1941-07-26 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 26, 1941.

Stratosphere Raids Started By R.A.F. On German Bases

BOMBS

RAINED

*

REPORT OF NAZI LIBYA

FROM 30,000 FT. WITHDRAWAL

AMERICAN FLYING FORTRESSES MADE THE HIGHEST EVER ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONAL FLIGHT WHEN THEY POUNDED THE GERMAN BATTLESHIP, GNEISENAU, DOCKED AT BREST, IN THE DAYLIGHT RAID ON THURSDAY. THE AIR MINISTRY NEWS SERVICE GIVES THIS INFORMATION IN MAKING KNOWN FURTHER DETAILS OF THE OPENING PHASE OF THE WAR IN THE STRATOSPHERE LAST NIGHT.

Heavy Damage Done

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"

The bombs were rained down by men in oxygen chambers over 30,000 feet up. The bombers had to attack with precision, bomb- ing heavily armoured warships protected by |6-inch armour-plating on deck, and each with

30 anti-aircraft guns of her own.

One of the battle-cruisers was lying in the

No confirmation is available in official circles in Cairo of a report

from Lisbon

that two German divi- sions have been with- drawn from Libya.

It was pointed out in Cairo yesterday that it is a recognised feature of German tactics to spread re- ports of this nature in order to cause doubt and confusion.--Reu-

ter.

JAPANESE ARE NOT SATISFIED

Japanese dissatisfac- tion with de Gaullist activities in French Indo- China was expressed by the official spokesman to 'foreign correspondents in

Tokyo yesterday.

The spokesman said Japan was enquiring in Vichy about reports of the Vichy announcement of a new agreement with Japan cover- ing Indo-China,

He refused to say the nature of the enquiry,

He said Japan was quite satis- iled with the attitude of the Hanoi Government but "certain groups of civirians" were not in accord.

He added: "This means dr Gaullists in Indo-China."-Reuter,

BONUS FOR

most heavily defended base in occupied FAST WORK CHINESE

France. Both ships were ringed with squa

With the launching at Kearny, New Jersey, yesterday of two new American destroyers

-the Bris- tol and Ellyson - e new record

SEAMEN

A study of the reports of R.A.F. airmen who took drons of German fighters and the whole at- part in the raids on the tack was typical of the example of spirit, for rapid construction of modern Chinese circles in London ex- Scharnhorst,

destroyers was established by the Gneisenau expressed in the words of a squadron com-

and Prinz Eugen, reveals mander to his men, "force your way in and that very heavy damage was inflicted on the Nazi fight your way out.

warships.

Both the Scharnhorst aud Gneisenau are believed

to have

American

The arrival of the Flying Fortresses at so great 21 Leen gravely damaged, if not per-height over Brest was an achieve manently crippled.

ment of experts in half-a-dozen Both vessels

sciences, At this level all pro- were struck squarely by heavy calibre armour-piercing bombs.

high-altitude flying The Prinz Eugen, at Brest, is believed to have been struck by bombs which virtually demolish ed the dockyard where the cruiser

is

blenis of become acute.

Crews are given their course in pressure chamber before they begin to fly the fortresses, and

here berthed. International News

Service,

SOVIET MISSION TO U.S.

MR. SUMNER WELLES,

AT

A PRESS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON,

they regulate their Own oxygen supply and are told to fet themselves become unconscious for a few seconds at least once so that they may realise there is no- thing to be frightened of.

The crews understand their

were given their instructions soon

Federal Shipbuilding and Dry-press appreciation of the recent decision made by the Silver Line dock Company.

for considerate treatment The vessels ran down the slip Chinese seamen in its employ.

uf

way only seven-und-a-half months after the laying of their keels. Reuter.

NAZI ADMISSION OF READINESS TO UTILISE GAS

POISON GAS instructions to Nazi troops

own idiosyncracies and learn how captured by the Russians, and made avail- to control them while flying. They able to foreign correspondents in Moscow, after breakfast and then imme-devote considerable attention to gunnery with gas shells and mines, according to the Moscow radio,

diately changed into flying kit.

Landed A Skeleton

They then took off and climbed tena of thousands of feet until they could see for a distance of 150 miles.

The announcer gave extracts from these instructions in a broadcast yesterday.

It is learned that as a result of negotiations between the Chinese Consul-General and company of- ficials, the Silver Line has agreed to pay the Chinese seamen, total- ling over 1,000, each £5 monthly

bonus as war

operating retro- spectively from January 4.

It may

the be recalled that Silver Line, acting independently from the big shipping companies, declared willingness to give a war bonus for the Chinese seamen months ago, but the decision was considered invalid on certain technical grounds.--Central News.

DEFENCE ORDERS

The Government of India have issued an order, to be effective

from August 1, to ensure that iron

and steel produced in India is used only for defence and. war supply purposes, and really es-

sential civil needs, says a mes-,

sage from Simla.

comes

INDICATED THAT THE SOVIET UNION WILL BE SENDING A SPECIAL MISSION ΤΟ THE UNITED STATES TO NEGOTIATE THE

Another order, which Battles were going on below as -PURCHASE OF WAR SUPPLIES.

into effect immediately, has just When questioned about it, Mr. Hampdens and Wellingtons came

been issued, for placing a check Welles said he could not say any-in to attack, and in one combat a

"The alm of gunnery, "with! thing on the subject to-day, but large part of the fuselage of a

Commenting on Russia's claim on the import, manufacture and added that he underlined the Wellington was set on fire. It chemical missiles, is to put the to have captured a copy of the sale of essential drugs. Manufac- word to-day. He added that the managed to land in England but enemy out of action, hinder their rules, the German news agency turers, importers or sellers of such Russian, Ambassador, M. Ouman- was, by then, almost a skeleton. operations, reduce their fighting stated "should Russia wish to drugs must submit monthly re- sky, had discussed the orders Combats seemed to follow one power and to prevent the enemy make this alleged capture the turns of the quantity in their pos- Russia wishes to place with the another in unending succession, from breaking through definite excuse for beginning gas warfare session or control, and must also United States, but declined to give and though as many guns were areas by fire of contamination. herself, Germany will give her keep a record of all purchases or details. Reuter.

trained on the British aircraft in

the right answer." - Reuter. sales.-Router. broad daylight as in any previous night attacks on Brest, nothing could check the drive and impetus of the assault.

GERMANY

NEUROTIC, SADISTIC

Pillar Of Smoke

THE CREW OF A HALIFAX WHICH GOT A DIRECT HIT ON THE SCHARNHORST, MOORED TO THE BREAKWATER AT LA

The "New York Times" PALLICE, SAW A PILLAR OF

BLACK SMOKE RISE A THOỮ-

"Gas affects the enemy at a good distance from the point of burst, certainly beyond the range of shell splinters. To this must be added the moral effect, since it will be difficult to gauge the ex- tent of the danger.

"The effectiveness of gunnery with poison gas depends a lot| on the character of the” torrain and weather conditione,

FURTHER SUCCESSFUL

ATTACKS ON SHIPS

Topic of the Times SAND FEET FROM THE DECK. "The best weather conditions columnist said that "Hit- Within a few hours of this at- for gas are calm weather, or hard- ler asked his countrymen many was continued, with

tack the nightly bombing of Ger-ly perceptible breeze, a cloudy

ON.WEDNESDAY R.A.F. bombers car- no sky and weak action of sun rays. to join him in a short war diminished effort. This was also won the use of certain gas, mistyried out a successful attack on enemy ship- weather and dripping rain are de- to assure the triumph of against Germany's naval bases.

At Kiel; what appeared to be sirable. These conditions are ping at Trapani. Nazism for a thousand a shipbuilding slip, was burnt present mainly in the early morn- out and both there and at. Emden,ing or in the evening, and also in years.

there were other fires-Reuter, the night, and this time is pre- "Perhaps the reporters misu P understood him Perhaps the can fight and die for a cause they cal missiles." Fuchrer called his countrymen know to be just, but lives will be to join him in a thousand years of given väinly should the cause. go war to assure the triumph of the down. Hitler has no mercy for Nazis for a couple of months." neutrals, and no Irishman could In their "V" campaign, the hope to live his own life under Portland (Oregon) "Journal” | Nazi rule," states, “neurotic Germany, of in- A Swiss paper quotes a young grown inferiority complex, split, German mechanic as saying of twisted, andist, and masochist peoples in German occupied coun- nation of the world — the Ger- tries that: "They seem to have many of a guilty conscience, is in been happier here, perhaps hap- for a bad time with this sort of piness is too dangerous and must propaganda."

be destroyed," as if their happi- ness had been destroyed by Ger- man soldiers. Reuter,

One merchant vessel became enveloped ferrable for gunnery with chemin flames and smoke when hit by high explo- sive and incendiary bombs and another, of 3,000 tons, is believed to have been sunk.

The "Scattle Dally Times" says that "the Irish, as de Valera says,

1

Germans Admit

Gas Plans

The Germans admitted yos- terday that plans for gas war fare had boòn tesued, to the German commandére on the Eastern Front.

A statement issued by the offl- clal German nows agency says that these rules are being studied by the German military leaders "merely as a matter of "routine,"i

According to yesterday's R.A.F. boat was left ainking, communique in Cairo, the forma In Libya heavy bombers again' tion then raided on enemy-aero- attacked the harbour at Benghazi drome between Trapan! and on the night of July 23/24, caus- Marsala, destroying three S70's Ing a number of explosions on and damaging severnt others. the ground and on quays as well,

• In the Mediterrancári ahas considerable fires. E-bost approached 'one of the Two of our 'aircraft are missing. British convoys, and was at- from all these operations, Heu- tacked by R.A.F. fightera. The tor.