1940-12-19 — Page 41

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CANADIAN MINISTER'S ESCAPE

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CHINA MAIL

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No. 92,026

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1940

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INSIST ON

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Australia's Choices.

BUTTER

BRITISH TRIUMPH IN DESERT BLITZKRIEG

ITALIAN BARDIA Troops Gain

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.

Foothold

Firm 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.

RETREAT OF ITALIANS TO DERNA INDICATED

ROYAL AIR FORCE reconnaissance flights have revealed enemy formations re- treating towards Derna, says an R.A.F. com- munique from Middle East Headquarters. 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 is now the scene of the main fighting on land.

ABETZ TO

RESCUE OF LAVAL

Reports from Vichy suggest that the strenuous 'efforts by Otto v Naxi Ambassador

Oc-

The Air 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.

Italian trops retreating to To- bruk were machine-gunited our fighters.

by

Two Italian 'planes were

shot down in flames and two others were damaged.

Derna was raided on Tuesday night, all the bombs landing on the aerodrome. Damage done could not be observed owing to the bad weather.

No Slackening

In London yesterday evening it was emphasiseḍ that there is

(Continued on Page 16)

cupied France, to rescue M.T.B.'S

Pierre Laval from political disgrace have met

success,

IN ACTION

Laval was yesterday received by Marshal Petal to "discuss the AN ADMIRALTY COMMUNI general situation," and was also present during part of the talk "IN THE EARLY HOURS OF QUE LAST EVENING STATED: between Marshal Petain and THIS MORNING Abetz

OUR MOTOR TORPEDO-BOATS, CARRYING Presumably Leval has been OUT AN OFFENSIVE PATROL released from the house or de. OFF THE " BELGIAN COAST, tention to which it had been MADE A SUCCESSFUL ATTACK orted, he was confined since ON A LARGE ARMED ENEMY his, diamictal by the Vlahy Gov. BUPPLY SHIP OF BETWEEN ernment.

*-'8,000 AND 7,000 TONS; The mystery about, Laval's break up and sink.

The enemy ship was seen whereabouts was cleared up yes Fire was opened with machine terday afternoon then, as semi-guns from the enemy ship Just official announcement, stated he before she sanit but this fire, was had left for Parle "In his private ineffective. 'capacity

to

An enemy escort ship vessel of

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 outside the camp at Nibeiwa that Indian infantry were enabled to assist the tanks in assailing it with- out a greater loss of life.

pk

and

"NAPIER STAR" 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 giver as 58 degrees 58 min. utes north, 23 degrees 13 minute west. Reuter.

CHINESE GIFT FOR RAID VICTIMS

The British Ambassador, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, yesterday received from Dr. Wang Shih- tish Cultural chich. President of the Sino-Bri- Relations Assocla-

The careful planning whole campaign was supplement-all their battles with British tanks, the Moreover, the Italian tanks lost ed at the right moment by dash partly owing to the dashing spirit tion in Chungking, a bank draft and initiative on the field of ac-of our tank commanders tion.

for £1,842, representing a contri- crews, partly owing to the fact bution toward relief of suffering After taking Sidi Barrani the that in some cases our armament

in the United Kingdom: caused by commanders on the spot took was superior.

German air raids. swift decisions In a manner which would have horrified old- time conventional generals but which obviously had the blessing of General Wavell.

full

"Achilles Heel"

The sum

was donated by Chinese members and friends of Many Italian tanks

the Association who state they have on wish to express their great sym- Achilles Heel in their rear, where pathy for the suffering people of the armament is weakest, and England.Reuter. this was quickly discovered by

our tanks which repeatedly out

up from the back. up flanked the Italians and shot them doubtedly was the

Crash Through each point of resistance, our ar-

Instead of waiting to inop

moured forces through in great encircling move

crashed right

ments on the theory that the demoralised and surprised enemy force, knowing itself cut off and subjected to continual bombings, could safely be left to surrender. These tactics were used for Bollum and .a number of de- sert forts.

The Italians seem very short of able talent for rapid road-mak- metals but have showed consider-

ing and organising hospitals and foodstores.

Huge

water supplies were efficiently stored at Bug Bug. Their Intelligence is good and their organisation Carefully thought out

Spirit Of Surrender

came

It was only when they to close quarters with the British troops that they broke, and once the spirit of surrender began disease. among them it spread like

数

As one British officer express ed it: "The Italian army would make an excellent supply column for another army doing the actual fighting.

the trawler type was then engag- ed by machine-gun- ßre from our M.TBs and hit. A torpedo was explosion was felt by our M.T.B.'s fired at the enemy trawler and tha and the enemy. ship ceased firing. No casualties or damage were sustained by any of our forces."

British Wireles

simple Fact

reason for the British victory un- while the Italians do not.--Reuter, that the British Empire troops But, in the last analysis, the knew what they are fighting for

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