1941-04-02 — Page 18

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"A FAMOUS

THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 2, 1941.

VICTORY"

Congratulations To Mediterranean C. In C.

Italian Navy's

Puerile Exhibition

CONGRATULATIONS from the British Government have been sent to Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, on the recent brilliant victory over the Italian fleet.

This was disclosed in the House of Lords yesterday by the Leader of the House, Lord Moyne, who said: "To-day our minds are fill- ed with the gallantry of the forces engaged off Matapan and with the brilliant skill of their leadership.

"This war has tought tis, no new lessons to aid to the rancage and brilliancy Will whini

mnentained sun IN TRAWEJ,

qua lies are lind Lonai.

MATSUOKA HAS TALK WITH MUSSOLINI

tw

Mr. Matsuoka, the Japanese Foreign Minister, had what is "a cor- described as dial conversation" with Ciano, the Ita- lian Foreign Minister, at the Chigi Palace in Rome at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

After the meeting Ciano accompanied Mr. Matsuoka to the Palazzo Venezia, where Mr. Matsuoka saw Mussolini.

Mr. Matsuoka's in- terview with Musso- lini lasted about on hour and took place in the presence of Ciano and the Japan- ese Ambassador, Mr. Horikiri.-Reuter.

RELIGIOUS SUPPRESSION IN GERMANY

"The Battle of Cyrenaica was belween a model combination land, air and sea forces, and the Battle of Malapan has offered a perfect example of cooperation between the Fleet Air Arm and the R.A.F. which is based on the island of Crete.

"At last the training and e- helency of the Fleet has had its reward. Throughout the war it Thas faced the methods of submar→ jines, a warfare which the Ger-

mans applied to what was pre- Iviously looked upon as a sysleni

of indiscriminate murder

Bitter Experience

"The Nazis have profited by the bitter experience of the Graf Spee, which with its heavier armament was driven to destruction by the laccurate

gunners of Archilles. Ajax and Exeler, and have, since that experience, taken care that Nazi and Italian surface ships shall never meet their match in

size or arms but shall run away

from smaller units to avoid dis- aster.

"BLITZED" HOUSES ARE BEING REPAIRED-Permanent repairs are being executed to In the London bor- bombed houses by local councils who have the Ministry of Health's approval.

ough where this picture was taken, the local council have their employees hard to work on the

damaged houses. (Copyright, Fox).

RAILWAY PROPOSALS

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL BURMA

LONGMORE ON R.A.F. FEATS

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO ENABLE THE GOV- ERNMENT OF BURMA TO BUILD A RAILWAY LINE FROM RAILHEAD AT LASHIO то THE FRONTIER, WHICH WILL LINK UP THE BURMA RAILWAY SYSTEM WITH

THE IMPORTANT PART played by the R.A.F. in the British victories on land and sea in North Africa and in the Mediterranean was emphasised by Chief Air Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, Air Officer Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, broadcasting THAT OF CHINA, STATED THE L

"The kill of Admiral Cunning from Cairo yesterday on the occasion of the 23rd

anniversary of the birth of the R.A.F.

ham's combined operations has completely defeated this method.

"Bombing from the air pre-

vented the Italian units profit ing from their additional speed

in flight, and have enabled our ships to finish their work.

No Precedent

"We have become accustomed to such disproportionate casualties between victors and vanquished as has reminded us of the wars be- tween the Persians and Greeks on the classic battlegrounds of the Near East,

"But not even the Battle of Sal- amis, where Persian losses were five times as great as those of the Greeks, can provide a precedent for the overwhelming disaster to the Italian fleet without the cost to the victors of a single man ΟΙ ship." (Cheers)-Reuter.

Relative Strength

The normal effect of Britain's naval victory off Crete is en- hanced by an authoritative state-

He referred to the fact that over 1,000 Italian aircraft had been destroyed in the Middle East and paid a great tribute to the magnificent defence of R.A.F. fighters at Malta and the splendid work of R.A.F. aircraft allotted for sea and port reconnais- sances in cooperation with the Navy.

Immediately before last week's naval victory, he added, R.A.F.. seu reconnaissance aircraft locat- ed the enemy forces and tinued to report their movements,

con-

Acting on this. - Information R.A.F. bombers attacked.. hit. and crippled one, and possibly two, of the cruisers and,

опо

of the destroyers' out of those finally disposed of by Admiral Cunningham.

Many of the bomber crews who participated in that operation were only a few weeks *220 helping our army in their Libyan victory.

Storms To Weather

The R.A.F. could look back on

ment of the relative strength of these achievements with satisface- the forces engaged.

SECRETARY OF STATE. FOR BURMA YESTERDAY IN REPLY TO A.COMMONS QUESTION.

It is understood, that this is a long term rather than a short term plan, rendered necessary by the fact that the Burma-Yunnan road has proved to be inadequate for most general requirements of traffic between the two countries.

Reuter.

BLUE STOCKINGS SURPRISE EVEN THEMSELVES

SHOULD WAR-TIME CONDITIONS BE

tion "but it is what lies ahead ALLOWED TO INTERFERE WITH BRITAIN'S fol-that matters in war. The shipsTRADITIONAL SUNDAY ?

have many storms to weather

yet."

The statement gives the lowing figures:

British-Three battleships, one He concluded by wishing good. destroyers. aircraft-carrier, four cruisers, and

luck to the R.A.F. in the Middle East and at home-Reuter.

11

Fresh accusations about religious conditions in Greek-some destroyers,

Italians--three battleships, Germany were made in a

cruisers and 14 destroyers-Bri- broadcast- from the Vatitish Wireless, can radio last night.

The announcer declared that religious houses had been closed

U.S. ENTRY

all over Germany, often with no magkakas

pretext at all, and these houses

are not returned to their proper

owners.

PROPHECY

FRANCO 'AMNESTY'

The House of Commons, after a spirited debate yesterday, decided that the tradition- of Sunday must be upheld. The debate arose out of a Government order enabling theatres to open on Sundays.

Govertiment, however, made it and, rather to their own surprise,

correspon clear that no political Implica says Reuter's lobby FORTY THOUSAND POLITI. tions were involved and, every dent, they won,

member was free to votenc- On a free vote the CAL PRISONERS, ACCUSED OF REBELLION WILL BE LIBERcording to the dictates of his abling theatres to ADE

ownfeelings.

days was defeated ATED UNDER A LAW SIGNED

-Mumber after member argued against 186-Reuter "The recruiting of Christians is

BY GENERAL TRANCOR YES In the Commone that chutros | made difficult. and. religious -- In- | THE STOCKHOLM "POSTEN" TERDAY. THE SECOND, ANNI-

should have the same freedom atruction is almost entirely absent DECLARED YESTERDAY THAT VERSARY OF THE END OF THE

#s the B.B‹¤; stid olnomaki*** in schools, in many of which a THE DAY IS NOT DISTANT CIVIL, WAR, SAYS A. MADRID. priest is not allowed to enter the WHEN UNITED STATES WAR- DESFATCH, TO THE, FRENCH The Home Secretary Mr Her

bert Morrison, speaking; or thei classes.

SHIPS WILL OPERATE WITH OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY.

The men to be freed are ex- Government, declared that both "Difficulties are also placed in THE ROYAL NAVY, the way of a priest in communi- It will be an historical battle soldiers of the Republican Army soldiers and workers needed these cating with and assisting soldiers, against German attempts to sink or civilians who supported the facilities.

Order Defeated · and he knows that any slighter British and American tonnage. Republican regime....... ror he may make against one or says the paper, and one le tempt Their liberation, is con the other of the Government rules ed to prophesy that it cannot suc- and will become final only aff may result in his expulsion from ceed against overwhelmingly spelunghi case, has been ...

examined. Reuter.

But meanwhile opponents

REPRICOPAL USE OF AIRFIELDS

United States and Mexico day signed a convention

ing for the recipro

of air fields

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