*
"HONGKONG DAILY PRESS
CABLE
GEN. MALETTI'S CRACK British Advance Forces
DESERT FIGHTERS
WIPED OUT
SIDI BARBANT, Dec. 18 (Reuter)-I have just arrived in Sidi Barran! after two days of travel across the desert by the 200-mile route followed by our mechanised forces at the begin- ning of their drive into Libya, writes-Reiter's Special ·· corven- pondent in the Western Desert
ROME RADIO ON LIBYA DEBACLE
Operating
Inside Libya
Continued from Page 1
The RAF. and the Fleet Airjed. asked the British for permis- Arm have also bombed points on to make a final speech to his along the Libyan coast, as far as troops. Tripali. Four tons of bombs were Permission was given and the the battle the dropped in the course of the morning after Only after, such a journey is it might on that town and three di- elderly, bearded general, a digrined. his misfortune, despite possible to appreciate the magni-rect hits were registered on ships Agure tude of the British victory. which had, been drawn up along- thanked his troops for the fight they had made and bade then side the pier.
farewell.
Throughout the trip we passed an almost ceaseless stream of cap- tured "Italian tanks, lorries, armoured cars and prisoners be-
Still Confident Ofing taken back to the baser. At
Final Victory
putting up such a good show
This is stated to be the most notable air achievement of the operations In Africa. The RAF. Joined the Navy in the attack on Bardia...
The action was fought by the British troops who were outnum- bered by four to one.
Even more dramatic is the story
which The Italians have lost 24 air of the capture of Nibelwa, the craft, 18 of which fell to one great" encampment t fighter squadron. The RAF mas-General Maletti had established a tery of the air can be seen from base from which to invade Egypt.
Gen. Maletti and his officers small losses sustained by the Bri
attacked
of many engines.
Within a few minutes dozens of
some points we saw Italian am- munition dumps all intact," cover- ing an area of two square miles. RATIONS UNTOUCHED LONDON, Dec, 16 (Reuter)—Af- ter its announcement on Saturday
Although a breakdown/delayed that the situation was "serious but our cars we were able to push on not catastrophic," Rome Radio without touching any of our tish planes, only three of which were just sitting down to their yesterday plucked up more courage rations knowing that we should failed to return and one of these breakfast coffee when from out of and congratulated the "British and dumps of Italian tinned food is thought to be safe on the Bri- the distance came the muffled roar
along the route. The Italians tish side of the line. The announcer sald: "We always destroyed virtually nothing at Sol- thought that the British would lum as they did not have the time
British tanks charged into the
not give us a good fight and thus to do so.
centre camp from the rear, all their guns blazing and their trac- deprive our final victory of glory."
DASHING CAVALRY MAN Only when the great fortified
tors sending up fresh clouds of The German press, which for
LONDON, Dec. 16 (Reuter)-The sand, creating a thick fog over the weeks maintained an exaggerated encampment of Nibelwa, where
our armoured division wiped out commanding officer of the armour-camp.. indiference to the plight of
General Maletti's crack deserted divisions in the Western Desert Itallans, assured the German peo-column in a couple of hours after campaign is Major-General Mi- ple that all would come right in the British blits had begun, has chael Creagh, it is revealed. the end. The Voelkische Beobach-
Maj. Gen. Creagh is described as a dashing cavalry man with a
been seen.
can the brilliance of
ter said: "In German opinion, the this initial victory be fully ap situation in Greece and Egypt gives no ground for anxiety."
NAZI ASSISTANCE
preciated.
|:
The Importance of this success is comparable to the battle of BASLE. Dec. 18 (Reuter)----Ac-
13 comparable to the battle of cording to the Wilhelmstrasse, the Sedan since it opened the way to unfavourable turn In Italian
all that followed. operations in Albania and Egypt
INVASION BASE will not influence German mil- tary decisions or lead Germany to At Nibelwa, General Maletti had give Italy active assistance, says established a base from which he
also R.A.F.planes Naples and Cotroni, an important harbour on the gulf of Taranto.
thorough knowledge of his job. WAS formerly in the 7th He Hussars.
BRAVE INDIANS
At
Some Italian tank officers never time to run to their had the vehicles which stood motionless throughout the engagement. the same time Indian infantry in light, fast vehicles, charged the camp
from the front, braving minefelds some of which blew up.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1940, -PAGE
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Untiring Labours Of Lothian
-Small advances by the Greeks are also announced. Although
Italian gunners operating feld Tepelini is not yet in Greek hands, It looks as if the Greek forces in guns swung them into the centre and attempted to stop the Bri- the neighbourhood are working
tish tanks. Their shells, however, round to take it, it is stated.
Blackshirts and Libyans alike were inadequate and bounded off. the Berlin correspondent of the planned to invade Egypt The en-surrendered or fed, learing be- Many Italian officers and men seized machine-guns and blazed campment, which has a circum-
tween 3,000 and 400 prisoners in Germany, he adds, is tenaciously ference of about four miles, was our hands. Those who ded west-away for a short time. Then Ger sticking to her plan to seek a Anal protected outside by landmines wards were mopped up by British / Maletti got a bullet through the less)--Mr. Mackenzie King. Cana-)
Basier Nachrichten.
decision against Britain in the British Isles themselves,
25 KILLED IN
· RAIL CRASH
and inside by 18-pounder, field.. machine and A.A. guns.
contained 3,500 of The camp Italy's best Libyan troops led by Italian officers.
armoured forces operating on Bugbug,
"EXCITING SHOW
LONDON, Dec 15 (British Wire-
on
of
the
lung and died while he was being dian Prime Minister. "has received a message from the King thank- carried to his tent.
The other officers and mening him, for the message realised the hopelessness of the sympathy sent on behalf of the
Government A Major described it as "an ex-battle and surrendered, only a Canadian Their are at Sidi Barrani was citing show" and added the handful escaping,
death of Lord Lothian; «" extremely heavy and elsewhere Italians fought pretty well and on Immediately the surrender of
His Majesty's message, after ex- when the British tanks got among the whole stuck to their guns well the camp was assured, the British pressing his thanks, said: "Lord them, their guns put up A hot against our tanks.
tanks reform in perfect order and Lothian, by his untiring labours though ineffective fire,
After the battle, General Gal- leaving prisoners in charge, the in the interests of Anglo-American lina, who with two other generals fadian troops hurried on to new friendship, has earned our whole- were among the prisoners captur-battlefields and new victories.
heared gratitude. His loss will be widely mourned on both sides of the Atlantic."
MEXICO CITY. "Dee, to (Reater) About 25 people were killed and at least 46 fatally injured when a It is still impossible to estimate repair train was derailed', on a the total Ttallin dasualties but sharp "curve near Iguala, capital they were certainly heavy and they are believed to have lost thousands of killed and wounded while, in addition, a number of high, officers have been captured.
of Guerrero State.
After leaving the track the train crashed from the steep incline over a precipicé.
"Day's Work" Accounts For
.
21 Definite Victories
LONDON, Dec. 16 (BWS)-A pilot-officer DS.C. recent'y awarded the D.8.0. in the field, who has shot down over twenty aircraft over Britain, gave a thrilling account of a “day's work" in a broadcast from London yesterday,
Thai Seeks Settlement Of Incidents
WAR GIFTS Further Donations
From Empire
CHUNGKING, Dec. 18 (Central) LONDON. Dec 18 (Reuter) A Thal communique states that Further war gifts were announced the Thal Government is ready to yesterday. settle the border incidents with
Madrag
has rent a further
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR LOTHIAN
CAISSON ESCORTED BY U.S. "CAVALRY
the French Indo-China Govern- £15,000 for fighter aircraft while | ment by pacine means, according the Maharajah of Gwalior made to a dispatch from Bangkok. a further gift of £18,750 repre- "We were up early in the morn={ "By the time I realized my mis- The communique adds that the sented by 25 armoured carriers,
The Lord Mayor of London's ing." he said. "We badn't long to take they had turned away from Thai Government wishes the joint walt before I was told to take off the sun and I opened fire on them. Border Commission will make pre-Air Raid Fund, which now stands ours
£1,873,000, received further yesterday afternoon. and climb over the Channel. Soon I came up behind one and gaveparations for the first meeting at we ran across a squadron of Ger-him a burst and he dropped down The Commission was scheduled to gifts yesterday of £1,000 each man fighters and in a few seconds into the Channel When I gave meet last October but owing to from the readers of the Times of from: the Rangoon the sky was full of both of us. I the leader a burst he just explod the tension the meeting was not Ceylon and had a quick bang at one and then jed in mid-air, a; another!
them.
"1"
held.
#
Corporation.-
Value Of Work Of R.A.F.
Continued from Page 1
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (Reuter). -The funeral services for Lord Lothian were held with full bon- at Washington Cathedral
United States Cavally escorted the caisson bearing the body from the Embassy to the Cathedral through avenues cleared of traffic by. hundreds of police and Uned with a silent crowd
Frezident Roosevelt, who spending the week-end at warm Springs, Georgia, after his Car ribean cruise, was represented at the service by his Secretary, Mr. Stephen Early. Mrs. Roosevelt at- tended personally,
Mr. Neville Butler. Charge d'Af-
"All that was between six and "Then I made a turn up sun'seven-a total of seven altogether. and joined two aircraft that were were destroyed. climbing, when I discovered I was **The score at 9 a.m. was ten following two Messerschmitt 109 Germans destroyed, our losses be- fighters at only a few yards dis-ing three machines hit and need. tance. In fact I was formating on ing repair and one pilot baled out. created so that when one tried to ammunition for the aghter planes, K "If we did not have these mo- "Soon we were told to proceed breathe the dust seemed to
right into the lungs.
dern weapons," he said, "we could to a convoy and patrol it.
The mornings and evenings not have so successfully beaten One of the fight commanders were beautiful and there was a the enemy in the Western Desert."faires at the British Embassy, re- The speaker paid a tribute to presented the king "and Lord FIRE BOMBS ON thought the enemy had already stillness about the place whiet
attacked the convoy and were" on one could almost feel. The Roya, the vigilance, which British recon-Athlone and Mr. Mackenzie King the way back, and gave chase only Air Force in East Africa was work natssance planes had kept on the were also represented, Members of to discover they were coming to-Ling under similar conditions, ex
enemy and how the fighters had the Diplomatic Corps and many wards him and before he could cept that mountains provided a blu kept watch on the preparations of high officials were present, slow up he had, gone right through of variety to the scenery.
the British forces to see that The private cremation was held the centre of them with the other
enemy reconnaissance planes did later in the afternoon at anotber: DIFFERENT CONDITIONS two members of his section blzz-
not come over and discover what service at the Church: In Greece and Albania condithey were doing. The British This shook the German pilots tions were entirely different, as alarmoured forces," he said, had so much that they immediately high mountain range ran through learned desert warfare like a book, broke formation. German fight- both countries, rising up to nearly er-bombers started forming cne of 10,000 feet. Mountain ranges were their famous defensive circles.
NORTH-EAST TOWN
Widespread German ng away.
Night Raids
LONDON, Dec. 16 (Renter-The daylight hours of Sunday passed without a single bomb being dropped on any part of England. but nightfall brought the capital. the usual alert:
The main weight of the rald, however, appeared to be Concer-
+
considerable obstacle to dying.
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British Army Waited For Chance In Egypt And
Took It Magnificently
LONDON, Dec. 16 (Beuter)In feat of the Italian forces in. Libya this war the British Army has had would have an incalculable effect
FOR MOSCOW [long to wall for its chances, de upon the military situation. @vary....
350 PLANES DOWNED Since the war started in the as one either had to fly above the Middle East, 350 enemy planes had FINAL CHECK-UP-
clouds or flying through the val- been destroyed in the air - and
SHANGHAL, Dec. 16 (Reuter)clares the DAILY TELEGRAPH in where and the future of the Checking up the figures we leys, though the latter course was nearly as many on the ground and. found a total of 20 enemy aircraft risky in that there was a chance the British planes had carried out The first Soviet ship to arrive at a leader on the great victory in world.
three times as many raids as the had been destroyed.
of being trapped in the valleys..
enemy. One of the most splendid Hongkong to transport Chinese tea the Western Desert.E
The British Expeditionary Force, destined for Moscow to fuifi the shows put up was by the B. Africa $100,000,000 barter obligations, for serving under French Command,
After lunch we went up again. "We saw in the distance about trated on a town in north-east 20 dive-bombers and a fighter England though towns in the escort going in the direction of south-west were also visited.
a convoy. We were able to close The widespread German air with the fighter, escoft. - ' activity over Britain last night ended early. London and a north- east town were both clear of raid ers before midnight.
"Our headquarters are in
SITUATION TRANSFORMED How completely destructive the
Egypt. went on the speaker, Air Force, which had bombed and which negotiations have just been was placed in a position from defeat may become we cannot yet which is regarded as the destroyed 800 edemy motor transconcluded, has reached the British which only honours of stabbery judge but already. It is shattering
gateway to the East. It is from there that air" operations in other theatres are directed and one source of our strength lies in the facility with which we are able to reinforce one com-
ports, p
mid the wituation in Africa and the Eastern Mediterraneant is transformed,
The prestige of the
The speaker said that he sup- Colony from Vladivostok, accord-retreat could be won, tad
Its arat opportunity has come in posed that Italian aircraft were lng to the Chinese-Press,
In order to obtain Boviet cash Egypt and has been seized with "I gave chake to a straggler.
as good as those used by the Bri- tish The Italian machines were and material, China, on her part, vigour, resolution and competence got in a burst of machine-gun
very similar to the Gladiator will hereafter concentrate on tea which has convinced the world system. Hes in ruins Ttaly Hse fire. He dived and I followed.
Tumbling withi mand from another." giving him another burst, when
planes, though the British were bricks," said to be tea welcomed that on land, no less than on the Relatively few bombs tell in the pilot jumped out! The ma- After making the statement using more modern types. The bay Soviets at Hongkong and Soviet sea and in the air, the might of shocks"
The battle in the Western Desert London and although many fire chine crashed into the beach, about the need for planes and only modern bomber the Italians abips will arrive in the Colony re- British warfare is deadly **** bombs and high explosives were bursting into flames, equipment for air operations and had was the 8.79 which had been gularly to transport these to Bus Each message from the front may well, a Gen. Wavell
increase the importance of the ed shorten the war by NIY TAR dropped on the north-east town
"Back at our aerodrome we the value of a single fighter in exploited in typical Italian man- e
months. If our arm found the squadron had attacked comparison to 200 men armed with ner Italian air activity had not Soviet goods destined for China operations, 38 enemy aircraft of which 21 were rides, the speaker said that this been so spectacular, but they were will come through the Sinn-Rus- General Sir Archibald Wavell long for the chance
star highway,
predicted that the crashing de- has been magnifie raised the question of providing increasing their eficiency, definitely destroyed."
the attack was on nothing like
the scale of the earlier provincial #blitz" raids.
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