1954-05-08 — Page 1

PIE

RADI

for

the CAR

for the HOME

GILMANS GLOUCESTER ARCADE

COMMENT OF

THE DAY

In Praise Of

Prowess

"THE running of a measured

Tmile by a human being

in less than four minuten

is an historical event; that

It has been accomplished by Roger Bannister, AD Engilshman, munt give

A

sense of delight and deep satisfaction to of Britone. This has been the musl clusive of ali athletic targets BİRCA the Greek organised the original olymplads, and over the years men have striven to achieve what was once regardod uK the impossible. That ลงว Engliatan should be the first to run a contested mile race in less than four minutes is also not without; significance. Despite the so- called decline of Britain

and her peoplu (due, ac- cording the apologists, to the strains and stresses of two world wars) she has still been able to bring of! quitt

few Important "Arata" of Internationat importance during recent cars. Britain was the rat to establish a commercial jot Airline service; the

CL

nrat to fly a jet bomber on a non-stop two-way Atlantic flight; it was 3 British team of mountaineers, 10- gether with Sherpa Ten- Bing, which first climbed of Everest. to the summit

These accomplishments are not recalled in any scRSO of boasting, but they show, 2013

do does Roger

CHINA MAIL

No. 85811

Established 1845

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1954.

DIEN BIEN PHU'S LAST

Fragmentary Reports

Reveal Final Drama

GEN de CASTRIES' PHONE GOES INTO SILENCE

London, May 8.

Strict military censorship last night still withheld any detailed description of the last hours of the fortress of Dien Bien Phu and its fall before the onslaught of the Indo-China Vietminh rebels,

But fragmentary despatches heavily delayed and received out of order from Reuters correspondent, Denys Corley Smith, gave these glimpses of yesterday's action. They disclose the use of a new Chinese multi-rocket weapon, the "Peking Organ."

Each of the following paras re presents a fragmentary message:

Hanoi, May 7. offensive against all Dien French Union forces began

The Vietminh continued their all-out Bien Phu outposts except the southernmost. to feel munitions shortage . . .

Tho rebels overran half of two eastern positions where General Christian de Castries is counter-attacking. The garrison is holding fast..

•

A general Communist attack on the centre of the fortress has struck with extreme violence....

A French officer described the situation as "critical" because of the ammuni- battalions, four tion shortage. He said the besieged forces consist of 12 infantry artillery batteries, about 10 light tanks plus various services...

An officer said the French Air Force cannot support the ground forces. Fighting is at such close quarters that it is impossible to strike the Vietminh with- out hitting the defenders at the same time...

Bannister's great perform. Fighting continued through- ance, that Britain as out daylight hours, The Viet- nation and Britons as in-min driving deeper into the dividunia still retain the north-eastern defences are using ploneering flair. There is a new Chinese 10-barrel multi- also this to be noted about rocket weapon called a "Peking Organ," It resembles the

Bannister's achievement:"Stalingrad Organ" used by the while it has all the ap-Rumians in the second world poarance of being an in-war.... dividual performance, the breaking of the world's mlie record was, in fact, a Leam show. For Bannister

the distance to cover

The French garrison has lost all high ground....

tary

Lars began

Price 30 Cents

HOURS

TODAY is your LAST CHANCE

to nominate Hongkong's Footballer Of The Year

SEE PAGE 17

Indo-China Talks

Laniel's Govt

Beginning May Fall

Today

Geneva, May 7. Britain, France and the

Paris, May 7.

ORIGINAL-ODENEI

ulator ---- Model 107

Only $550

HONGKONG TYPEWRITER `EXCHANGE |9 D'Aguilar 5%

Tel. 21433.

TODAY'S RACING

SELECTIONS

By "Rapier"

RACE 1

Flying Dutchman Lady Gloucester Silver Dahila

Outsider-Time-plione,

RACE 2

Belsam Advancement Hawker Hunter

Outsider:-Golf.

RACE 3

Tip Top Congratulation Mainsail II

Outsider:-Yat Kwong.

Geronlino

RACE 4

L'Are Triompho

Supreme Commend

Outsider:-Diamond Dahlia.

RACE 5

Miami Beauty

Czarina Delight

Invincible

Outsider: National Glory.

RACE 6

Knock-again

Bengal Lancer Strathlan

Outsider:Jingle Bell,

RACE 7

The fall of Dien Bien Phu cast a cloak of gloom over Paris today and at the same United States

Ambition agreed here time, probably sounded the tonight to try to start the death knell of the postponed Indo-China_peace Government, which only talks here tomorrow, French yesterday obtained a sub- delegation sources said.

stantial vote of confidence

Laniel

But a final decision would be in the Parliament in order taken tomorrow morning after to enable it to continue M. Georges Bidault, the French negotiations at Geneva. Foreign Minister, had received Cabinet tonight's reports of

the Indo- meeting in Paris on China Atuation after the fall of Dien Bien Phu.

When Premier Laniel an- nounced the news to a hushed Assembly, there were no demonstrations and members of disinclined to

At the same time, some voices were already raised. to demand. a change iz the leadership of the country.

Tonight's decision here was Parliament were reached in talks held separately indulge in incriminations at this French High Command in, gunners were "saturating the between General Walter Bill stage. Honol and his last words | posta with the 105 and 120 Smith, leader of the American according to a well-informed millimetre guns, their B1 mortars delegation, Mr Anthony Eden, source--were these;

and their recoilless 75's. Their British Foreign Secretary, and "They

few Arc

heaving metres shelters

under the M. Bidsuit. of

shelle away, now they EXAND

enemy every-pounding

After other talks tomorrow where.... *

After thai there General de Castries' men await

General Pierre Billotte, dis- Vietminh M Bidault, is expected to ap- was only static on the tels- ed the Inevitable phone-Reuter."

onslaught.

About 8 p.m. their proach the Soviet delegation to sident Gullist leader and one French military repre- positions in the south-west of settle the opening arrangements time

sentative at the United Nations, BACKS TO THE WALL

Море said in the lobbies: "I the outpost were also attacked, of the peace talks, Hanoi, May 7.

There was no mooting of the the Government will have the Fighting with their backs Then at 10 p.m., a perfectlý

as had decency to, disappear. This ta almost lierally to the wall, the synchronised attack was launch- "Big Three" tonight

been foreshadowed by the time for new

for new mew

and for Franco-Vietnamese defenders of ed from the east and south-east,

the face of French

earlier. national union In spokesman Dien Bien Phu's shrinking peri- The weather was overcast and

without General Bedell Smith had a adversity. We ought meter today had only about half in utter darkness Vietminh

a govern- 20-minute talk with Mr Eden delay to constitute a mile in "which to manoeuvre | Commander, General Nguyen

and then called on M. Bidault, ment going from the Socialists to

the Vietminh Giap, threw his human waves to prevent

the on the right to the Gayllists in WES ASHLLIed furnace, Western delegations here snapping to of troops into the

that on the right". gether from cast and west,

regardless of loss.

the Communist The Bghting is now the most violent and desperate

Glap's men made their great-agree to meet on

The Vietminh have had very iheavy losses in men. Since last 3:50.4 it required Chris Monday's attack they had bur- Brasher lo sat a cracklag rowed trenches closer to the

sides of the "pincers" from for perimeter on all pace at the start and Chris Chataway to keep on fortress. Last night their mor

General wo pound pacing Bannister after the

Castries trench had dropped working up to a crescendo rat stringer

by out of the race. triumph w48 Bannister's, the Vietminh, who had crawled but he owed as much to his s close as they could to the running matos

did French outposta, rose in thou Hillary and Tensing to

works

of the

side would

Chinese Mackerel World Peaco

Outsider: Golden Dahlin,

RACE 8

Armament

Fleetmaster

V. I. P.

Outsider:Peari Diver,

RACE 9

Hallmark Tom Thumb English Cabbage

Outsider:Lily.

RACE 10

High Spend Air Power Blue Bird

Outsider:-Fleeting Moment.

President Being Held

By "The Turf"

RACE 1

No Regrets Silver Dal:11 Flying Dutchman

Outsider: Tunc-phone.

RACE 2

Balsam Advancement Hawker Hunter

Outsider: Susan,

RACE 3

Congratulation

Mainsall II Bayshore

Outsider: Sunstreak

Geronimo

Cinderella

RACE 4

Lake Success

Outsider L'Are Triomphe.

RACE 5

South Pacific

Czarina Delight

Miami Beauty

Outsider:-Rosemarie.

RACE 6

Jingle Bell Bengal Lancer. Knock-again!

Outsider: Strathian,

RACE 7

Ambition

World Peaco

Home Builder

Outsiders-Chinese Mackarci,

RACE B

Pearl Diver

V. I. P.

Fleetmaster

+

Outsider:-Armament.

RACE 9

Tom Thumb Hallmark

Lily

Outsider:--Harmony.

RACE 10 Beautiful Star Every Day

Allied Victory

Outsider: High Speed.

Ex-Cricketer On Murder Charge

Kingston, Jamaica, Max. 7. Leslie G. Hylton, 4) forrner Jamales and West Indies furt

Under Arrest bowler, will appear in court on

the

KULA

Monday, charged with the murder of his wife.

The

Was

The Anal eight o'clock. Two hours later whole of the campaign to save jest effort against the south-west tomorrow if it is proposed by Bien Phu would not lead to any apparently is in control of the entryson's English team in 1927,

ВА

sanda from their trenches

and

their colleagues in the contack....

is quering of Everest. It

charged screaming into the al-

·

entrenched the

camp.

It centres support pocit, which was over the West-Router.

The

In Brigadier-General Christian whelmed about 2 a.m. de Castries' Command Pool un fighting went on meanwhile in der the shell-pocked earth.

the half-captured south-east

After

a heavy artillery pre-point and to the north-east. paration on Thursday evening, Dattalion after battalion of

General de Castries launched Biccoed- Vietminh poured out of the a counter-attack, Ho

right and proper to praise Fighting is the bitterest since trenches only a few dozen yardsed in reaching a third support prowess, but in doing so it the

Dien Bien Phu

is becoming to acknowledge began...

the contribution which team

spirit invariably makes

the realisation

battle

to A Paris despatch told of the last live word out of the of targete fortress self.

now

and the creation of records.

General de Castries spoke on the radio telephone to the

lo

AT LAST AN ADMISSION!

laws

came

Hylton played against Lord. against England at home in 1935 and he toured England with the West Indies team in

1939-China Mail Special.

Buenos Aires, May 7.

The body of his wife, the Air passengers arriving from Paraguay tonight reported that daughter of a police inspector, 74-year-old deposed Pre- waż found with Ave ballot sident, Foderico Chaves,

wounds at their home yesterday, under arrest.

seven-year-old son M. Laniel's statement in the Tho Army commander-in-asleep in another room. Indo-China Assembly that the fall of Dien

chief, General Alfredo Stroener,

change in the instructions given situation but some of the Army the French delegation at units who revolted on Tuesday Genova and that no settlement are still holding out, the ar- would be accepted by France rivals said.

They unless it safeguarded French

in

first the troops and French Imterests was regularly-scheduled flying-boat approved by those who board

leave Asuncion, the capital, the Premier,

since the revolt. They said that

it ap poured on the surface when

Nassau, Bahamas, May 7. they took off from Asuncion

A US Navy Neptune bomber at 11 am, No police were crashed today off the coast of visible in the city streets and | New Providence Island while It was understood

anti-submarine all mem- on

exercises. bers of the police force, were Officials feared all of the crew detained in the naval barracks, of 10 were killed. Earlier reports indicated there The plane was one of a group in of 16 stationed near Nasku för might be a general strike the revolt-torn Republic three weeks of air and sea United Press.

manoeuvres-United Press.

Genova, Miy 0. to the north-east and from the French positions and point

Three United States citizens

But some anxiety was being hurled themselves against the was able to strengthen the tiny

the The are being hold by the Peking expressed lest the fall at outposts which held about bard

B

pressed garrison.

iald France open to company of French troops. situation, however, was regard-Government because they have garrison

of the further military setbacks In The Vietminh attackers out- ed as extremely serious while violated the

Tonking. numbering the French ten to the results of the fighting on People's Republic of China," A Chinese Communist spokesman one blew up the last of

remained in the eastern flank of opposing

M. Jean Letourneau, who wald here last night. L' barbed wire defences and then doubt.

was Minister for Indo-China "Their case is under examina- for three years up until 1951 hacked their way with knives

The Vietminh's

new gains tion by the and grenades towards Generi

within grenade spokesman said. He declined to that the loss of Dien Bien Phu, Government," the said: It must not be forgotten brought them Castries beadquarters.

would be brought however

does painful, Throughout Thursday afternoon range of most of the dozen or say if they

still in eo trial. points support Jargo scale Vietminh troop

create any immediato strategic

越 elsewhere

Indo-

do

B

WETU BORDA

cm 1

do

French banda,

n

pot

forces have

losso Rod

rainy season

movements

The Americans are Mr Donald danger The Vietminh were also di Dixon of New York city, a cor- China. camp's eastern flank.

Taking advantage of the fine Eing their approach trenches

Richard Mr General weather,

"The Vietminh Applegate of Medford, Oregon Castries more rapidly and had almostpondent,

another correspondent, asked the French Air Force to reached the "street square,

and suffered heavy The problem of parachuting heavy bombard.

Krastier carry out

Captain Ben

of furthermore the ment on the rear of tho Viet- supplies too. 200 recovery of chant marine

was getting more Brooklyn, New York, mer- has begun,

officer, They minh positions east and north- cast of his command

containers which fell. in enemy

were detained when Mr Að- HEAVY BARRAGE Territory was a costly business plegat 15-ton Jacht was the los

plegate's Towards & p.m. (local time) a for

French Intercepted by an armed boat being exploited strategically in barrago was put down on the defenders who had to run the on March 21, 1953, while sail-Indo-China there is a danger three north-east and cast sup- gauntlet of the Vietminh's auto-ing from Hongkong to Macao. of its being politically

Router. Vietmlah matic woepone--Franco-Prosse,

plotted at Home."-Reuter,

port

points. Tho

the exhausted

"While there is no danger of Phu of Dien Bien

You can speed your goods

by

Clipper® Cargo

to any city

in the world!

*

• World-wide Clipper Cargo service reaches all

the major markets of Europe, U.S.A., the Orient, Central and South America-all & continents.

• Pan American expedites your cargo all the way —keeps it woring, clears it through customs fast, Your shipments get personalized service, depend-- able handling.

• Fass, frequent schedules insure speedy delivery,

• Pan American flies more cargo' overseas than any

other airline. So, to speed your goods to anywher in the world, specify Clipper Cargo. For details and schedules

CALL YOUR CARGO AGEIT se Pan American

Alexandra House, Phone 37031 (Cargo Section) Panimula Hotal, Phone 57572

World's Most Experienced Airline

- @Bode-Mark, Par dosežem Pirkt Anodes, turn

PAA

PAN ARETHECAN

Pat bunun 15da mann, Hong Kongmand be the date of Jin Park, RA 4,166 Metham

SHELL

WITH

ICA

IGNITION CONTROL

New additive of proved value to your car

to

was the situation

PLANE CRASHES

World Renowned

SINCE 1816

Wherever there is entertaining, there is always Clažano." It is. the unfailing sign of a good host who not only knows the best, but insists on having it to give kis friends.”, Thore is nó drink higher in quality or mere economioni – în

CINZ

CINZANO

VERMOUTH

TORINO