1941-01-20 — Page 38

Page

SAY GOODBYE TO SHAVING DISCOMFORT

FOR WET SHAVES USE A

ROLLS RAZOR

THE LIFETIME RAZOR

A perfected Hollow-Ground Blade with a self-stropping and self-sharpening attachment promising a lifetime of close,

clean shaves.

AND

FOR THOSE TRAVELLING TO REMOTE AND OUT-OF-THE-WAY PLACES THERE IS

The "VICEROY"

NON-ELECTRIC

DRY SHAVER

with it you can shave anywhere, without water, soap, brush, blades, electricity JUST PRESS THE LEVER AND SHAVE

A Boon to Travellers and Seafarers

THE HONG KONG DISPENSARY A. S. WATSON & CO., LTD.

TEL, 20016

EMPIRE SHERRY

(AUSTRALIAN).

“Emu" Brand Light Medium "Cellarer" Brand Dark Sherry

GOOD TASTE & REASONABLE PRICES

Agents:---

GANDE, PRICE & CO., LTD.

HONG KONG

Telephone 20135

*

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 20, 1941

M.P.'S SHARP ATTACK ON THE ADMIRALTY

ON THE MOTION for the adjournment of the House of Commons Mr. Stokes (Soc.) raised matters concerning the sinking of the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Glorious during the withdrawal from Norway in June.

He said that if the captain's death was claimed as an excuse for not giving full publicity and having an investigation into the matter, his answer was that 1,200 gallant men went down at the same time, and their relatives had a right to know what happened.

He might have agreed three or four months ago that it was not in the public interest to discuss the matter, but what advantage could that be to the enemy now that it was a matter of history?

Which was more likely to im-, he must have the permission press the German High Command the man.

an Admiralty afraid the facts, or which

to face

faced themi

with serene confidence?

"'Victimised" For Criticism

the Cindr. Bower (Cons.) said

from

formed, according to what he told me, fully as to what was happening in connection with the evacuation of Narvik.. Certain it is that the Operations Staff, Coastal Command, RAF. of which I was a member, did notTM know, and junior officers of the Operations Staff of the Admiralty, whose duty it would have been to provide the plans, did not know either.

"I know that what has been described as Gestapo methods have been applied to those offi- • cera since, as indeed they have been applied to me. Those offi- core have their careers to think of and I have not, and i can speak openly.

First Lord's Attitude

to

"Well, I wrote that letter the First Lord, and, far from realising that I had acted with discretion and forbearance, he of sent for me and told me he took the gravest exception to that let- ter.

he

"I protested and said that as a member. of Parliament I had an absolute privilege to write Was the First Lord satisfied

such a letter whether I was a that the proper instructions,

The First serving officer or not. best that could have been advis-had just returned

three Lord protested against that, and cd, were issued to the ship? Did months at sea engaged on convoy said it was not so. We argued

Before that he was naval for a bit. the Admiralty know of the move- work.

He then became very sank ment of ships which

the liaison officer to the Commander-friendly and said, "This has put Glorious? The Grand Fleet was in-Chief of the

Coastal me in a very difficult position vis- in constant, almost a-vis the First Sea Lord." within 800 miles of the accident. Command,

R.A.F.

Did Sir Charles Forbes (then daily, touch with the Operations "I asked why, and he admitted Commander-in-Chief of the Home Staff of the Admiralty, and he he had shown my letter to the Mr. First Sea Lord. I do not think

Fleet) know of the

confirm movement of could

the Glorious, and was his posi-Stokes had said. tion such as to give it aid?

"Gestapo Methods”

everything

it was a proper proceeding for a Minister to show someone else a he letter written by a member of

a Parliament.

at that

The First Lord then said, 'This has put me in a very awkward position, Naturally, those fel- lows don't like having you at Coastal Command, with access to the board-room of the Ad- miralty. Will you accept an" other appointment?"

In the early part of June, sald, he was approached by large number of officers on the The most tragic part was, he Operation Staff of the Admiralty, understood, that froin the three not silly young officers, but men 39 between 40 and 50 holding re- ships sunk there were only survivors. It had been reported sponsible positions, and he could that 1,000 men were on rafts for assure the House that three nights and two days. He time there was very grave dis- got into touch with one of the quiet not only at the episode now survivors and asked to meet him, being discussed but at the whole from when he had a telegram saying, conduct of naval operations

"I replied, 'Certainly,' and he "Regret unable to meet you. Ad- the point of view of the higher said I would ke you to accept miralty instruction." (Cries of command in Norway.

an appointment at sea.' At that "I shall disclose nothing which time we were faced with immi- "Oh!")

assist the enemy.

Five nent invasion. He offered "It seems to me very wrong," | could he said. (Cheers.) "I shall op. months have elapsed since

this an appointment and, acting on took his description pose Gestapo methods wherever not inconsiderable disaster

of that appoint- place," he

said. "Considerations ment, which subsequently turned they are." Mr. Alexander, First Lord of of secrecy are no longer operative, out to be what I can only

de- the Admiralty intervening, asked except for one reason, and that scribe as a false prospectus, I

is to conceal the deficiencies of accepted. for particulars.

high officers."

Mr. Stokes said that if he had an assurance that the person con- cerned would not get into trouble he would show Mr. Alexander the telegram.

Mr. Alexander said he certainly undertook that at all times when such a matter was raised in the House by a member there would be no penalty for the other per- son referred to.

Mr. Stokes said that in view of that assurance he would give.Mr. Alexander the particulars, but first

A NEW shipment has just been received from

LONDON

The Greatest Cigarette Value

Kensitas

FOUR AND TWENTY

FINEST

REAL VIRGINIA

20 and 4

60, cts.

SERIOUSLY, SIR,

WHY ACCEPT LESS?

∙Konzitás

INGENOHL'S CIGAR STORES

LA PEDIA PEL ORIENTI

20 and 4

60 cts.

Officers' Request

Inferior Command

me

"He asked me whether I would- Officers, he continued, approach- go first to do an anti-submarine ed him, some individually and course, I went and when i got some collectively, with a definite there I found that a lot of my request to raise the matter on naval friends, hearing that I the floor of the House of Com-Was appointed to a corvette, ask- ed 'Why are you going to this

mons.

"I think the House will agree {inferior command?" I said, 'No, I adopted a perfectly right atti-the First Sea Lord has promised tude in refusing, because it was it would be fully as good as my quite indefensible for me, as a present appointment.' serving officer, to bring informa- "I then came back to the anti- tion I received in the course of submarine department of the my, duties, to the House, but I Admiralty and found the same am not so sure now that I was thing. Öfficers asked. 'Why are right."

you going to a command of this Instead, continued Commander description? These ships are Bower, he promised to see the be commanded by lieut-comman- First Lord, but it happened that ders R.N.R, and R‚N‚V.R‚' he had gone to Bordeaux, so he (Commander Bower) wrote him a letter in which he pointed out the grave concern felt among the

officers he had mentioned.

to

*This upset, me, and I had an- other interview with the First Lord, who assured me he had all my interests at heart and in no way was I being victimised; and not "The facts were," said Com- until I got to my command did First mander Bower, "that the evacua- I discover that what the tion of Narvik was considered, for Lord had said was entirely wrong reasons hitherto undisclosed, to and what any friends had said be of such a secret nature that was right. : none but the highest officers were informed that it was to take place. "Naturally such an operation in normal circumstances would in- volve the closest cooperation be- tween the Admiralty, R.A.F., Coastal Command, Vice-Admiral Submarines and other high officers,

"In other words, a member of Parliament

Was deliberately

• vistimised for expressing cer. tain opiniona, which in my view he had a perfect right to ex- press about the conduôt of these operations.

"I have no desire to raise a

but such cooperation, never took | përsonal issue, as I have no per- place. I can give my word for sonal grievance. At all times I it for I was in the Coastal Com- I was free to come back to my mand at the time, and we knew Parliamentary duties. nothing about it.

·Director Did Not Know

Dlaquiet In Navy

"The point is that there was, This ship was sunk, these lives and still is, on the Naval Staff were lost, and even such a highly- and throughout the Navy, grave placed officer as the Director of disquiet as to the conduct of these Operations at the Admiralty. knew operations. One of the people nothing about it," he added. "I much critiched in the Navy has wrote this letter to the First Lord | gone-the late Commander-in- of the Admiralty."

| Chief of the Home Ficet. I will.. Mr. Alexander: Will you tell say nothing about him.... me what the Director of Opera.... "At the present moment there tions knew nothing about?

is grave disquiet about the 'Board Cindr. Bower: Tom prepared to of the Admiralty as a whole. There tell the First Lord that the Direc- | are on the board men of great tor of Operations was not in- (Continued on Paga" 19);