1941-01-22 — Page 16

TOBRUK'S FATE

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 22, 1941.

SEALED

Imperial Forces Smashing Through Defences

First General Captured:

Big Cruiser Ablaze

(By Reuter's Special Correspondent at British

General Headquarters in Cairo)

AFTER STEADILY INVESTING THE TOWN FOR NEARLY THREE WEEKS BRITAIN'S ARMY OF THE NILE LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON TOBRUK EARLY YESTERDAY, AND HAVE PENETRATED THE DE- FENCES, INNER AND OUTER TO A DEPTH OF FIVE MILES.

FRENCH FLEET

THE RECONCILIATION OF MARSHAL PETAIN AND LAVAL DO'S NOT MEAN

Blinding sandstorms that have been sweeping over the Western Desert almost con- tinuously for the past week had hampered the final stages of the operations.

The troops had to force a way through yel-

TWO TRAWLERS SUNK

Two trawlers, Manx Prince and Refundo, have been sunk, states an Admiralty communique issued in London yesterday.

There was no loss of life in Manx Prince but there were casual- ties in Refundo. Reuter.

FREEZING AXIS

THAT low clouds of sand which reduced visibility ASSETS

FRANCE WILL TURN OVER Sometimes to a few yards.

THE FRENCH FLEET TO GER.

VICHY

SPOKESMAN OF THE GOVERNMENT YESTERDAY.

contact with the Italians on the outer perimeter of Tobruk less He is reported to have stated than a week after the fall of Bar- that the reconciliation was intend-dia, and this offensive has been ed to curb attacks of certain Paris prepared equally carefully. newspapers on the Vichy Govern- ment.

Patrols have gone out nightly

gathering precise information regard to the Italian defences.

They found tank traps sur

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

IL DUCE SUPPLIANT FOR AID

The meeting of Hitler and Mussolini took place at Berchtesgaden, accord- |ing to the diplomatic cor- respondent of the London "Daily Telegraph” yester- day.

The correspondent says that for the the purpose of propaganda usual mystification was made but "I can state that the purpose of the conference was the quite simple one of transferring the Italian war machine to German control."

Mere fact that the meeting was held at Berchtesgaden and not, as in former meetings, on the Italo-German frontier, em- phasises the subservient role Mussolini now takes. This subservience may be un- and palatable to Italian pride

Italian propagandists but

Mussolini at the meeting was aid and

These were for the command

MANY, ACCORDING TO A Most of our troops had been in British penetration of President Roosevelt yes-

both the outer and inner terday flatly ruled out may be disguised in the language defences of Tobruk, to a

any convoy of British mer-'of depth of five miles, was chant vessels by Ameri- nevertheless the fact remains that announced in a special can warships or the trans-supplient for German communique issued last fer of any more American had to accept the German terms. night from G.H.Q., Cairo. destroyers to Britain now. of the Italian forces in fact

Cairo Communique Holding his first press confer- not in appearance, the correspon - The communique reads: "Short-ence in his third term the President states.-Reuter.

of 'y after noon to-day the Imperial dent told newsmen that sugges-

the tions for convoy or transfer de-forces, actively supported by

Air warships were "Old Mother Hub- cir- Royal Navy and the Royal

Force, successfully penetrated bard stuff," adding he could be both the outer and inner defences quoted on that. of Tobruk to a depth of over five miles on a broad front.

NO INFLUENZA

Tobruk so rounding

deep in places that they had to bring up ladders in order to enter and measure their size,

The outer perimeler of fences is about 30 miles in

DESPITE WAR CONDITIONS,cumference. THERE HAS, AS YET, BEEN NO SIGN

OF ANY INFLUENZA Formidable Task EPIDEMIC IN BRITAIN, THE Unlike Bardia, Tobruk has CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF second line of defence, with a cir- THE MINISTRY OF HEALTHcumference of about 11 miles. STATED YESTERDAY.

If there is no epidemie by the beginning of February, he con- tinued, the danger should be past.

a

The outer circle is barbed-wired all round, presenting a formidable task for the preliminary work of destruction by our Engineers.

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INSPECTION INVITED

Wm. POWELL, Ltd.

10, Ice House Street

"The advance is continuing.

"Many prisoners have already been taken, including one Italian general.

"An Italian

cruiser,

the San Giorgio, in Tobruk harbour, is in flames, together with a number of dumps of stores of petrol and the like."-Reuter.

Just A Matter Of Hours

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") The capture of Tobruk by the British and Imperal forces is re- garded as a mere matter of hours, since many of the Italian defences have already fallen into British hands.

This new success in Africa fol- lows the sudden break through Tobruk's powerful outer defences after but a single day of concen- trated assault to a depth of at least five miles.

Meanwhile British armoured units and motorised infantry are point reported to have reached a

30 miles east of Kassala, captured from the Italians last week. International News Service.

ARTILLERY DUELS IN ALBANIA

President Roosevelt disclosed that the Administration was seriously considering freezing all German, Italian and Japan- ece assets in the United States.

Told that he was reported to have already drafted à freezing order, the President acknowledg ed that this might be correct but emphasised that the measure still in the study stage.

SWEEPING PLANS

Sweeping plans for a national labour scheme are to be incorporated in a Bill which is now being drafted, Mr. Bevin He said that as many as 50 nounced yesterday.

have may

executive orders

13

Under

this Bill,

an-

white-collar

been drafted to meet sundry workers, of all classes of society, contingencies but drafting did not mean execution and had no interna- special significance. tonal News Service.

"L.G." IN ACCIDENT

Much concern is felt for the health of Mr. Lloyd George, who was severely shaken he when the car in which was travelling on Monday to. Criccieth, in a vain attempt to reach the bedside of his wife who since died, crasheri into an obstruction caused by landslide in the Welsh

a

mountains.

The elderly statesman, who was still suffering from the shock caused by Madame Lloyd George's death, is con- fined to his room and has been advised to rest before con- tinuing his journey.-British Wireless.

ASSAULT CHARGE

W. T. Stoneham, of No. 33B,

Improvements in the Hillwood Road, was summoned weather resulted in heavy before Mr. E. Himsworth at Kow- loon this morning for assaulting artillery duels in the cen-wu Ping, a bus driver, at Tsim- tral sector of the Alban-shafsul on January 12

The summons was adjourned to ian front from dawn all

next Thursday. day, stated Athens radio

yesterday.

Greek' guns silenced many. enemy batteries.

Thick snow covers the moun- tains where fighting is proceeding, and there is bitter cold and fog.

2 pospite the conditions. the T

Greeks conique: to -maintain "the initiative and to displace the enemy from fortified positions: In the southern sector beyond Chimarra the Greeks encircled and captured a trench mortar corps, taking many prisoners. Reuter

Printed, and Published, for the Proprietors. The Newspaper Enter prise Ltd. by GORDON CADE BURNETT, Windsor House, Vic word, cong Kon

ordinary may be drafted from office jobs to munitions factories and other tasks vital to the war industry.

Under the Bill, the Government will have the right to take over the control of such industries dur ing the war and will have the sole right to

engage discharge or workers in such industries, in view of their national importance. These workers from the white- collar classes may be transferred to vital industries temporarily or for the duration of the war.

A fine of $10, or one month's hard labour, was imposed by Mr. E. Himsworth. at Kowloon this morning on Wong Tsai, 23, watchinan, for stealing 23 empty bottles on a P. and 0, steamer at Kowloon Docks yesterday.

STOP PRESS

Five Thai 'planes were brought down by anti-aircraft fire in Cambodia on January 16/17, claims a communique issued by Admiral Decoux's headquarters in Hanol, There was no activity by Thailand troops on the Cambodian- Laotian border yesterday, the communique adds-Reuter.

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