1941-01-16 — Page 1

Your daily need is

RICKSHAW

BRANJ

CEYLON TEA

Library, bifprems

*od

PLAIN U.S. SPEAKING Page 3

CHINA MAIL

FIRST NEWSPAPER IN THE FAR EAST. ESTABLISHED 1845.

THERES NONE BETTER

*PD

No. 92,048

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1940

Price: 10 cts.

FIRSTED

INSIST ON

Daisy Brand

Australia's Choices,

BUTTER

WAITING BEFORE THE ATTACK

Imperial Forces Thoroughly Exploring Tobruk

Disobeys U.S. NAVY Orders,

Gets M.M.

An ack-ack gunner who disobeyed orders and was later summoned before a Court of Enquiry has been given the Military Medal.

Gunner Bennett was in charge of an anti-aircraft gun when an enemy 'plane flew

within easy

range.

Regulations forbade him to open Are unless he received such an or. der from a superior officer.

But the temptation was just a little too great for Bennett, who told his comrades he could not let the Chance go by.

He opened fire, and the raid. ed was brought crashing

down.

A Court of Enquiry was called punishmen:

to consider what should be inflicted.

When the full facts were laid before the G.O.C., however, he de- cided that there should be no punishment and that Gunner Bennett should be awarded

M.M.!-Reuter.

the

DEMANDS 400 SMALL SHIPS

The United States Navy has asked Con- gress for authority to build 400 small ves- sels, including sub- marine chasers, mine- sweepers and torpedo- boots.

Sa-

Rear-Admiral muel Robinson told the House Naval Committee yesterday that 280 of the ves- sels were "urgently needed" and that Congress would be asked immediately for $310,000,000 for their construction.

Иter.

DAZED PROFESSOR

ON MURDER CHARGE

PROFESSOR LLOYD JAMES was remand- ed for a week in custody at Hampstead court yesterday charged with, the murder of his wife, a former noted violinist, who was found @dead, from wounds, in the bedroom of her

home on Tuesday.

Police stated that they found the body and

Necessity Of ITALIANS

Storing Up Full Supplies

OF

CRUEL" LOSSES

Following the failure of two Italian counter-at- tacks in one of which

they suffered losses des- cribed by the Greeks as

vanced a little further yes- "cruel”-the Greeks ad-

terday despite heavy snow storms and bitter cold.

(By Reuter's Special Correspondent at Advanced Headquarters Outside Tobruk)

A PERIOD OF WAITING BEFORE THE ATTACK ON TOBRUK IS ESSENTIAL NOT ONLY ON ACCOUNT OF PATROL ACTIVITY, TO EXPLORE TOBRUK'S DEFENCES, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE NECESSITY OF STORING UP GENEROUS SUPPLIES FOOD, WATER AND AMMUNITION.

"In this desert war the quartermaster seems to have become almost as important as the fighting man, said one officer, who explained that some idea of the Army of the Nile's present problems and past achieve the coastal area, where the Ita- ments could be got when the present cam- paign is expressed in terms of Britain itself.

"

A British

a

strong natural positions north of ate efforts to stop the Greek drive

The Italians have withdrawr. to

Klissoura and are making desper-

on Berat.

are intense.

Local engagements

Greek artillery is very active both in the Klissoura sector and in

lians have been shelled for some time.

Aerial activity was stopped yes- terday by the weather.

It is pointed out in Athens that the Greeks still have plen- ty of reserves in men and

money.

---

Reuter.

The task of attacking Tobruk from the Bardia generals was captured, base at Alexandria or Cairo would is told. be similar to that facing a hostile army trying to attack the Bay of movement in a cave on the sea-

sergeant saw Inverness from London without, shore and shouted to the occu-ed up, while general mobilisation Only 12 classes have been call- any railway beyond York and with pants to come out, a single road betwen York and

Failing any would bring 20 classes to the Cɔ- fired two response he Inverness, either indescribably bad shots into the cave, without reply.

revolver laurs. or almost non-existent.

A British colonel bathing to assist the ser- nearby cama Add to this a complete absence. of water supplies or petrol pumps the other exit of the cave, where

and stationed geant

himself at anywhere along the route, and the Italian general finally sandstorms like

ap- New naval barracks, to house a pea-soUD fog peared and was totally obscuring the road and colonel wearing only a pair of terday pursuant to the Royal In- arrested by the 500, were opened in Bombay yes- aerodromes for days at a time. slippers and a revolver. Reu- dian Navy expansion scheme,

says Reuter.

Actually, the more I see of the Western Desert the more it seems clear that the Brittan Army has no right to be out- side Tobruk at all.

Anybody But The Italians

Bardia's defences alone, in the hands of anybody but the Italians, might have occupied our troops for months.

Professor James was later arrested and charg-expressed astonishment that the

ed with murder.

AN URGENT SUMMONS

IT WAS REPORTED. IN BEL- GRADE FROM BUCHAREST. LAST NIGHT, THAT, GENERAL

SCU THE RUMANIAN |

S BEEN URGENT- 3D TO BERLIN. ING BY TRAIN

BURMA MISSION FOR CHINA Butina Government "mis

Ching left Rangdon for

esterday:

Reister

+

said:

I spent two days inspecting the Bardia defence zone and all officers men to whom I have spoken Italians surrendered after only 36 hours fighting.

When cautioned James "We were so happy. I wanted her,

The whole defended, area con- to die while she was like that."

stitutes a natural fortress with There were two scratches on deep ravines and caves protected James' left cheek and his shirt- by many feet of solid rock, proof cuff was blood-stained. The po- against any bomb or shell and lice seized a large fork, a hammer containing huge stores of ammuni- and a poker.

tion and food.

James told the police: "I thought my powers were fall Ing and I could not cope with my work, Rather than expact her to face a block' future-l de-. cided that she, should die and not be asked to face it

"I thought I would also, kill myself

Later James said: "My brain will not function.".

In court, James said he did not think he had said he would take his own life;

James appeared dared in court.

·Network Of Caves

Part of the Headquarter Staff witchoused in a network of caves, and funnels. The gen ›erala-offida" had" over 30-feet of rock above it and had its own electric „Jight*~*~

Beside these natural advantages. structed defence posts: reinforced Bardia had a series of well-con- with concrete.

Apropos the Italian surrender, Sokkan amusing story of how one

ter.

NEW BARRACKS IN BOMBAY

Miy

FRIGIDAIRE

THE GREATEST NAME IN REFRIGERATION