1940-12-28 — Page 7

*

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 28, 1940.

CHINA MAIL Mr.

-WINDSOR HOUSE

SINGLE TICKET

Churchill's Far

On

East

Eyes

“Never Satisfied"

were

Fired by a conscientious desire to "see for himself," Dr. von Wedel, the official historian of the Luftwaffe,

Before Air Chief Marshal Singhis work as Commander-in-Chief, | Burma and Hong Kong, and my might be usefully intensified or recently flew over Eng- don for Singapore to assume the gow and General Sir Robert Cas-

Robert Brooke Popham deft Lon- Far East, both with, Lord Linlith-staff of eight is a composite staff any other matter on which I con-

of naval, army and air force sidered* land in a raiding Messer-new post of Commander-in-Chief, sels

representations the Commander-in-Chief, officers. But because a man is an needed." schmidt. As luck would with the Prime Minister.

Far East Command, he had lunch Ind.

air officer that does not mean that i was in constant touch with he concerns have it, the machine, like General Sir John Dill, the Chief General Cassels and Air Marshal | R.A.F. questions, each man's spe- himself only with Humpty Dumpty, had a Ar Chief Marshal Sir Cyril New-he said I discussed both army senal talents and the require- of the Imperial General Staff, and Playfahr during my stay in India," cial work depends on his per- great fall, with the result all were also present.

and air force problems in rela- ments of my headquarters organi- that the enterprising doc-

tion to the important role which sation. India must play in Far Eastern tor is now languishing in

| defence." a prison camp. There, pre- sumably, he will profit by ample, if ignominious, lei- sure to ponder the person- al, factual, and "moral" Popham described the luncheon results of the blitzkrieg.granted me an interview in Singa- marty to me recently when tre

He may even who pore.

have further

form,

The conversation turnett of course, to the situation in the Ear East. Mr. Churchill was in great the progress of the war against full of confidence about Germany and Italy and equally confident of Britain's ability to

defend her interests in the Orient

Air Chief Marshal Brooke-

"We Will Hold Singapore-"

The new Commander-in-Chief, Far East, said that Mr. Churchill terest in the work which he was showed the greatest possible in- about to take up in Singapore, and all aspects of the Far Eastern.situ- was extremely weli informed on ation

"Mr. Churchill seemed to have Far East

everything about the as his finger tips," the Comman he is naturally preoccupied with dier-in-Chief declared. “Although| events in Europe and in particu viously devotes every minute he flar the Battle for Britain, he ob ran spare to watching the Far

East.

"Mr. Churchili knew all about Singapore. He told me that we would hold Singapore no matter

what happened.

in Intia he visited the Maharaja of Sir Robert mentioned that while Jodhpur, landing at the Maharaja's private aerodrome. The Mahara- ja is an enthusiastic aviator and Sir Robert and .he discussed in-

I

"In some ways this is an en- tirely new departure in staff or joint staff of representatives of ganisation. It is not so much the various Services as one single staff of officers some of whom happen to be naval men, some army men and some air force men,

By A Special Correspondent

questions

formally a number of regarding air warfare.

After leaving India, the new Far East Commander-in-Chief went to Rangoon where he spent three days as the guest of the Cochrane. Governor of Burma, Sir Archibald

"All the officers have had some experience of liaison work with the other Services and are able to speak the other man's language. There are no watertight compart- ments between the different Ser- vices in my staff.

Turning to the Far Eastern. 'situation Marshal Brooke-Popham said the.

generally, "Air" "Chief

certainly had a favourable effect goud news from the war fronts on the position in other parts of the world, not least in the Far East.

"We must not, assume, how- ever," he said, "that because things are going well in Britain, or in Greece or in the Middle East, -that we can rest even for a mo-

ment here in Malaya or in any other country.

"We must never rest; we must never be satisfied with our de. improve them still further, and to fence preparations. Our efforts to

make them yet must never cease.

more complete,

"I feel sure that Britain will continue to grow in strength in the Far East. within Sir Robert's new.comnial.d to make a special study of various

"I have deputed certain officers forcements in men and material-- We may expect rein-

many questions of special impor-know something about Burma, fors you know a lot has already and there were, consequently, countries, so that If I want to force.

a stronger any and a bigger air

example, I have the advice of

Burma.comes directly

tance to consider.

Tour of Malaya

which he has to discuss with the

As an indication of the authority]

Governors of the territories un- der his command questions which are not directly defence matters but which are concerned with de- fence, Sir Robert said he and the Governor of Burma cooperated in drawing up a document concerning a Burmese constitutional matter that had arisen as a result of his appointment as Commander-in- Chief, Far East.

knows? awkward experience of it if, as is expected, the aim of the German bombers becomes increasingly er- ratic as they are forced to ever higher altitudes. After all, a Nazi prisoner, however, distinguished, is no more easily to be iden- tified from a height of thirty thousand feet or so than a British Tommy or a humble civilian. What ever may be argued on that point, it is quite clear that inspectorial visits of the kind ventured by Dr. von Wedel should not only) be encouraged by the Bri- tish authorities, but earni~. "He said that I could rest as estly solicited. No induce-sured that there would be a con- tinuous and steady flow of men ment should be spared to and munitions

to the countries convince the leaders of within the area of my command the Third Reich that fre- to make Singapore, the

and that no effort would be spared Malaya quent flights over "enemy peninsula and all the other British countries of East Asia as strong territory" would be wide- and us well defended

as was hu-

Unity of Command ly regarded with expec-marily possible. tancy and approval. This has his eyes on Singapore and the

"Yes, Mr. Churchill certainly From Rangoon, Air Chief Mar-

shal Broke-Popham came on especially applies to the Fart East. You can be perfecily Singapore and stayed for a few "Big Four"Hitler, Goer- sure of that."

days with the Officer Administer Air Chief Marshal Brooke-ing the Government, Mr. S. W. ing, Himmler, and Goeb Popham.described to me the work Jones. bels-to whom individual- he had done on his way out

Singapore from England by air. ly, or as a group, a warm, though perhaps not whol- ly disinterested, welcome could be promised — nay, assured. With this perni- cious quartet safely be- hind wire, or (if the worst came to the best), the sub-

a

monial obsequies, weight of woe would be lifted from a world they have too long afflicted.

to

Talks in New Delhi The stayed for a few days in New Delhi as the guest of the Viceroy and had discussions on

to

He quickly established his headquarters in Singapore and had tulks with all the heads of the Services and leading civiliun

officials.

the man whose job it is to special been done in this direction recent ise in the problems of that terri-y, but the trend will continue, tory. But it is a flexible scheme. "I think that shows that the adaptable to a changing situation.". Imperial Government does not take in any way a narrow view offts responsibilities, nor do the "people dî · „Great Britain. It is

realised on all sides that the Bri tish Commonwealth is one unit fighting a great struggle against anunscrupulous and powerful enemy, and it is also recognised that the war has world-wide re percussions, That is why events in the Far East are kept constantly. under review in London.

Australian and New Zealand Visit.

The

Is

Commander-in-Chief now visiting Hong Kong to inspect the defences of this Colony which comes under his command.

Later on, Sir Robert expects to visit Australia and perhaps New Zealand.

the Home Government

"But we mustn't only depend on or what other parts of the Empire can do. Each colony must look to its own problems and do everything that it can to ussist. This applies as much to the local forces as to A.R.P. and internal security mea-

"Australia and New Zealand do not come within my com- mand," he explained, "but those two countries are so vitally con- cerned with the situation in the come within my purview that it Far East and the matters which sures.

"If there is no internal weakness is only natural that I should want.in any Colony, the task of Im and that they should be looking ingly easier. Malaya, for example, to meet the defence chiefs there perial defence is made correspond- forward to an opportunity for can help a great deal by making discussing affans with me,"

Its own war effort complete and "My instructions are to verim-untirely jallequate for all circum- ments of Australia and New Zea- municate direct with the govern- stances," land on any matters of interest to ham asserted that from what he Air Chief Marshal Brooke-Pop- them, and I shall certainly do no had seen of Malaya he concluded In company with the G.O.C., as and when the occasion arises. that the defence forces would be Malaya, Lt.-General L. V. Bond, I can send either a personal letter able to put up a very good show the new Commander-in-Chief has or telegram to the Defence Minis- if the need arose. The difficulties just completed, a tour of the de- ter in Canberra, for example, or for a would-be invader were for fences of Singapore and Malaya. send a formal-communication. After inspecting the fortifications

midable, he pointed out. Tha of Singapore he went upcountry cations with British representa- It would set a severe limit on the "With regard to my communi- Jungle was not impenetrable, but jects of ungrudged cere- that is only the superficial and then on to Alor Star by road the Far East I shall keep in con- trying to advance through it.

travelling from Ipoh to Penang tives in non-British countries in movements of any hostile force origin of the present dis-visiting military and air

force tact with our stations en route.

ambasadors in Sir Robert remarked to a Japan- turbance. There is reason

China and Japan, our master in ese newspaper representative re From Alor Star, where the Bangkok and the British consuls-garding Anglo-Japanese relations: to suspect that Thailand's A.O.C., Far East, Vice Marshal general in the various countries There is no reason whatever for enthusiastic new ""protec-J. T. Babington also joined the in the Far East. tor," Japan, entirely ap-sula to the east coast to continue

war but I cannot guarantee peace." proves the action, and the his inspection, eventually retorn- border clashes in Cambo-east coast of Malaga from Kota to Singapore by air down the The smouldering situa- able fashion with Ja-mipression of the defences

rapid but exceptionally complete Asked whether the statement, The new Commander-in-Chief tion reported for some panese threats to occupy this country and has met a large in the official "ommunique ari- is a man of great personal charm weeks on the Cambodian Camranh Bay and Saigon Sumber of officers of all three nouncing his apartment, that the and character. He answered my

Services.

Commander-in-Chief, would also questions with complete dank- frontier shows no sign of Thailand will be quite Sir Robert then went on to out-communicate with the British re-ness, never faltering so hesitating. betterment despite assur- unable to oppose any ul-post and the scope of the work coverded with the Far East," obvious enthusiasm and keermess line the responsibilities of his new presentatives in countries "in or He spoke at his new work with ances on both sides of timate Japanese designs which has been allocated to him meant that he might make con- for the job in hand. readiness for a peaceful to make use of their coun- Unity of command for the army tact with the British Ambassador

and air force in Burma, Malaya, in the United States, Air Chief The impression left on the in- settlement. There is a try, and there cannot be and Hong Kong, he said, had be- Marshal Brooke-Pophuin said that terviewer was that of a man with long-standing grievance overlooked the possibility cause of the growing importance to do so, but if he felt it would be tion to the smallest details as well an immense capacity for hard come necessary especially be there had as yet been no occasion work and a habit of paying atten in the hitherto peaceable of other Thai demands of the aeroplane in warfare,

useful, he would certainly com little country-still best most convenient for Ja- "The development of air stra- municate direct with Washington, as the wider aspects of questions

under consideration. known as Siam-concern-panese exploitation

The new Commander-in-Chiet for egy." he said, "has altered our

It was not dimcult to under- made it clear that his appointment stand Sir Robert's reputation as a conception of defence require- ing territory on the Me- the return likewise to ments. Aeroplanes can move so did not mean that the respon sagacious administrator who has kong River, transferred by Thailand of territory in fast and new dispositions can be subility of the weberya Command the ability to work easily and satisfactorily with other men and treaty to France in 1907; northern Malaya, ceded to vitally necessary to have one.com- been abanged and

the gift of communiouting to those and it may be conceded Britain in 1909. No one days before air wantare might would only

around him something of his, own... energy: and erikbalasın.alg

The Far East is fortunate to hava.Air Marshal Brooke-Réphan

THAILAND RAMPANT

party, he flew across the penin-

dia coincide in remark- Bahru. He has thus gained

a

at

Work in Malarayan

made so quickly that it is now for local defence Tool?

mand for an area which in the Bond GOL. Mulava,

望

that, with the future of outside Bangkok can cre very well be the contorn of two

dit, that any valuable or three separate commands. prizes in Cambodia would long remain in Thailand's hands, whatever succes Thai troops might natural ma timely but in “inspired”.

Indo-China apparently in the melting pot, an as- sertion of the claims of Thailand to recover lands is perhaps

mattag

"I

· approach the

peci

shou

Energy and Enthusiasm

to as its new Commander-in-Chief, ritles and the whole Empire may rest assured that in close collaboration

then. Communkier insp Sention. Admiral Sik Gro͓

In the Far East is in

hands: