weakest, and

commanders on the spot took this was quickly discovered by

THE REVOLT

BY

THE

After taking Sidi Barrani the

ABYSSINIANS AGAINST THEIR 包 manner our tanks which repeatedly out-FASCIST OVERLORDS BEEMS

swift decisions in

which would have horrified old-flanked the Italians and shot them TO BE MAKING PROGRESS,

time conventional generals but

which obviously had the blessing of General Wavell.

Crash Through

fuh up from the back.

Instead of waiting to mop up each point of resistance, our ar

forces crashed right moured through in great encircling move- the ments on the theory that demoralised and surprised enemy force, knowing itself cut off and subjected to continual bombings,

ROYAL AIR FORCE reconnaissance flights have revealed enemy formations re- treating towards Derna, says an R.A.F. munique from Middle East Headquarters. could safely be left to surrender. Derna is about 100 miles west of Tobruk, which itself is 60 miles west of Bardia.

It seems, therefore, that the Italians are retiring about 160 miles from Bardia, which main fighting on land.

is now the scene of the?

COST OF ROOSEVELT PLAN

President plan for

The Alr Ministry says that heavy rain in the Western Desert restricted air activity on Tuesday, but our planes nevertheless con- tinued to attack Bardia by night and day.

for

These tactics were used Bollum and a number of de- sort forts.

The Italians seem very short of

metals but have showed consider- able talent for rapid road-mak- Ting and organising hospitals and

foodstores.

- Huge

water cupplies were officiently stored at Bug Bug. Their Intelligence is good and thoir organisation carefully thought out.

Italian trops retreating to To Spirit Of Surrender

bruk were machine-gunned

our fighters.

by

Two Italian planes were shot.

came

It was only when they down in flames and two others to close quarters with the British were damaged....

Derna was raided on Tuesday the spirit

troops that they broke, and once of surrender began night, all the bombs landing on among them it sprend·like the aerodrome: Damage ...done

discase. Roosevelt's could not be observed owing to

war sup the bad weather;

plies to Britain was estim ated by experts yesterday as likely to involve about $2,500,000,000 worth of aircraft, tanks, ships and other war supplies.

The estimate was conveyed in Washington messagezin

No Slackening In London yesterday evening Wat emphasised that thor,

(Continued, an Page 153 -

correspondent of the "New York Post," which also states that this would be additional to the $2 000,000,000 worth of equiptment already on order,

* As one British officer express: edit: "The Italian army would make an excellent supply column for another” army - doing the "actual" fighting was st

Moreover, the Italian tariks lost all their battles with British tanki, partly owing to the dashing spirit of our tank commanders and crews partly owing to the o that In some cast our armament was superiorE ME

MR. BUTLER, UNDER- SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AF- FAIRS. TOLD THE HOUSE OF COMMONS YESTERDAY.

But, in the last analysis, the reason for the British victory un- fact doubtedly, was the.. simple

We should give all possible aid that the British Empire troops to Haille Selassie and to all ele- knew what they are fighting for ments willing to fight against the

Réuter. while the Italians do not.-Reuter, enemy, he said.

W

FRIGIDAIRE

THE GREATEST NAME IN REFRIGERATION

ht:-DODWELL 4 CO., LTD., Alexandra #ída., Tõn