1941-07-04 — Page 19

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 4, 1941.

Page

BRITISH TROOPS IN PALMYRA

French Garrison Surrenders To Tank Attack

NAZIFIED OLD MEN

New Invasion Indian

OF VICHY Begins From Iraq Officer's

"The internal and ex- ternal policy of the mad- dened old men of Vichy gives sufficient confirma- tion they are now nothing but agents of German Fascism," says the Mos- cow newspaper "Pravda." giving the first reaction to the Vichy Government's decision to break rela-i tions with Russia.

is

"The Vichy leaders have taken a fatul road and continue to be

whole interests of the tray the

Their policy French nation. criminal and anti-national

"The rupture of diplomatic relations with Russia is justi. fied by nothing. It is an offence against the dignity and honour of the French people, whose fists

vel clenched, teeth

and

sinews taut.

arc

The hour of retaliation is com ing. when the Fascist bandits and The agents will be thrown out of France"

The Soviet newspapers mention mass arrests in France of proply suspected of sympathising with Russia.--Reuter.

ONE FIGHTS EIGHT

A sergeant pilot tackled eight Messerschmidt fighters single-handed in yesterday's R.A.F. fight er sweep. He damaged one.

THE FALL OF PALMYRA FOLLOWING "A POWERFUL ATTACK BY BRITISH ARMOURED FORCES,” WAS ANNOUNCED IN AN OF- FICIAL VICHY COMMUNIQUE LAST NIGHT.

It was also stated that a

new British

motorised column entered Syria from Iraq SHAPE OF yesterday morning and is attempting to ad- THINGS

"The British TO COME

vance along the Mosul railway.

Visualising China's leading role in things to come, Mr. H. G. Wells,

The communique states: have increased their efforts in the Syrian! desert and continued to bomb Beirut town.

It will be recalled that ani "After subjecting Bur positions to violent fire by reinforced ar-R.A.F. Cairo communique report-eminent British writer, yesterday tilery, the British

occupied ed an attack on Vichy shipping sent the following message to the Chinese people fur the Double- Palmyra on July 3 as the result of in Beirut harbour on Wednesday

Seventh, anniversary of China's a powerful attack carried out hy night when explosions were caus-

war of resistance: ed pn the central quays, - arm ured vehicles.

"This post fell after its heroic defenders had for 13 days put up admirable resistance against the enemy forces which had a both in crushing superiority numbers and material, "South-east of Dier es Zor, on the right bank of the Euphrates, our troops are upposing the ad- vance of a motorised column from Aby Kemal.

Damour Bombed

"Further north a new motoris-

Vichy Protest

The Vichy Govertiment has pro- tested to Britain against the boinb- ing of Beirut.

According to the Vichy news: agency a Note has been handed to the British Ambassador in Madrid. Sir Samuel Hoare, by the French Ambassador to Spain, M. Pietri.

"China, Russia, the Americas, Britain, and India, the greater half of mankind, are allies In this war they can After this war. and must secure the Rights of

federal control Man, world transport and oil, and the conser- vation and just distribution .natural resources throughout the

earth."

Central News.

Vichy Troops Cut Off PLAIN

Palmyra, key town on the vil ed column from Iraq this (Thurs-pipeline in central Syria, surren- day) morning crossed the Syriandered at 1.30 p.m. yesterday, it's frontier al Tell Kotelek and is officially announced in Jerusalem. 150 miles north-east of Lying trying to advance along the Musul railway.

Dumascus. Palmyra also has important airfeld.

The Allied forces have gradual- ly encircled Palmyra in order

off any attempt by Vichy cut

"In the mountainous sector in southern Lebanen there is patrol activity and artillery fire on both coast the British sides. On the

2:1

SPEAKING

of!

of

V.C.

THE KING HAS APPROVED THE POSTHUMOUS AWARD. OF THE VICTORIA CROSS TO SUBADAR RICHPAL RAM, OF THE 6TH RAJPUTANA RIFLES FOR OUTSTANDING GAL- LANTRY IN ACTION DURING THE FIGHTING IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

This was officially in Simla yesterday.

war.

announced

It is the second award of the V.C. to an Indian officer in this awarded to The first was 2/14. Premindra Singh Bhagat, of the Indian Engineers, serving with the Royal Bombay Sappers for clearing up 155 minefields following the capture of Meremoa.

Reuter.

CHANGING COATS IN SYRIA

WHILE THE ALLIES CON- TINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS IN SYRIA. IT IS REPORTED FROM CAIRO THAT A NUMBER OF VICHY TROOPS, WHEN CAPTURED ARE ENLISTING IN THE FREE FRENCH FORCES.

It is believed that when it is known that they will not be, em- IMMEDIATE REPERCUSSIONployed against their former com- ΤΟ THE CHANGES IN THE rades, many more will come over. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION-Reuter.

IN THE HOUSE ANNOUNCED OF COMMONS YESTERDAY WAS THE NEWS THAT

WALTER MONCKTON, RESIGN.

fleet bombarded our positions at troops in the fortress to retreat to- DIRECTOR-GENERAL. Damour. Our air force continued wards Homs.-Reuter.

the enemy troops in to bomb

shot Palmyra and Aby Kemal sectors.

"On July 2 our fighters down a Hurricane and a Blenheim and seriously damaged

another

Beirut Bombing

This is revealed in an Air Min- istry communique which recalls | aircraft. the same pilot brought down two Messerschindits on an carlier raid. Another pilot shot off the

port Messerschmidt with wing of a one burst and

his 3 third left viction a mass of burning wreck- age on the ground.

These incidents occurred during

|

by

"Beirut town was bombed the R.A.F. with increased violence during Wednesday night, Several districts where there are no mili~ |

objectives were seriously tary a dog-fight between R.A.F. and damaged by incendiaries and high German fighters in which the Ger- explosives. man fighters were in formations ties among

tion," of eight to 12.-Reuter.

FRENCH ANTI-SOVIET

ACTIVITY

There were casual- Many of the Russians the civilian popula-rounded up in France

TWO OFFENSIVE SWEEPS OVER NORTH FRANCE

TWO OFFENSIVE SWEEPS over north: » ern France were carried out by RAF fighter squadrons yesterday, says an Air Ministry communique.

Eleven enemy fighters were shot down ©and six British fighters are missing.

Bombers, which also took part man plane definitely destroyed in the operations, attacked rail- but said that another five German way targets in the Hazebrouckplanes were so Bomaged that "St Omer area. One bomber is their return was doubtful Reu-

iter. missing.

Only one German aircraft was over Britain yesterday. This crash- ed on crossing the coast in the

"afternoon.

A.B.P. EXERCISES

* Many of the aquadrons roport.IN MANCHUKUO

ed on their return that it had

:

after Vichy's break with the U.S.S.R. have been released, according to a communique released by the Vichy Government yesterday.

The communique says: "A great carried number of arrests were

of out as a necessary measure national securty ordered by Admiral Darlan."

It explained the authorities had to assure themselves that "the position of att Ruscians in France was regular,”

The arrested persons are to be brought before local "sifting com-

missions whose task is to decide liberty."

whether they can be safely set at

Round-Up Continues

The rounding up of Communists according

in France continues,

to Hilversum radio, which ports that alt Soviet citizens in unoccupied, France have now been arrested. Reuter.

U-BOAT SUNK BALTIC

NI

baon difficult to bring the enemy Taking no chances, In view of

An enemy submarine, probably to action, gaya the Air Ministry the present uncertain situation, news service. Actions took place three-day air raid, exercises are German, has been destroyed with mostly on the, return journay, being staged throughout Man-depth charges in the Baltle by un unnamed Soviet torpedo-boat, ac- One squadron met a dozen Mes- chukua beginning to-day. serschmidt 109's head on, dived Sirens will warn the populace cording to "Krasny Flot," the through them and found itself all day to take cover from shom Russian Navy's newspaper, mited up with more than 30 Ger- alt attacks until the all clear has The Russian sailors said they sounded. The capital has a distinctly saw the submarine's hull In the fight that ensued the complete black-out with search from which air bubbles wore squadron claimed only one Ger- lights raking the sky-Reuter. Issuing-Reuter.

mans.

His comment

THE SIR MAY

FARNBOROUGH

HEAD RETIRING.'

Mr. Arthur Henry Hall, Chief the Superintendent of the Royal Air- was: "If

Establishment at Farh- Powers-That-Be want to attack craft

a tank with a pitchfork, we will 'borough, retires to-day, says the

Ministry of Aircraft Production: go to it,

"But don't start telling us that our pitchfork is a tank because we think we know the difference." -Reuter.

He was due to retire in April but agreed to continue. He has been in charge of the establish- ment since 1928-Reuter.

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