1941-05-26 — Page 17

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GREEK KING'S DISCLOSURES 2

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CHINA MAIL

FIRST NEWSPAPER IN THE FAR EAST. ESTABLISHED 1845.

No. 32,156

MONDAY, MAY 28, 1941

Price: 10 cts.

SECOND ED

INSIST ON

Daisy Brand

Australia's Choicest BUTTER

HOW THE HOOD MET DISASTER

Direct Hit: Tremendous Upheaval

BATTLE IN AEGEAN REPORTED

HOW FAR BIG NAVAL WILL U.S. GO?

[SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"}

The White House in- dicated yesterday that President Roosevelt's fire- side chat on Tuesday will contain decisions on the future course of America of vital import to every citizen.

THE PRESIDENT'S SECRE- TARY, STEPHEN EARLY, SAID: "THE ADDRESS WILL NOT BE PLEASING TO OPPON- ENTS OF DEMOCRACY EITHER

ABROAD."

AT HOME

OR

He said that was all he could reveal officially "without betray- ing the nature of the text."

There is little doubt, however, that the President will deal with "harsh facts" and will deliver a forthright declaration on a course of action which will not permit British defeat.

Freedom Of Seas

The capital is buzzing with speculation on how far the Presi- dent will go.

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

The London "Sun- day Pictorial" yester- day quoted an Ankara radio statement that British ond Italian warships are locked in a great battle in the Aegean Sea. No details were given. International News Service.

Germans Try To

Shake

Pursuit

British naval operations Few expect the die will be cast in the North Atlantic are for participation in the but still proceeding, with the

is virtually certain Prest- dent will deal with the Axis not object of bringing the too gently and will probably ex-German

forces to close press frm determination to main- tain the freedom of the seas, even action. with the use of the Navy, and will warn aggressors to keep out of the western hemisphere. International News Service.

"WE CAN HOLD CRETE"

This was announced by the Ad- miralty last evening.

Fleet Units Still Hunting Down "Bismarck"

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL”)

AS THOUSANDS OF RELATIVES MOURNED THE LOSS OF MEN IN H.M.S. HOOD, Millions of BRITONS ARE EAGERLY AWAITING TIDINGS OF THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THE INITIAL ENCOUNTER BETWEEN MAIN UNITS OF THE BRITISH AND GERMAN NAVIES.

Supplementing the meagre Admiralty ITALIANS communique, authoritative quarters in Lon- TO BE

don said the mortal blow against Hood was

apparently struck by a giant 15-inch shell CHARGED from the Bismarck, which penetrated the colossal battle-cruiser's foot-thick armour sheathing the side of a gun turret.

The shell crashed with tornadic force squarely into Hood's principal ammunition chamber. Hood rocked and swayed with a tremendous convulsion and the seas round her boiled as blinding blasts rent the chill sub- Arctic air.

Washington Shock

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL") GEORGE LEONOF, CITY EDITOR OF THE SHANGHAI "CHINA PRESS," HAS FILED ASSAULT CHARGES AGAINST. FOUR PROMINENT ITALIANS A6 A RESULT OF FRIDAY'S' INCIDENT WHEN HE WAS RE- PORTED TO HAVE BEEN BEATEN UP.

Defendants' names are not

divulged, but they include a law-

yer, a tailor, a member of the Italian consulate and a physical culture instructor. It is claimed Ripped apart and mangled, That the battle was fought near they are all members of the local

few Greenland raises the question Fascist organisation. Hood tottered crazily for a

Inter- minutes and then the most cele-whether it was one of the areas national News Service. brated fighting ship in all history recently incorporated in the became no more than a memory American naval patrol.

speculated on the possibility the It is not hinted, however, what disaster might cause President service.

action the U.S. Government might Roosevelt somewhat to revise his → take in that event.

fireside chat to-morrow night.— Some Washington quarters! International News Service.

of a brilliant career of 20 years'

The Bismarck, accompanied by a protective screen of destroyers, cruisers and lighter craft, sought to end the battle after she herself had been damaged, but the other British warships kept firing and A communique states that after when last reported were still dog- Saturday's engagement, in which ging the puth of the fleeing Ger- the British battle-cruiser H.M.S. man flagship. Hood was blown up, the Germani Hood's normal forces made every effort to shake off pursuit.

personnel is 1,341 officers and ratings. It was her maiden engagement with the Later in the evening an attack | Bismarck, which is armed

with by naval aircraft resulted in at eight 15-inch guns. least one torpedo hit on the enemy.--Reuter.

WANTS U.S.

"I think we can hold TO MAKE

Crete," said Major-

General Heywood, Chief

of the British Military AN OFFER

Mission to Greece, on his 18PECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL") return to Cairo from Grete yesterday.

SENATOR MEAD SUGGESTED

IT WAS THE FIRST FORMID-

·ABLE THREAT FROM THE GER- MAN FLEET IN THE ATLAN- TIC IN A LIFETIME.

The explosion must have torn the battle-cruiser asunder, giv- ing the crew no chance to escape.

Long regarded as invincible, Hood must have been hit by tons of metal. It was the most stag- gering Bri ish naval loss since Jutland.

Grievous Loss

Naval experts in London say} that although it is, a grievousį Jocs, battleships of "the King George V class are being.com-.

BRI

The Admiralty made no mention IN WASHINGTON YESTERDAY of damage to other British war- \""The withdrawal from Greece, THAT THE U.S....... PROPOSE ships or the German vessels ex- and the Crête fighting is part of NEGOTIATIONS WITH “VICHY cept the Bismarck. one action and I hope we have FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF (reached, the last stage and shall U.S. - `MILITARY BASES IN -hold out, in view of, he nature of FRENCH POSSESSIONS IN THE

the fighting in Crete and the Ger- WESTERN HEMISPHERE, mabs difficulty in obtaining rein- |- He suggested the U.S. Govern- forcements for their troops they ment offer to cancel a portion. of

ny succeeded in landing,...........the French War Debt in return foundly shocked United States British and Dominion troops for leaseholds, and that, the US. naval and, diplomatic circles, and and, Marines, fight well in this offer to establish French red ts prompted private predictions type of man-to-man_fighting," for the purchase of non-military that the demand for full use of This is the first intimation that supplies to be sent to unoccupied the U.S. Navy in, assuring tho Marines have been landed - France and French possessions. —- safe arrival of war materials will

ipila]||Ne}}|{{Service) | ||- }. be increased.

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