1941-01-09 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 9, 1941.

Italian Air Force Loses Half Its Strength In Libya

Damaging Blow Dealt By The R.A.F.

(By Reuter's Air Correspondent)

ITALY'S EMPIRE AIR FORCE HAS SUF- FERED AS DAMAGING A BLOW AS ITALY'S LAND ARMY, PARTLY BECAUSE IT

HAS

BEEN BRILLIANTLY OUT-MANOEUVRED BY THE R.A.F. AND PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE BRILLIANT STAFF WORK OF THE BRITISH NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE.

Undoubtedly the Italian air force is be- ing reinforced and refitted across the Medi- terranean at the cost of big hazards but the history of its participation in the desert air war is one of growing failure.

One month after the British "blitz" open- ed the Rigia Aeronautica in Libya has lost probably 50 per cent. of its original total of front line 'planes in combat with the R.A.F.

It has lost several advance bases and is suffering a severe shortage in supplies, particularly petrol, thanks to the British Navy.

Meanwhile the R.A.F. in the Middle East is growing stead ily stronger.

The R.A.F. spokesman in Cairo has just said that reinforcements

A total of 250 Italian aircraft, namely about half the original are pouring in "more rapidly than Itaban strength in Libyu, were two months ago."--Reuter. certainly destroyed between De- cember 7 and January 7, for the loss of less than 20 British 'planes,

Losses May Be Heavier R.A.F. SNOW

It is considered highly probable that 123 were

battered on the ground during R.A.F. raids, and the capture of 40 of these in un- serviceable condition at El Adem suggests that as the British cap- ture new airfields it may be found that Italian air losses have been much heavier than IS at present known.

RAID ON ELBASAN

on

A successful raid military stores and build-

Desert aerodromes are parti ings in Elbasan was made cularly vulnerable, as it is al- most impossible to hide aircraft by dispersal.

air arm is shown by the fact that

on Tuesday by R.A.F.

bombers, says an R.A.F.

The strain on Marshal Graziani's communique issued from Italian air activity has dropped headquarters in Greece steadily after the British capture of Sollum, rallying only for two days-January 4 and 5-in a fran-

tie and fruitless offort to Bardia.

save

Dodecanese Strafed

yesterday.

falling in the target area, making Snow, sleet and rain were

observation difficult, but high ex- plosive and incendiary bombs were seen to hit several buildings und a number .of fres No Italian air operations have

started. been

All aircraft returned safely de- reported from the Dode- canese Islands since the outbreak spite heavy anti-aircraft fire.

of the Greek war, the Italian ajr force there having been virtually "strafed" and starved out of ex- istence by combined R.A.F. acti- vilies and the naval blockade.

The plight of Italian squadrons in East Africa is nearly as bad, and it is noticeable that their operations have been severcly res- tricted for some weeks.

\R.A.F. Growing Stronger

Reuter.

were

RESULT OF BARDIA

ONE RESULT OF THE BRI- TISH VICTORY AT BARDIA IS

A number of evacuee children from the bombed areas of London have found safety at the London County Council Ash- ford Nursery, Middlesex. The nursery is equipped with shel- ters where the children can sleep and have their meals if neceS- vary.

(Copyright, Photo shows babies sleeping in the shelter.

Fox).

MORE-G-MEN

TO COUNTER ESPIONAGE

An increase of 500

in the number of "G-Men" (Federal Bureau of Investiga- tion) to counter espionage and sabot- age is recommended in President Roose velt's Budget posals.

LOSING NO TIME

TO HELP BRITAIN

Progress is being made,

said Representative Rac- burn, Speaker of the House, after conferring yesterday with Mr. Cordell Hull, "Secretary of State, and 'Mr. Henry Morgen- thau, Secretary of Trea- sury, about aid for Bri- tain.

Mr. Raeburn hinted that legis. lation might be considered by the House and Senate simultane- ously.

He cald: "There is going to be as little time lost as pos- sible."

O her sources in Washington disclosed that an arms program- me of $10,000,000,000 for aid Britain was being studied. Reuter.

GREECE WILL NOT

RUHR HIT YIELD

BY R.A.F. RAIDS

Sto

"Whatever the circum- stances

are the Greeks will not yield," declared the Press Minister, M. Nicoloudis, in Athens yes- terday replying to New Year wishes from foreign ·

Mr. Nicoloudis declared:

*Our

Coal praduction in the correspondents. Ruhr district of Germany' has seriously declined, great leader and Premier Meta- xas, by his historic refusal on probably owing to RAF the night of October 28 to sub- activities, according "tomit to Italian violente, Brought information reaching the tion of the duty of dying pro-Ministry of Economic honour and liberty.

The struggle Warfare in London yes- will be long and hard. terday.

The strength of this body already equals the peak of the last war at 1,500.--Reu- ter.

A CHANGE OF OPINION IN any support for Italy in favour of BRITAIN'S FAVOUR IN "THE Britain. KINGDOM OF YEMEN, AC-

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE

?

back a tired world to the realisu- for

'continues and

"We do not know what com~ ~ plications, what forces and what One estimate puts the reduc- trials we shall have to face, but tion as high as 40 per cent com- you can tell your countries and pared with pre-war production..he world that the Greeks will On the whole, however, there not be afraid, they will not yield; is evidence that coal production they will fight on to the end, and

will conquer." Reuter generally has been maintained but there is a considerable short- age of supplies 10 consumers, owing to distribution difficulties.

'R.A.F. Interference

R.A.F. interference with ́ rail- It is considered that the squa-CORDING TO RELIABLE RE- One indication of general opin-way traffic and the shortage drons, numbering at most 130 air-PORTS RECEIVED IN ADEN ion as to an Italian defeat in the railway wagons appear to be the craft, are in such straits for lack YESTERDAY,

war is that lire are nowhere ac- main causes of the shortage.

Business on the London Stock of supplies that maintenance 1ot Many prominent people dn Ye-lcepted while sterling circulates operations is impossible.

was mainly men are stated to have abandoned freely Reuter.

There is also said to have been Exchange.yesterday a considerable falling off in Ger of a specialised character...Specu- man coal exports to Italy andtive buying and the satisfactory other countries—Reuter.

progress of the war in the Middle East were responsible for a rise in oils. Broadening demand, espe- cially from the provinces, caused a sharp advance in home rails. Kafirs, notably non-producers, advanced on Cape buying. “Else- where conditions were quiet | though industrials showed some firm spots, Wall Street was quiet and steady. Reuter.

ERROL FLYNN The Sea Hawk

BRENDA MARSHALL CLAUDE RAIN

TO MORROW

0000000000

Storm: Adventúra

Robin Hood of the Tea"

KING'S

DAYLIGHT RAIDS

of

||R.A:F. "GFIGHTERS, SHOT DOWN AN ENEMY BOMBER OFF THE 'SUSSEX COAST, AT ANGMERING, YESTERDAY.

The bomber was one of a few which attempted single daylight raids in widely scattered areas of England.

•

FRENCH SPITFIRE

FUND

A Spitfire Fund for the Free French Forces in Britain has been opened with £500.-

This sum was handed to Gener- Bombs were dropped on a town al de Gaulle yesterday by the As- In the Midlands, and a town' insociation of Frenchmen in Britain. East Fanglawbut the numbber of The first #pitäre to be purolajna - ongkialties was small and damage ad stroma the funds will be named #light. Reuter."

General de Gaulle:“Reu