THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 2, 1941
BIG GUNS BARDIA
Library, Supreme Co
THUNDER AT
DAY AND NIGHT
RAIDS ON Italians Well And ROOSEVELT
Truly Beleaguered ROUSES
GAZALA, TOBRUK
Heavy R.A.F. bomber: raided Italian landing grounds at Gazala and Tobruk during Sunday night, it was announced by R.A.F. headquarters in Cairo.
A number of fires were started ât Gazala followed by large ex- plosions, all bombs falling in the target area. Intense anti-aircraf fire was encountered at Tobruk but the attack was pressed home and all aircraft returned safely.
(By Reuter's Special Correspondent at Advanced Headquarters outside Bardia)
Big guns thundering throughout the night, their flashes illuminating the sky, and short but intense patrol skirmishes make this Battle of Bardia a more active affair than would appear from the restrained daily com- muniques.
MOBILISATION
RUMOUR DENIED
Reports that Hung- ory had ordered mo- bilisation or intended to do so were officially denied in Budapest yesterday, says. Reuter.
The 20,000 Italians besieged in Bardia seem to be well and truly beleaguered now that our outposts finally control the coast be- tween Bardia and Tobruk, while our patrols The composition of these are regularly operating in the area south of ruses
the respect in which the Italians
The communique adds that Bri- Tobruk, about 75 miles inside Libya.
tish fighters maintained standing
Bardia certainly is being heav-|most advanced troops. patrols throughout Monday whileily shot up, for in addition to We passed streams of lorries a number of successful reconnais-bombardments by the Air Force full of cheerful troops. The lor- sances were made over the Bar and the Fleet it is now also com-ries were emblazoned with nick- dia-Tobruk area.
manded by British artillery.
names like "Marion of Newcastle" or "Hilda of Glasgow."
Masses Of Material
On the Greek front two Ita- lian 'planes were shot down into the sea.
An offensive reconnaissance was carried out over a large area of Somaliland, buildings alongside the landing ground at Seilah being bombed and considerably dam- 'Aged
Raid On Malta
in
South African fighters machine- gunned aircraft dispersed on Bar- dera aerodrome,
Somaliland, one Italian bomber being totally destroyed
and by fire
others severely damaged.
Italian bombers, escorted by fighters, raided Malta on Monday but no material damage was caus- ed, and casualties were εννο children slightly wounded,
It is now known that two more Italian aircraft were shot down during the engagement in Libya mentioned in Sunday's communi- que-Reuter.
By way of reply the Italians have established an 11-inch na- val gun, firing 100-1b shells, in the southern sector of Bardia's
cir-
THE NAZIS
"Playing with fire" is the comment of the Ger- man radio on President Roosevelt's fireside chat, the commentator adding that political circles in ad. Berlin consider the dress does not differ from previous pronouncements and assert that "the num- ber of untruths seem to have increased."
is striking tes imony of Regarding the alleged threat to the South American coun.ries, hold the British and Australian opinion in Berlin is that such Air Forces.
threats originate in North Amerlea and It is the United States which is demanding bases from South
America.
About half a dozen bombers are escorted by about 40 fight crs. In most recent encountora our fighters have shown that even this technique is not com→ ple'ely safe.
Little formations of from three to eight fighters are regularly defences. The British troops Masses of captured Italian lor- tackling the Italian circuses and have affectionately christened fries and guns continue to accu-in the last three engagements have the gun "Bardia Bill."
mulate, emphasising that Marshal shot down at least eight Italians. number more, The work being done by our Graziani must have been serious-and probably a advanced patrols is astonishing. ly deprived of material for the without the loss of a single Bri-
tish machine.-Reuter. further defence of Libya.
Coast Dominated
me
the
A smiling young intelligence of- ficer at Headquarters showed One armoured car patrol spent
list enumerating part of Christmas Day sitting on an Ita-
120 field-guns, 1,000 lorries, an aerodrome due south of To-Italian stock taken, including over bruk which was formerly the Ita lian main base for bombing Egypt.
Other patrols have established themselves right along the coast- line between Bardia and Tobruk ever since Christmas Eve, and a number of Italian prisoners have been captured among the rocky ravines in this part of the coast.
Cairo Communique
What the German news agency describes as President Roosevelt's attempt to bring discredit in the German-Italian alliance is said to be regarded in Berlin as "tactless, lumsy. not to the point and simi- lar to the attempt made by Me, Churchill."
British artillery has again been & 70 active in the Bardia area says tanks. and 600 Bren guns.
communique issued by General And this is only a portion of Headquarters in Cairo. what the final total will be.
.
Old Theme
The agency declares President Roosevelt is conjuring up a dan- ger to his people which does not exist.
"He
himself wants to force against his will and against his own interests to engage in a con- ac-flict which Britain
let loose.".. Reuter.
On the Sudan and Kenya, fron- Nevertheless full preparations tier, patrolling and artillery have been made to provide for tivity continues.-Reuter. the eventuality of Grazlani try. ing to relieve Bardia.
The more one sees of conditions becomes at the front the clearer
of realisation of the magnitude the the achievement of our forces.
Admirable work is being done to ensure supplies reaching
SMASHING THE ITALIAN AIR POWER
RAPIDLY AND RELENTLESSLY pilots of the Middle East B.A.E. Command-are smashing Marshal Graziani's supposedly formidable air forces in North Africa.
Since the 24-hour bombing, hold-off on Christ- mas Day the R.A.F. has resumed the aerial offensive. in the Western Desert with increased determination
Rigorous Conditions
As one dust-covered officer put it: "Tanks aren't touring Cars,
extent of and the rapidity and the Italian retreat has thrown the greatest strain both on tanks and other vehicles which must be serviced in the field, sometimes under fire.
All officers and men of tank crews have been living under most rigorous condition for the past three weeks, eating bully- beef and biscuits and sleeping beneath their vehicles despito. the severity of the weather: The task of and'ng a way about the trackless desert is consider- able. Yesterday, as we were try- ing to return to. Sollum after a tour of the escarpment, we had an illustration of this.
Delayed by a mechanical break-
and vigour, smashing Libyan aerodromes and clear-down, our car was overtaken by
ing the skies of Italian 'planes.
Earth Shook
a sandstorm and we spent much time cruising the desert search- In 21 days of the great offen than in the air... It. la imbas-ing for "Hell Fire Pass.". Finally sive the RAF. record had been, rible to keep, a record,
darkness fell before we could astonishing, over 200 'planes have Against this British losses have locate our base camp. - been shot down for captain, malt, roughly been 20. 'planes, the pilots ing an average of at least ning of many of which are safe. la_day, without. counting, many...). Day and night the RAF is
'planes, smashed up on runways maintaining a ceaseless, patrol of Five of us spent the night huds and in hangers,
The Libyan skies, and the ab- dled in the car while the wind serice on Italian, raids on Alexan-howled outside and sand whirled deia is clear proof of the serious in through every chink and the position of the Italian air force, earth shook with the reverbera
Reuter
tions of distant guns.
One plot officer. Informed Reuter: "We are, destroying, by, low-fiying daylight raide, even more..."planes on the ground.
BRITISH
AIR RAIDS
D.
SHELLING OF NAURU
+
These conditions are typical of those in which our troops have been fighting since the beginning, Fof the campaign, though the fact that the weather is now slightly less cold has brought some al- leviation and they are receiving
TARGETS IN GERMANY AND THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERN- encouragement, from the constant THE LOW COUNTRIES WERE MENT HAB. ACQUAINTED THE arrival of fresh reinforcements, ATTACKED BY BRITISH JAPANESE GOVERNMENT: But, as communications are. BOMBERS IN THE COURSE OF WITH THE FAGTE ABOUT stretched out, it can only be RECONNAISSANCE OPERA THE SHELLING
in OF THE j'expected that our progress ID: QUUNARRAZINE TIME) Libya will be slower than hitherto..
The Battle of Bardla alogs" and - no blitzkeløg.
TIONS QUE THESE ANY
AIR. MINISTRY COMMEI
The wenkbar" -- VIZSLIKA
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