1941-05-23 — Page 1

Library, Supreme Gest

NAVY INTERCEPTS CONVOY

Comfort Conditions

PHILCO

Air-Conditioners

GILMAN & CO., LTD.

Tel. 27017

See Monts Page 2

CHINA MAIL

FIRST NEWSPAPER IN THE FAR EAST. ESTABLISHED 1845.

No. 32,154

FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1941

Prios: 10 ots.

FIRST ED

INSIST ON

Daisy Brand

Australia's Choicest BUTTER

SKIES POURING HITLER REINFORCEMENTS ON CRETE Battle Worthy Of H.G. Wells Fantasy Well In Hand Rages Nightlong

(By Reuter's Special Correspondent)

THE BATTLE OF CRETE PRESENTS AN AMAZING SIGHT, LIKE A FANTASY BY H. G. WELLS, WITH THE SKY AROUND SUDA BAY FULL OF STRANGE AIRCRAFT, DRUNKENLY SWAYING PARACHUTES, AND ENEMY 'PLANES FILLED WITH TROOPS CRASH-LANDING IN A RESTRICTED AREA.

Situation

Crete

It was

learned in

Cairo last night that the British troops, aided by Greek and Cretan hilismen, have succeeded in keeping the situation in Crete well in hand, says а Reuter despatch.

TANK CAPTURED

The wreckage of crashed Nazi aeroplanes is quickly cleared away by hard-worked German ground staffs, making way for a con- tinual flow of air traffic, while other troop-carriers remain on the ground, with engines running only long enough to disembark their BY N.C.O. troops, before taking off again for Greece to load up with another cargo of troops.

99

NAVAL "TASK FORCES

A

R.A.F. HITS HARD AT SOURCE

A heavy and successful attack was made by the R.A.F. on German-occu- pied aerodromes in Greece during the night of Tuesday/Wednesday, says yesterday's R.A.F. Middle East communique.

At Eleusis, bombs were

zeen

to burst among aircraft on the ground and a fire was started.

At Menidi the results were not observed.

At Malaol, several large plosions were observed, while at British N.C.O. cap-Topolia two fires were started.

tured an Italian medium NIGHT,

In Libya, R.A.F. fighters and tank single-handed by South African 'planes success'ully board the attacked motor transport convoys jumping on

In the Capuzzo area. Many lor- others

OPERATIONS CONTINUED ALL WITH THE SKY LIT UP BY PARACHUTE FLARES, TRACER SHELLS AND THE NAVY'S SEARCH- LIGHTS PICKING UP PARACHUTES FLOATING TO EARTH, MANY OF THEM DEAD BY THE TIME THEY TOUCHED THE GROUND BECAUSE THEY FORM EXCELLENT TARGETS FOR THE BRITISH GROUND FORCES.

among

Exciting man-hunts ravines and woods are in progress

Unusual legislation, Nazi

all over eastern Crete between

parachutists and Cretan

creating an unspecified bands led by "captains of the

number of vice-admirals to command special forces which might be assigned to important military mis- sions, was unanimously approved by the U.S. House of Representatives Naval Committee yester- day.

Rear-Admiral C. W.

long knives and pistols. hills," chiefly armed with

Toot-

When Italy invaded Greece, Cretan hillcwomen of Lassithi Plain, where Zeus is reputed to have been born in a deep cave, and descended from the ancient

FIGHTER 'PLANES RETIRE

tank, opening the turretries were destroyed and cover and killing the crew damaged. with a revolver, during| Other aircraft bombed * operations in Abyssinia.

This story was related in an of- ficial communique issued in Nal- robi yesterday covering the fight- Ing west of Sciasclamanna.

The N.C.O.'s feat was accom- plished during an Italian coun- ter-attack which was repulsed.- Reuter.

camp and gun positions In the same arca.

During the previous night tar- gets near Barge were bombed.

In Abyssinia, Free French air- craft bombed and gunned enemy troops on the road near Chelga. ---heuter.

From Crete PHILCO-DOMESTIC REFRIGERATORS

The

British comman-

Minoane, petitioned the King of ders in Crete have the Hellones to be allowed to form A women's regiment to, decided to withdraw Bri- fight for Greece.

Women Stalkers Nimitz, Chief of the Bureau of Naviga-

Their desire has now been tion, gave the committee a care- granted and armed stalwart Cre-

tan women, famed for their beau-

fully guarded explanation of the ty, now mount guard over their need for the measure, which nevertheless made clear that the homes and stalk Nazi parachutists,

new commands would be assign- ed only to missions of major im- *portance.

>

In the confusion of one of the hardest fought battles of the want it is impossible to estimate casualties to date, say military, olroles in Cairo,

tish fighter aircraft from Crete, in view of the poor- ness and small number of aerodromes there.

Air Ministry official during an This was revealed by a British interview in London yesterday,

It was impossible, he said, to develop satisfactory fighter, defence from a few compara THE NAVY'S UNEXPECTED

tively ill-equipped serodromes (REQUEST FOR THE LEGISLA-

if these are subjected to high": scale enemy air attack. TION HAS STIRRED UP. IMME-

Offensive DIATE CONJECTURE. WHETHER Such things as lines of com- British bombers based in Egypt air operations by THE PROPOSED "TASK munication and supply, and rear are, however, being carried out or forward positions, do not, for against aerodromes from which the most part, exist.

the enemy are making these Staff headquarters themselves attacks. Reuter. era in the front line and aux-**** N

(Continued

FORCES AS THEY ARE CALL LED MIGHT BE USED TO PRO- TECT US SHIPPING SOON TO BE MOVING INTO THE RED SEA; OR FOR SOME EQUALLY SIGNIFICANT OPERATION, USA

Testifying before the commit- tee, Rear Admiral Nimitz said: "It is conceivable that ships and planes will be broken up into task forces to carry out special. missions,

Ayten al

Page 118.)

GERMAN TACTICS

It is understood in Cairo that the German tactics in attempting to land on Crete from the sea con- 'wing" of aircraft, a flotilla of sisted of sending fairly small ves- destroyers and ang number, of sels containing landing parties, submarines."

unescorted by naval forces, across He said he could not disclose the comparatively narrow strip of the committee how such a sea between Crete and southern Ipad force might, be used, Reuter, w... Greece, says Reuter.

“Buch a task force might oon,

and

SUPER-COLD CORP.

COMMERCIAL. REFRIGERATORS,

DISPLAY CASES, ETC.

AGENTS:-

GILMAN & CO., LTD.

REFRIGERATION DEPT.

Pedder Bldg.

Tel. 27017