THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 30, 1941.
Naples And Catania Targets Of Heavy British Air Raids
Aerodromes be a And Railway Attacked
HEAVY BOMBING by the Royal Air Force of Naples and Catania aerodromes as well as the railway junction and marshalling yards on Monday night are the highspots of the R.A.F. Middle East Headquarters com- munique which states: "During the night of January 27, bombers of the R.A.F. carried out a heavy raid on Capodichino (Naples) Aero- drome.
"Bombs fell on a large building, setting it on fire, and other fires were started on the
The central aerodrome.
railway junction and marshalling yards at Naples were also at- tacked, fires and violent explosions being caused between the station and junction.
H.K. ANTI- SABOTAGE SCHEME
The sam night the Catania aerodrome was raided, bombs bursting on the main runaway and among buildings on the south side of the aerodrome.
"Fires were caused and one air- craft on the ground was burned oul.
"Comiso was also visited and the bombing there started fires among buildings followed by Six violent explosions which were seen by our aircraft raiding Ca- tania
11 Savoia's Out Of
Action
our
In connection with His: Excellency the Officer Ad- ministering the Govern- ment's appeal of 9th Jan- uary, 1941, for volunteers to provide anti-sabotage "In Libya on Tuesday air ac- guards on board ships in tivity was mainly confined to pro- Hong Kong Harbour, the advancing troops following additional in- straling of the retreating formation may assist em- ployers and those who are in some doubt as to whe- ther they should volunteer for this duty.
Guards will only be required during the continuance
the of Colony's
and present situation the scheme will cease to function should the Colony be directly in- volved in war.'
No feur need be entertained that the time of guards who are detailed for duty will be wasted in waiting for the ship to which they are allotted since it will be to possible to arrange for them return to their offices provided they can be communicated with by telephone at short notice.
tective fighter patrols for
and
ground enemy
between Derna and Barce.
"On the Martuba landing ground, 11 Savola bombers were found abandohed in unservice- able condition. Three enemy fighters discovered nearby were also damaged by our earlier bombing and machine-gunning of the aerodrome.
"In Albania, fighter aircraft on patrol in the Kelcyle area en- countered a number of enemy air- craft and several were damaged.
"An important railway bridge and railway junction west Keren (Eritrea) were successfully attacked.
of
"General air support was given our troops in their offensive Agordat area.
Moyale Raids ·
the
"Aircraft of the South African Air Force on January 27 carried out raids in the Moyale area and many high explosive and incen- dlary bombs were dropped; The result could not be observed ow- ing to weather conditions.
"Numerous
reconnaissance
BRITAIN'S ALLIES. A sisting the Royal Air Force in their duties of safeguarding
Britain
are men of the Royal British shores and escorting convoys bringing necessities to Dutch Naval Air Service. Some of them are using their own Fokker float 'planes which are serviced by Dutch personnel. Wearing uniforms similar to our Royal Navy they are smart and German invastor of efficient and have already given a good account of themselves during the
Whirlwind Photo shows Duter Fokker T.S.W. float 'planes (Wright Holland, convoy patrol. (Air Ministry Photograph).
"VICTORY FIRST"
THE WATCHWORD
IN ATHENS
"Victory first" is the watchword of the new Greek Govern- ment, set forth in Q proclamation issued in Athens last night. The proclamation affirms the certainty that the fight will be carried to a victorious end and eclares the Government,
at the desire of the King, "takes up the heavy heritage of continuing the magnificent work of the man who has gone."--Reuter.
engines) on
CHINA "SQUADRON" OF HURRICANE FIGHTERS
(By Reuter's Air Correspondent)
A "BRITISH CHINA SQUADRON” of R.A.F. Hurricane fighters is being formed as a result of a contribution of £102,000 from British communities in China, the Ministry of Aircraft Production announced yesterday.
After it has been ascertained what em- blem the community requires the squadron to carry and whether it wishes each 'plane to be named after some prominent personality. or place, the procedure is for the Air Ministry to name the new or existing squadron in ap- propriate detail.
BRITAIN TO MOBILISE WOMEN FOR INDUSTRY
Pilots who hail from“ British communities in China.or are close- ly connected: with them may be posted to the squadron if they desire, in order further to cement the bond of British. communities in China with their own air fight
n ing unit.
The compulsory registration of women for essential industries thì sughout Britain is to pourings of money from British
flights were made om all fronts. be enforced soon, Reuter's political corres-
From all operations our aircraft returned safely.
pondent fearns.
The 12 hour duty period will not entail spending 12 hours con tinuously on guard, which would, in the case of night duty, im- pair the efficiency of the guards in their normal employment on the following day. It is anticl- pated that out of 3 guards, 1. will
"In a communique on January be on duty, 1 standing by and 127, it was stated that one of our off duty at any given time if the fighter. aircraft operating in-Libya ship is working cargo. It will be was missing It is now known appreciated that each person will that the pilot of this aircraft made be on full duty for only 1/3 of a successful parachute descentį. the 12 hour period.
and was subsequently found with only minor, Injuries."-Reuter, It is realised that certain per-—
The Hotspurs, n North-East sons may hesitate to volunteer this scheme and it is anticipated concert party, claims to hold the since, in the course of their nor that this will further reduce the record for a single night's volun- Age of registration is expected mal employment, they may be frequency of each person's periodstary entertainment-a total of liable to sudden business calls at of duty.
ning hours. It lasted from 7.30
to
THEIR 9-HOUR CONCERT
short hatice, and at any hour of It is particularly emphasised p.m. till 4.30 a.m. the day or night. It is hoped that the greater the response
They started with a two-hour however that such persons will this call for Volunteers the lighter volunteer since, if there is a will be the duty of each person, show to 500 troops. As they left satisfactory response to the apt So far as can at present be fore-the camp there was an Alert. At the nearest shelter, the Hotspurs peal, it will be possible to make seem, it is probable that, if arrangements with regard to times those who are asked to volunteer gave a three-hour concert. of duty to meet dificulties in in-will undertake to assist, each per- When the "Raiders passed" the dividual cases.
sore turn for a period of 12 Hotspurs made a ten-mile journey hours: duty will come only ince to their home town. Another Members of the regular army in 6ta.& weeks or even less/tre-Fald — and another shelter con
cart. It lasted two hours: in Hong Kong will take part in quently.
This latest squadron to arise as a result of the phenomenal dut and other communities abroad for more R.A.F. fighters, and bombers, exclusive list of will join an similar squadrons already in the front line.
Huge Contribution.
This will enable the Ministry of Labour to call upon women who are not engaged in Industry to take their place in the indus- trial ranics.
These are the Burma-Hyderb- Registration will be general bad and East India fighter squa and without distinction but it is drons which will shortly be aug- likely that single women will bemented, I understand, by squa called up: first and married drong named from both the Bri- women later, if the need arises. tish and Netherlands East Indies and on the African continent from to be 20 upwards.
Basutoland and the Gold Coast. There will be proviálon. for cases of hardship: end' It izzin- tended that as fay às pokalbia women shalt be placed at work as near their Homide.ne pozalbfe. At the same time' Governmiant making an exhaustive exam-
Over £9,000,0001 has buen cont fhation of the; present schedula of reserved occupations for men, tributed from all parts of the with the object of releasing for world for new RA.Et warplanes, military service all those whose individually and in squadrons, In work, is not absolutely essential: eight months since June last
Reuter: *** Reuter,"
is
Necessary, token totale for a squadron of fightsen: de bomborz ars•£100;000 and°£300,000; ta- spectively.
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