1940-12-21 — Page 16

·Page 16

THE SIEGE

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 21, 1940.

CHINA

OF BARDIA

Most Encouraging News From Mediterranean

"AN AWFUL

LOT OF

NONSENSE"

Discussing

the bases to be leased from Britain in the Caribbean, President Roosevelt yesterday said an "awful lot of nonsense" has been written about the de- lay in making or- rangements.

Only in the case of Trinidad, Bermuda and Mayahuana were de- decisions being loyed.--Reuter.

ALBANIAN

PORTS BOMBED

R.A.F.

Thursday

aircraft

on

attacked the Albanian ports of Valona and Krioneri, states R.A.F. communique in Athens.

an

Military Estimate Of Situation

(By Reuter's Military Commentator)

NEWS FROM THE ́ MEDITERRANEAN CONTINUES TO BE MOST ENCOURAGING, AND FOR THE MOMENT THAT AREA IS THE PRINCIPAL FOCUS OF THE WAR, WITH THE ITALIANS BEING HEAVILY HIT.

Bardia is invested, and the experience we have of Italian resistance indicates they are in no position or no mood to relieve it, for the British air service reports the only movement is westwards towards Tobruk or no movement at all on the only road which Graziani can use.

our Thereafter a second battle may Siwa be necessary for the capture Aus- Benghazi,

il

Moreover, a movement of

wing from extreme left seems in progress. for an tralian cavalry squadron hadi

Jar- very successful action near

bub some days ago. From here the road leads to Tobruk.

There is no reason for think ing the British operations will slop at the capture of Bardia. well forces are The British placed, both geographically and advance morally, to carry the forward as far as Tobruk.

the

Navy In Adriatic

On

In the Adriatic, the Navy has carried out a heavy attack Valonu itself and bus threatened Durazzo.

Such action by sea will most far-reaching in the cam - im - paign in Albania and its portance was foreseen in these despatches some days ago.

be

of

If the Greeks can only get their Direct hits were scored in

left wing forward along the coast where buildings and enter the narrow belt Krivneri area,

low-lying country between Valong British All the British aircraft return-and Durazzo, they may be able smoke ed safely from all operations des- of the pite the activity of enemy fight

ers and A.A. fire.-Reuter,

At Valona, military barracks, a petrol dump, motor transport park and buildings north of the town were set on fire. were hit and when the aircraft left, columns of were rising in the vicinity barracks and petrol dump.

GIFT from

L

POWELL'S

A pair of nice comfy SLIPPERS

would be appreciat-

ed at the end of the day. We have them. in these two shapes and also without

backs in Black, Brown and Blue.

Our collection of scarves this season is very com- prehensive. They are in wool at $5.50. White Silk with initials $5.95. Cash- mere $21.50, "Jaeger" $9.75. Less 10% Cash Dis- count.

These are two of the many press now showing

WM. POWELL. LTD.

10 ICE HOUSE STREET

to push forward far more rapidly than they can through the moun-

Podgradetz tains between

Elbasan.

Such an advance would

and

turn

and cut off the whole system of italian defence in these mountains at much less cost in men and time and with far more decíalve re- Bults than could be achieved by merely pressing the Italians back on that line.-Reuter.

NAVAL SWEEP OF ADRIATIC

In the naval sweep of the Adriatic up to Bari and Durazzo, Britain has taken the war to the threshhold of Italy.

25

In a series of devastating blows against Italian strongholds, the Fleet has proved it is complete master of the Mediterranean, which Italy claimed

"Mare Nostrum," and that it can operate with impunity in the Adriatic, Mussolini's so-called "inland sea." The heel of Italy is only about 40 miles from Valona, yet while the Navy was pumping shells into that vital Italian supply port in Albania, the Italian fleet and "planes apparently deemed

it wiser to stay home. Router.

SMOKING CONCERT

Civil Service Cricket Club are) holding a concert at their club- house, Happy Valley, this evening when several well-known local amateurs will contribute towards the evening's entertainment, in- cluding Messers. Hal. Lorenzo, of Z.B.W. fame, Sipitsky, Minnihan, Frank. Austin and others, a

This concert is being held on a very modest scale and is intended to be a "reeler" as to whether a more elaborate one can be arrang- ed in February when the Club holds its annual prize-giving, a * According to one of the mem- bera of the Concert Committee, this evening's affair is a very friendly one though the hat will

STOP PRESS

BIRTH

re-

Japanese semi-official ports in Tokyo this morning admitted an impending Ja- panese Government reshuffle is imminent as a sequel to a series of crucial overnight conferences between the na- tion's leaders.

Prince Konoye, the Premier, conferences held nightlong with Ministers representing olitical parties and big busi- ness circles.-Reuler.

the

A striking tribute to British feats of Arms in North Africa was pald by Co- lonel Knononenko, writing in the "Red Fleet" in Moscow yesterday.

"The British;" be says, "have succeeded in crushing no less than two Italian army corps, or half the Italian army on this front."

The writer praises British staff work which successful- ly co-ordinated land, sen and air forces in the attack on the Italians in the..West- ern Desert, and adds that Bri- tish naval supremacy, while preventing the Italians from bringing up reinforcements, also makes possible a British landing in the rear of the Ita- lian battlefront.

He concludes: "The opera- tions of the British troops in Africa may, in future, in- fluence the struggle of Italian arms in the European thea- tre."-Reuter.

Our store will remai open until 5 p.m. to-day. WM. POWELL, LTD.

The prefix s'apucik}?” Land by the "Borday CINE- Math!? Co sinali Ta strictly copy GROUNDWATER-To Sybil wie stone of the

of Richard I. Groundwater, at dinance, 1938. And Queenscliff, Melbourne on edunder any 10th December, 1940, a son.. wholly or

Printed and Published for the Prop

bo passed round in the course of terprise Ltd, by GORDON CADE BURNETT the evening for the B.W.O.F.”v | Hong Kong.