1941-01-04 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 4, 1941

Bardia Defended by Rings Of Pillboxes And Tank Traps

Tough Job In Front Of Anzac Forces

(From Reuter's Special Correspondent

Outside Bardia)

THE OUTER DEFENCES of Bardia (re- ported yesterday to have been breached by Anzac forces) are very extensive, stretching from Waddi Rahib, a coastal point about five miles north of Bardia, in a semi-circle reaching about four miles inland and meet- ing the coast again at Waddi Maatred, some four miles south of Bardia.

This outer ring, comprising about 40 posts, is supplemented by further lines with- in the perimeter. Each defended post is man- ned by 30 to 40 soldiers and is linked to the next post by barbed wire entanglements.

In addition a tank trap trenen 16 feet wide and about 10 feet deep runs round the greater por- tion of the defences.

British mechanised units and British naval units were shelleri by Italian artillery in the Cyrenalen frontier zone, says yes- terday's Italian High Command

communique.

Rupeated bombing of advance enemy bases and! enemy ships near the coast was also mention- ed, while it was claimed that a British cruiser was hit.

Bardia Claims

Major

Damage caused to the historic library in the Inner Temple following a Nazi night raid. (Copyright, Fox).

Attack on TREATMENT

Bardia?

at

Australian troops dawn yesterday penetrat- ed one sector of the Bar- dia defences, says a Cairo other Italian aircraft bombed and communique. This may machine-gunned British mechan-only have been a raid, but and in the desert and states all it rather looks as if it is

The

adds communique

ised fores on the Bardla

Italian aircraft returned.

that

On the Greek front local at- tacks in several sectors were re-

the first major attack.

The success of these first opera-

tions will of course, determine whether or not the major attack pulsed and the communique sa develops on a full scale at once. that "a bold raid by Italian enemy to fight troops" put the and captured prisoners.

Elbasan is stated to have been bombed by enemy aircraft.

There was nothing to report Trom East Africa. Reuter.

B

WAGE CUTS

ANNOY A.R.P.

The reduction of wages, after a limited number of weeks, of

while A.R.P, men wounded duty was the subject of question

оп

The Australians were assisted by tanks, und Cairo reports that the operations are continuing.

Bardia, of course, is not just a port: it is a supply base and was the headquarters for the Italian Army when it was in Egypt.

It is reported that some 20,000 Italians are still in the city. The defences extend for a depth of five or six miles. and consist largely of ring on ring of pill- boxes and anti-tank ditches and tank-traps. Reuter.

ITALIANS STABBED IN THE BACK

Latest reports from Al- in the House of Commons. bania yesterday evening indicated that the Italians are still being pushed back and are being harri- ed more and more by Al-Į banian irregulars in their

Mr. Morrison, Home Secretary, said the matter was changing was not one on which he would be unsympathetic.

his active dongideration, and

In Front Line Mr. J. H. Hollins (Silvertown)

asked Mr. Morrison:

"Do you not realise that these -men are now in the front line, and that the only difference is that they are:öngaged in saving life instead of taking it? Their dependente should not be pan- alised for that reason.

Mr. Morrison: I fully realiso that. -

rear.

Reports reaching London state that bands of Albanians are com- ing down from the mountains, cutting road communications, picking off despatch riders and raiding gendarmerie posts,

There have even been raids on Tirana, capital of Albania.

OF THE 'CONCHIES'

War minister Mr. Eden has ordered a court of in- quiry to investigate alle- gations of ill-treatment of certain conscientious ob- jectors, it was announced in Parliament.

Pritchard, K.C.. Major F. E.

Court, will be a member of the said Sir Edward Grigg Parliamen- tary Secretary to the War Office,

con.

Sir Edward was replying to Mr McGovern (I.L.P. Shat- tleston), who had asked if he w38 aware that certain

been scientious objectors had kicked, beaten with rifle butts, and placed on bread and water In solitary confinement.

Mc- Objectors named by Mr. Govern were Chadwick (Liver- William (Shef- pool), Norman field), John Radford (London). Al- bert Foster (Newcastle), L. Lon- don (Colchester), Gregory (Shef- field) and Gibbs (Cardiff). He said there were "many others."

“Dragged From Cells"

Other allegations made, ware that the objectors were drag- ged from their cells, marched round a square, and prodded on with rifles, and that the colonel

Congress Leader Arrested-

The President of the Congress Party of India has been arrested under. the Defence of India Re- gulations.

The reason for his arrest, and for that of several other Congress leaders, was explained by the in Amery, Secretary for India, the House of Commons yesterday. Mr. Amery said that the Con- gress Party's anti-war campaign did not consist merely of preach- ing the virtues of pacifism. Viceroy of India willing to concede the samo rights to Congress leaders were accorded to conscientious objectors in Britain.

The

waz

09

But apart from Mr. Gandhi that is not the attitude adopt- ed by the Congress lenders.

They are demanding the right to speak against recruiting, against working in munitions factories and against voluntary contributions to the Empire War effort.

No Government could entertain that in time of war, Mr. Amei said. Reuter.

******** BOYS TRY

TO INVENT EXPLOSIVE

CHANGES IN VICHY CABINET EXPECTED

Information

pub- lished concerning the reorganisation of the Cabinet is premature, the Havas agency as- serted in Vichy yester- day.

The agency added it is possible that cer- tain Cabinet changes will be effected short- ly but no decision has yet been taken. Reuter.

U.S. TO

BUILD 200

MERCHANT

STEAMERS

IT EXPLODED

Two boys, experiment- ing with chemicals în al attempt to discover a new explosive, were injured when the charge went off shaking houses a quarter 'of a mile 'away.

They

were Douglas James, fitteen, and John Williams, four- Bognor teen, of Felpham, Regis, Sussex.

near

injured

Douglas's hands were and his hair was singed. JobB--- was cut over the left eye.

We-

Douglas was taken to hospital. He said: "We were experiment- Ing "with a phosphorus powder "and potassium chloride.

mixed them and put them into “the “brába énda öl cartridges...

"As was putting them into ‘atin fid the whole charge ex- ploded with a terrific bang...

feet, "I was blown off my and pieces of the cartridge cases smashed, into my hand. "There was a terrific amount of

not smoke, and I could John. He was blown out of the garage in which we were doing our experiments.

"The doctor who took me to hospital said he thought a bomb had been dropped."

John said that immediately he recovered from the effects he

President Roosevelt and Douglas's father. Douglas,

In charge refused to intervene nounced in Washington he said, came out of the garage and insulted the men when yesterday that steps are leaving a fall of blood. they asked for a court-martial,

Asked if the House could take being taken to begin the

had Douglas admitted that he obtained the chemicals from his

It that the allegations were not building of about 200 father's chemist shop. necessarily accepted as true, merchantmen of about 'Bir Edward repiled: "The facts

are sub judice and I say no 7,000 tons each, cost-

thing about them."

ing

$300,000,000 to PAPUA RIVAL TO

non-

MALAYA

Mr. McGovern also alleged that $350,000,000.

Despite the President's the colonel in charge would not

Albert Foster to attend his committal attitude it is felt in

The rubber industry is grow- In Belgrade it is freely re. mother's funeral unless he wore Washington that the new pro-

to gramme is for the direct beneflting in Papua, where the cost of ported that advancing Greek soldiers' clothes and agreed

of the of Britain and the indirect bene.

production is lower than in troops have found Italians who serve, and that certain were stabbed. In the back with men had been compelled to serve fit of America.

The fast building of 1,500,000 Malays, it was stated in London

yesterday. dil the marks of vendetta war. through terror. Sir Malcolm Robertson said

tons of shipping will help ma-Planting is steadily increasin Mifare. thard, were wives of such men left in the southern sector, the

Sir Edward säld that cases of terially to provide a reservoir of and one-twelfth of Australia's with 258. a week, out of which Greeks have advanced a further imprisonment for three or more tonnage to cover the next year. rubber needs are now supplied by

The Presidentexpressed Papus.” they paid 168 rent and 48. 10d, in three miles, and if this advance months for offences against mill-

some compen- surance, leaving them 48. 2d. on continues much longer they will tary discipline on: proimds ^^ of distaste for mass-produced ships Exchir lavoreting

stwo But stressed the need for speed sation: for the" which to live. It was causing ex- | soon" "throwton to cut the road conscience", numbered

soll-under-present; dirschiiständen. '*-* (Ten) on cohow, which 11m | "minjor treme dissatisfaction among ARP. from Tepelini to Valona. — Reus and the number

Reuter

Papua workers, liuta 20.PART3 Terd

i tary confinement