1940-12-17 — Page 4

PAGE 4-HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

GENERAL

IMPERIAL FORCES PUSHING AHEAD ANOTHER ITALIAN SUB.

IN RAGING SANDSTORM

Details Not Yet To Hand: British Casualties Slight

CAIRO, Dec. 16 (Beuter)-Hard fighting is still in progress ou the Egyptian-Elbyan frontier in a whirling sandstorm sccording to latest reports received here, writes Reuter's Special correspondent.

Exact details of the operations are as yet not avaliable but' Bri- tish casualties are still known to be slight despite determined major scrapping.

་ ་་

MOMENTOUS EVENTS

REMAINS OF SON OF NAPOLEON I

ELABORATE PARIS CEREMONY:

DESTROYED

OPERATIONS OF

VALONA TWICE BOMBED BY R.A.F.

Army Barracks Hit

LONDON, Dec. 16 (British Wire- less)-The Albanian port of Valona was twice raided by the R.A.F. yesterday, it was announced from the headquarters of the Bri- tish air forces in Greece.

LIBYAN COAST LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuter)-The Italian submarine Nasade has been sunk by British destroyers states a communique from the Comman- LONDON, Dec. 18 (Reuter)The der-in-Chier of the Méditerranean remains of the Duke of Reichstadt, received by the Admiralty. son of Napoleon I and Empress The submarine attempted to in- Marie Louise, which have been terfere with operations which Bri- transferred to Paris from Vienna tish naval forces were continuing The RA.F. continue to batteri terior of the desert which had aufwere placed next to Napoleon's along the coast, in support of the Sellum barracks, proving that in rendered.

tomb in the Hotel des Invalides Army between Sidi Barran!" and this area at least Italian troops

in an, elaborate midnight cere- | Bardia. are still on Egyptian soll,

mony, according to the German- E-boats also attacked a naval British forward

The momentous military events controlled. Paris wireless mechanised

unit but without success and the In the arst attack the bombs The comin arrived in the Gare attack was driven off." columns are putting up a magni- the past week have had a

fell among military stores and on Acent show, thrusting st

tremendous effect throughout the de l'Est escorted by German sol- Naval participation in the heavy a motor transport park. A columin

dieza bearing torches late enemy positions at many points

country.

an attack on Bardin was revealed by of black smoke was seen to zise. along the frontier and infleting

Egyptians have always believed Saturday evening and was taken the communique which says that from the motor transport concen serious casualties on the defend

that Egypt's fate is linked closely to the Hotel des Invalides on a night bombardment of that part tration and although clouds pre- with Britain's. ang Italian forces.

Anti-aircraft guns was carried out with successful re-vented full observation the Army During

recent Bun-carriage. months, however, they have had Ared

salute while German sult." The Indefatigable"

barracks were also seen to be hit."

On the second attack the aero- walch our tanks and armoured to face a tendentious whispering guards carried the coffin to the

man Ambassador formally turned operating with the RAF, in the falling in the target area. AD it over to Admiraj Darian, repre attack on the Libyan coast, states enemy machine about to take of senting Marshal Petain

the communique, and in the at-spun on its wing tip and stopped. French municipal guards then tack on Tripall four tons of bombe carried the comin into the chapel were dropped

From all operations all British and placed it, draped with the In addition to direct hits on aircraft returned safely.. Tricolour, at the foot of Napo-ships, explosions and damage to leon's tomb.

warehouses were observed,

the

manner in

SHIPS DAMAGED

cars and lorries have been pushing/campaign inaugurated by thou-entrance where at 1 am the Gerhe Fleet Air Arm had been co-drome was bombed, all the bombs

un more than a hundred miles sands of Italians living treely. In day and night for a week reveals the country abusing its hospitality clearly the terrific efforts made

and deliberately circulating re- behind the scenes by the main ports calculated to sow distrust of tenance corps during the prepara-

the Allies, a tions for the offensive,

STEADFAST LOYALTY-

Was

CLOCKWORK PRECISION Nevertheless, the Egyptians have Apart from brief halts at the remained steadfast in their loyal dead of night to perform odd ty to the Allies., maintenance Jobs-often in dis- Examples of Italian *under- used Italian camps British me-ground Vactivity reveal the arro- chanised forces are rolling on gance of the Italian colony. Many with clockwork 'precision ̧··

in recent months have even refus- At the same time. the RAFed-to pay rent, telling the land- is continuing to plaster enemy lords that any action against aerodrome, and concentrations in them would be useless as it far corners of Libya day and only a matter of weeks before night. Pilots are working cease. Marshal Graziani's victorious lessly, pausing only to re-fuel and troops' would enter the country. to re load bombs before taking Immediate reaction to the Bri- on again for the battlefield. itish successes in the Westem De

Army personnel in Cairo unani-sert is manifested in a wave f mously declare that a great part confidence throughout the country of the success of the entire-opera-A small example of this is the fact tions is due to Air Chler. Marshal that 400 Moslems on Saturday re- Sir Arthur Longmore's well-calco-gistered with the Government lated and consistent plans for intending ilgrims to Mecca. This bombing the enemy's aerodromes number exceeds all those who had from the start of the offensive previously registered. In order to prevent Italian planes taking off,

REPORTS PLAYED UP

As

WESTERN DESERT AIR OPERATIONS—

Fifty Caproris Destroyed At Derna By The R.A.F.

CAIRO, Dec. 16 (Renter)-Twenty-six Italian aircraft were destroyed in intensive R.A.F. activities which were continued in support of the land operations the Army, Twenty-four of them were shot down by fighters which maintained an incessant patrol throughout the day in protection of advanced troops:

craft were damaged but their des-securing direct hits on two ships. A number of other enemy air-craft successfully attacked Tripoli, truction is not confirmed.

In the heavy attack on Bardia, barracks and warehouses were de- molished and a large fire was started, followed by "explosiónA. Both there and at Tobruk, dres were still burning from the ralds on the previous day.

About 50 Capronis were des- troyed, at Derria and others were severely damaged.

One fighter squadron of our advanced forces alone accounted for 14 Savolas` and four Capronis. Newspapers continue to display Three more Bavolas and three! DISPOSAL OF PRISONERS

reports from the Western Desert Capronig were shot down by other Disposal and accommodation of under banner beadlines. Repre-squadrons prisoners from the battle area sentative of the opinion of the Is a task in itself. Many of those entire Arabic press "Al

Abram arriving here are being sent to declares, "British success "proves prison camps in the Nile Delta..

Three Italian generals who have arrived at Alexandria in British warships are now, recuperating in the Spa Hotel.

BRITISH LOSSES.

these From

n

BARRACKS ÅTTACKED

At Sollam, barracks and other military objectives were heavily raided.

All bombs dropped at Grotohé operations, only Harbour burst along the water that the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty is three of our aircraft failed to re-front while at Tripoli, where ship- a necessity for safeguarding the turn safely, but it is probable that country's integrity. There is no at least one is safe on our side of doubt that the week's events have the line.

strengthened in the greatest de- Grotune, Harbour was raided for It is believed here that General groc Anglo-Egyptian friendship."

the arat time by our bombers on Wavell's brilliantly executed The inhabitants of Cairo are the night of December 13 and on manoeuvre has seriously affected expressing the greatest jubilation the same night, Fleet Air Arm air- the resources of the entire Italian Army in Libya,

mop-

BESISTANCE MOPPED UP The last pockets of resistance outside Sidi Bartani were ped up on Wednesday by a force operating under an Australian- born Brigadier,

Meanwhile an armoured brigade with a composite force which had been driving along the escarpment running roughly parallel with the coast: towards the old frontier, came in contact with the enemy on Thursday and is still fighting.

Large numbers of retreating Italians have been shot up by British fighters and. one group of 100 vehicles and 1,000 men surrendered on Thursday in the Nibelwa-Sollum arca.

Another group was attacked by relays of fighters near the spot known among the troops as "Hell Are Pass."

ITALIAN AIK ATTACKS

HERO OF TARANTO;

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR JAMES SOMERVILLE

People in Britain and the Empire will know the voice of Sir James Somerville, the Adralral responsible for the recent action against the Italian Fleet at Taranto, through his broad- tast commentaries on the work of the Navy in the war. He is a clear and forceful speaker with a happy sense of humour and a knack for the right phrase.. Direct and to the point, his per- sonality and determination" strike home to his Hsteners. He would hate to be called “bluft" or "breezy"; but his voice is the voice of a sailor., He is, in fact, one of those rare people, a naturally good, broadcaster.

ping in, the harbour was the main objective, two hits were registered on one ship and an explosion fol- lowed the bombing of a second.

Asmara, Gura Zuls and Dang- hills were successfully raided in Italian East Africa

POLISH PILOTS DECORATED

11

ACCOUNTED FOR 44 -NAZI : RAIDERS

LONDON, Dec. 18 (British Wire- less)--Four pilots of the Fallsti [Fighter Squadron of the RAF

which played such an important -part in the defence of London in September were yesterday --de- corated with the DFC. by, the Air Officer. Commander-in-Chief of the Fighter Command; Air Marshal W. Sholto Douglas.

A Afth DF.C. 'was awarded post-:

Sir James joined the old once more became manifest dur-humously to a plot who had been "Britannia" in 1897 as a cadet at ing the onerous and unenviable killed in action fourteen, and went to sed a year task of organising the evacuation

Altogether, these five pilot have. later. Qualifying as a torpedo of thousands of refugees of all destroyed 44 Germen aircraft and leutenant, he soon specialised in nationalities during the Civil War severely damaged others, the then new science of wireless in Spain. -

This was the first occasion that In the latter part of the week, less Officer daring the Dardanel- came Commander-in-Chief on the British decorations. These pilots telegraphy, serving as Fleet Wire- A Vice-Admiral in 1937, he be a Polish" squadron: had received the Italians had been attempting les campaign on the staff of Ad-East Indies Station in the middle have also been awarded the Vir "to retaliate by air attacks. It was miral Bir John de Roebeck, Hs of the next year. It was in July. tuti Militar-the highest Polish during one of these attacks that outstanding work in organising 1839, that his many friends in and award for valour. an Australian squadron of five the inter-commuication between out of the Service heard to their Gladiators distinguished itself by the Allied Fleet and Armles in cirinanite regret that he had been engaging 12 Capronis and destroy-camstances of no little difficulty.places. on the retired list on the squadron, said: "The RAF ing several of them as announced earned him a mention in den grounds of ill-health: in Saturday's R.AF communique. patches and the Distinguished

la proud to have Its Polish com- But his services were not lost to rades whose deeds are known Despite the extent of British Service Order..

Great Britain. Re-employed on throughout the whole force Z successes, however, it should not Varled and valuable experience important duties on the outbreak hope your squadron will do well be Imagined that the Italians followed during his service as of war, he has been to sea on in the months to come. I look 'did not put up any realstance Commander and Captain in many occasion and rendered con-forward to victory for our causa RAGING SANDSTORM charge of the wireless department spicuous service during the recent and to a free and Independent All day long a continual stream of the Gignal School at Porta-evacuation of Allied troops from Poland.” of captured Itällan forrlegeram- mouth; na Director of the Signal France,

VICTORY FOR CAUSE:

Air Marshat Douglas, addressing

During September the squadron. med with prisoners is bumping Department at the Admiralty; as Distasteful though it may have shot down more than 100 German across the desert through a sand-captain and chief staff officer to been to have to open fire upon the aircraft. storm which has been raging the Flag Officers commanding battle ships of Britain's late Allies, his whole week.

squadrons in the Mediterranean Intimate knowledge of the Medi One armoured brigade which Fleet Later he served at the Im-tarranean, his strong personality captured 13,000 prisoners in the perial Defence College, in com and sense of duty, made him a Bugbug area alone signalled urmand of the cruiser "Norfolk" particularly suitable choice for knows the sailor inside out, and is gently for assistance as they were and as Commodore commanding the unhappy task of preventing an loved by the men on the lower

the Royal Naval Barracks at important part of the

French deck. Fortemontti.

Fleet from falling into German

Utterly fearless, a resourceful bands and being against Britain, Beaman and a good mixer, blessed with outstanding ability, the A battalion of a famous In-After a term as Director of Per-

INTENSELY HUMAN

strongest sense of duty, and a dian regiment took over the sonal Services at the Admiralty, Bu James Bomerville is a man | sense of humour, he is; a leader prisoners and the armoured bri- he became Rear Admiral com- of great heart and ready wit In- who has the affection, respect and gade hurried on towards Bollurn manding the destroyers in the tensely human, his zank does not confidence of those who have the fu! order to cut of enemy forces Mediterranean Fleet. Here his prevent him from being a true fortune to serve mider his com- retreating from camps in the in-, outstanding personality and ability friend to his officers and men. He mand

anxious to continue the: advance without being hampered by acting

as warders, Da

PROMOTED BEAR-ADMIRAL

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1940.

The best thership

partnership

White Label

ST SCOTCH WAS

ST GREAT ADE

PERT

DEWAR'S

White Label

WINE DEPT

IS THE Stight LABEL

SOLE AGENTS:

8. WATSON & CO., LIMITED.

Announcing

Christmas

CHATER RD.

OUR FORTHCOMING

Tel 20616.

SEASONABLE FESTIVITIES

& New Year 1940/41

HONG KONG HOTEL

-PHONE 30PS1

CHRISTMAS EVE-Tues. Dec, 24th Gala Dinner Dance Till 3

Dinner $8. After dinner cover charge $4

BOXING NIGHT Thur. Dec. 26th Dinner Dance Till 2 a.m. Dinner $7. After dinner cover charge $9. NEW YEAR'S EVE-Tues. Dec. 31st-Gala Dinner Dance Till 3 a.m.

Dinner $5. After dinner cover charge $4. NEW YEAR'S DAY-Wed. Jan. Ist-Special Tea Dance $1.00 5 to 7 p.m.

With "NICE KORIN & HIS AWING

3. BAND" at all the above functions:

PENINSULA HOTEL

PHONE 58081

CHRISTMAS NIGHT-Wed. Dec. 25th-Gala Dinner Dance Till 2 am, Dinner $7. After dinner cover charge $3.

NEW YEAR'S EVE-Taes, Dec. 31st-Gala Dinner Dance Till 3 a.m. Dinner $8. After dinner cover charge $4. With “ART CARNETRO & HIS ORCHESTRA" at these functions.

REPULSE

BAY HOTEL

PHONE. 27775 --

CHRISTMAS DAY-Wed, Dec. 25th-Special Luncheon $4.50 1 to 3 p.m. NEW YEAR'S EVE-Tues. Dec. 31st--Gala Dinner Dance Till 3 'u.m. Dinner 88. After dinner cover charge $3. NEW YEAR'S DAY Wed: Jan. 1st Special Luncheon $4.50 1 to 3 p.m.

With "GEO, PIO-ULSKI & HIS ORCHESTRA" during luncheons,

EARLY – RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED

THE HONG KONG & SHANGHAI Hotels, Ltd.

Have you tried already the

"Foster Export Lager Beer"

wed by

The Carlton & United Breweries Ltd.;

Melbourne.

Obtainable everywhere

Bole Agents

Marins Hozzee

CO.

L. RONDON