1941-03-20 — Page 7

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

CABLE

TIMELY EFFECT OF U.S. FATE OF ITALIAN EAST AFRICA PRESIDENT'S SPEECH ON HANGING IN BALANCE

VICHY GOVERNMENT

"I think President Roosevelt's speech was particular- Hand To Hand Fighting In

ly timely in, the case of the Vichy Government. It must have convinced Admiral Darlan and his colleagues that it is no longer possible to drive a wedge between Great Bri- tain and the United States," said MR. VERNON BART- LETT, M.F., when he broadcast from London yesterday.

"Two months ago, the "It has always been insisted that position might have been very an Invader is responsible for feed- ing the invaded territories," said embarrassing," continued Mr.

Mr. Bartlett. II. therefore, food Bartlett, "and in order to is allowed to go through to France, postpone it we have allowed it must be under strict supervision. the Vichy Government to im- port many things which the Germans badly need.

HITLER'S HOPES

"Even so, the Germans have got three-quarter of, the cargoes that arrived at unoccupied ports, in France. We cannot be sparing in our blockade weapon and yet, if we stop every ship from going to unoccupied France, we might fulfl one of Herr Hitler's hopes,' which is that Britain and her allies of last year should come to blows. -

i

The Vichy Government might

protest to Berlin against the re-

moval of their food by the Ger- mans, but that would not help be- cause they have no power to resist.

"On the other hand, there are two-million French pri soners of war whom Herr Hitler can use as an effective weapon for any dealings with Marshal Petain."

NO CHOICE

Mr. Bartlett declared that it was

for the Germans, but it seem-

Progress Around Keren

LONDON, March 19 (Renter)-Keron, which will decide the fate of Italian Eritrea and perhaps the whole of Italian East Africa now appears to be in an increasingly desperate position, according to reports from British and Italian sources in the Last 24 hours: Dispatches from Khartoum. British communiques from Cairo and Nairobi, and an Italian communique from Rome tell a story of heavy Italian losses in bitter counter-attacks against the beleaguering Imperial army.

li

A report from Cairo states that severe fighting is proceed- ing in a temperature of 105 degrees and, while exact details are yet lacking. it is believed that there has heen hand to hand fighting in this mountain" warfare. The enemy is making no determined counter-attacks but according to a military spokes- man all positions there are being held successfully

A communique from Cairo yes-ot landing without disturbing the terday also reports that pressure enemy and marking out the land. by Imperial and patriot forces in ing beach. Abyssinia is being maintained sue-

'land.

wards

the

+1

INTERMINABLE WAIT

CHUNCKING BOMBED

RAIDERS ENGAGED BY FIGHTERS CHUNGKING, Mar. 19 (Central)

After a long respite Japanese bombers yesterday resumed their air bombardment of Chungking in a two-hour raid, between 11.15

Jam, and 1.23. p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1941. -PAGE 7 INTENSE AND ACTIVE TRAINING ON HOME FRONT TO MEET INVASION

I suppose All Quiet on the Home Front would best describe the situation at present, but though outwardly all is quiet, there is intense activity going on," said MAJ.- GENERAL R. J. COLLINS, when he broadcast from Lon- don yesterday on the manner in which the army at home is continuing to provide against all possibilities of inva- - sion, and attack.

"

Maj.-General Collins went have been forced again into "war on to emphasise the great and the whole level of our civilisa tion debased. Secondly, there is the activity which was going on)

intense desire of these who wer

Eighteen enemy planes took part in the rald, coming in two batches the training of the higher in France and Belgium to get then. of 9 each. Kent flying in a high staff." General Brooke had own back for what happened in altitude by ferocious anti-aircraft been carrying out a series of Dunkirk, fire and engaged by Chinese exercises, which had been at-" "Thirdly, there is the longing to fighters the first batch of 9 raiders tended not only by the higher get even with the enemy for the hurriedly dumped three dozens of commands and staff officers, and the destruction of our chur

killing of our women and children bombs

on the suburbs causing but also representatives of ches, and fourthly, the loathing negligible damage.

The second batch, however, suc- the Royal Navy and the Roy- that the army feels for all Ger- ceeded in breaking through andal Air Force, who would be mans owing to their ruthless de-

part of the city. helping them. in a dogfight the raiders droppea Busty engaged by Chinese, planës

new Over A

streets

in-

TO S. AFRICA'S WAR EFFORT

DETAILED STUDY

"In these exercises, the action to be taken against enemy attacks has been studied in detail," said Major-General Collins, "and sil those present were deeply impress-

the situation and of his capacity

haviour in the countries they have overrun and enslaved,

"As to when the invasion will come, до

one bar Herr Hitler can say, I can guess that he is not finding it easy to de-- cide and the question he is asking himself must be: Is there any way out of this Jest gamble?

BRITAIN IS ROUSED

"The war how shows sigre of

cessfully over a wide area against After an apparently interminable the retreating Italians while Bri-period of waiting, the signal flash- ne bombs on the city proper, anly now known that many factories in/ish troops are extending the area ted news of the successful accom- occasionally strafing the unoccupied France are working of occupation in British Somall plishment of this task.

Suddenly with machine-guns. "That is what happened up

at zero hour, like a flash of thun- to a point. We have not, as á.

ed that they apparently had no From

north British and der naval gunfire ahattered" the rule. interfered with ships go- choice in the matter. For instance, French troos are pushing, cartes quiet night. Naval aploding CONTRIBUTIONed by General Brooke's grasp of ing from French African

aluminium works would have to the wilderness of the ridges to through the au, colonies to France. It has not

close down if they did not get coal:

the road leading from land. been easy to refrain from ac-

from the occupied zone and they Keren.

It was later learned that ai

to inspire his subordinates with tion. The cargoes on these were only allowed to get this coal Several heights held by the Ita-though a large number of Italians.

the battle-winning spirit. In fact, ships have been very valuable

on condition that their products lians still separate them from the had left the town under cover of

the British army is lucky "in its running away with him." went on and included vegetable oils.

were sent to the occupied zone. roud, which is ideal for defence. darkness shortly before the British

two principal commanders today We must not forget that Ger-

"Every ton of food sent to un-The British have to assall the post appranch, those who remained were

Major-General Collins, "and he South African state-owned rall-

"Both have the conadence of may, therefore, be forced to act. many's oll shortage, in spite of

occupied France will strengthen tions which the Italians have had sufficiently numerous to require ways and harbours are making a those under their command and well, if he does, the Navy, the what she has been able to get

Germany's army, unless we can de-a month to prepare and they are force to crush them.

great contribution to the nation's in training and practice, con Army and the Air Force is ready from Rumania, is still one of

vise a method to stop it," said Mr. faced with greatly superior num. Away on the right, the western war effort, states a London mes-fidence among the commands is our greatest assets.

and. what is more. |Bartlett. The Vichy Government's bers, estimated at 30,000

landing force went into action Sage:

Seven thousand employees growing. Tank and held work is population has set us' an example "Then there were quantities of argument is that it is neutral, The Battle of Keren, therefore, and a way had been paved for the of railways have been released for coming to the fore and the troops of courage and endurance. phosphates, which Germany needs Countries under German occupa-Is expected to last several days. eastern force of Somails and Arabs military service.

have been gaining an Infinite for her agriculture. And now. Ad- tion are clearly in a different cate-

"It has always been hard to to land and advance towards the

The workshops are manufactur- knowledge of the mariner in which rouse the British Army. But this miral Darlan wants to make use gory and cannot accept the same

town two miles away.

ing armaments which includes 37- they will have to move and fight time let there be no doubt about of the French Fleet to escort ships treatment as that given to neu-

A heavy attack was made by

in. field guns, light gun casements the R A.F. on Tripoli harbour an to France, after a promise has trals.

Major-General Collins stressed this the omcers and men aro jand machine-gun mountings. been given that the feet would not

the fact that the army has receiv- roused. They are filled with grim "The Vichy Government must, Sunday night be used for such a purpose.

Three companies have been raised much help from the members determination to fight. If it comes therefore, prove its neutrality. It The mole, ships and quays were guns, attempting to stem the as-ed for an armoured vehicle corps of the Home Guard, because local to invasion, for the first time in "Hitherto, Marshal Petal has not neutral so long as it allows bombed, large rires started sault, were outclassed by the ac and a fourth is being formed. knowledge was a great asset and nearly a thousand years we shal been careful to keep to the terms

Germans to examine ships coming in hangars and military stores, curacy of the British naval fie

expressed the view that the re- be nghting on this soff for the of the armistice, so that Herr Hit-there from the French colonies and explosions were seen at a rail which was more praiseworthy in view of the murky and cloudy na-

moval of road signs would prove safety of Britain.” ler would not have excuses to go and it is no longer neutral if it way depot and near.

a very serious obstacle to the Ger- ture of the night, allows the Germans to control any Station.

land in Britau.

for them.

AIR" OPERATIONS

The RAF.

were

ITALIANS OUT CLASSED Italfan machine-guns and field

(Special)

il

the' wireless

of their colonies: And it is not

PRESENTATION TO The Somalis and Arabs continu... cominunique ALL- INVADER'S RESPONSIBILITY.«

neutral so long as it allows Ger-nouncing this also states that theed to advance and news came of MME. CHIANG Mr. Bartlett went on to state mans to cross over the boundary RAF. continued their activity in the complete success of the major that much of France's topd was from occupied France into unoccu- the Keren area.

attack in the west.

CHUNGKING, Mar. 19 (Central) grown in those parts which the pled France.

By 9.20 m. all was over: Ber-recipient of valuable presents from -Madame Chiang Kai-shek is the Nazis have occupled, but that there,

bera was again In British hands. Mrs. Frankun was. hunger in both areas because

Over 100 prisoners were

D. Roosevelt, wire the Germans have stored so much

taken of the President of the United taken while the British casualties States. and Her Majesty the Queen for themselves. The Germans and Italiens had also between them

were negligible.

of England. The Even during the bombardment,

presentation taken away a large part of France's

the inhabitants of Berbera came place tomorrow morning (Thurs- ceremony 13 scheduled to take live stock.

running to meet the British forces, day). The National Association of flags which had been hidden from presented three precious articles to waving Union Jacks and Somali the American Y. W. C. A. has also the Italians.

Madame Chlang.

NAZIS SILENT

· ABOUT GREECE

Understanding With, Turkey Sought

Ya

A GOOD SERVICE "It is quite possible that by bringing matters to a head Admiral Darlan has done us a good service and we have to devise some means of allowing the French in the un- occupied zone to receive supplies in some way that will not benefit the Germans.

"If Admiral Darlan is asking for supplies only for the French people, some solution of this problem may be found, but we must take

precautions against a plot and these pre- cautions are now being discuss- ed in Washington, since most supplies must come from the other side of the Atlantic.

RECAPTURE OF BERBERA LONDON, Mar. 19 (Reuter)- An eple story of the recapture of Berbera, the capital of Bri tish Somaliland, is told in a cable received from Aden yes- terday.

whole operation depended on four At one point the success of the

men in a boat stealing silently 10 wards the Somaliland coast.

The Italians had blown up the

ק

U.S. CITIZENS IN

mans even if they did manage to

"It is going to take the enemy a great deal of trouble to get across the Channel,” said the speaker, "and even then his trouble will be greater when he cannot find his way about in this "place. This is where the Home Guard Is going to help and they are steadily training until they get more afficient. They are taking a more and more active part In the defence of the country and will assist the army to take the offensive against the Invader.

✓

The outstanding impressing im- pass on the road to Shelk but the pression left by the operation is Somalis were already busy repair- the "unchangeable loyalty of toning it to aid the British pursuit

CEASELESS TRAINING Somalls, whose territory had been

FREE FRANCE MAJOR IN TEARS

"That is the rule to which Gen- jusurped by the Itauan

About midnight on March 15-16, tion transports and stores", were American citizens in Unoccupied experience is admittedly of a

Within a few hours of reoccupa-

eral Brooke has been ceaselessly LONDON, March 19 (Reuter) training his troops. Their fighting the liberating fleet, consisting of being landed, and the troopships convoyed by warships, officers examined the forlorn and United States Embassy to leave, France had the experience

British France have been asked by the patchy kind. Those who were in Clouds seadded across the sky and soners stale silently towards the cous miserably-equipped occasionally allowed the moon

tn

Italian

U.S. "G-MEN AFTER- TRAIN WRECKERS

of

the civil

AFRICAN CAMPAIGN

At the beginning of his talk, Major-General Collins reviewed briefly the progress of the British fighting forces in the African |campaign against the Italians and paid a tribute to the assistance which the Navy and the Air Force had rendered to bring about what, he described

"hater-service team work."

83

Amongst the many fine perfor-- mances was the crossing of the River Juba by the South African troops and the drive by the Eart and West African troops to Mogadishu, which broke the will of the Italians to resist.

OUT

"With Mogadishu'-“ In hands," said Major-General Collins, the Royal Navy can land supplies from Mombassa Now our troops are well on their way to the Abyssinian plateau, with a steady climb of 7,000 feet before them,” "I want to draw particular at- tention to the casualties on either side. We have taken over 30,000 "Its spirit today differs from the prisoners to-date here against an spirit of any army I have seen extremely smalt number of killed Firstly. It is that feeling that we and wounded on our side.".

MADRID, Mar. 19 (Reuter)-The "It is not an easy problem, but German Foreign Office spokesman President Roosevelt and those who

Dri- according to a Paris dispatch to fighting mostly on the retreat, but is now refusing to answer ques-voted for the Lease and Lend Bluminate the flat shore with the burst into tears when handing over mits will not be renewed?,

the German öfficial news agency. tions about Germany's intentions put one consideration above all mountains beyond,

The major commanding them

thanks to the German air attacks, The agency adds that their per the army has had its baptism of towards Greece, writes the Berlin others and that is to get rid of

his revolver. "I am an old sole-ad-uldania

Are. correspondent of the newspaper Hitlerism as soon as possible in

TWO LANDINGS

ter," he said epitomising the gen order to build up a better and a

Previous aerial photographic eral feeling regarding the degra A big press and radio campaign more sensible world."

operations gave the commanders of dation to which Mussolini's African against Greece is going on which ROOSEVELT'S SPEECH

the expedition full knowledge of gamble has led a "once tree and that the Greck situation is now velt's recent speech, Mr. Bartlett divide their already depleted and Referring to President Roose-planned to force the Italians, tu

the terrain and the assault was cultured people. in the hands of the military. sald: "Here was a man speaking Current reports in the German to people between 3,000 and 8,000

demoralised forces. capital say that 300,000 British miles away and announcing that

"Two "landings

planned: troops are in Greece.

they had gone into action. In that

The western landing was entrust- voice of one man was the voice of ea to picked Indian troops with 130,000,000 people."

supporting engineers and artillery while the eastern landing was tu

is regarded in Berlin 23 a sign

were

SYMBOLIC TOUCH

DIPLOMATIC ACTION STOCKHOLM, Mar, 19 (Reuter) -Diplomatic action is proceeding

"We need ships and planes and

American naval units are due to guns and the President emphasis with the object of reaching a com-ed how important la the questions specially recruited at Aden un- given a rousing reception, states a be carried out by Arabs and Soma- arrive in Sydney today and will be of speed."

der British officers,

plete understanding between Ger many and Turkey, says the Alle-

message from Sydney, which adds handa correspondent in Berlin,

Mr. Bartlett then referred briefly

The implicit faith of the Somaus that the passing of the Lease and He adds that it is generally be Africa and Greece. With regard to them their land impressed every touch to the event (Special)

to Italy's continued failure in in British ability to restore to Lend Bill will give a symbolic lieved that Germany is hesitating the latter, he declared that a few one at Aden. to take action against Greece weeks ago It became clear that the pending greater certainty as to Greeks might have to face two Turkey's attitude.

Authoritative circles in Berlin, had received the British assurance enemies instead of one, but they

Four mien in a boat had the task

"he states, refuse to express an of help and they had not hesitated NAZI REPRISALS on deciding to resist even though

opinion as to whether President

Inéunu'a reply to Hitler" is con- Germany's offer of mediation be-

sidered satisfactory or otherwise.

PARTY TRUCE PROLONGED

The Secretary for Air, Bir Ar- chibald Sinclair, said in London yesterday that the Party truce may be prolonged for at least three years after the war, states a Lon- don-message.

A General Election after the armistice would be disastrous be- cause it would be at that time that Britain and the United States would be devoting themselves to the reconstruction of world order.

-(Special)

IN HOLLAND

American G-Men are trying to

track down the men responsible GAS the substitute for FIREWOOD.

for wrecking the Pittsburgh Ex- press, as the work was undoubted... ly due to sabotage, stated a mek- sage from Sydney (Special)

FINE BARRACKS

CONCERT

An entertaining variety concert, THANKS FROM N.Z.

sponsored by the First Battalion the Middlesex Regiment, was held AUCKLAND, MAY 19 (Reuter)in the Nanking Barracks last "Thanks for everything. Long live evening Uncle Sam said the Mayor of In addition to band music re- Auckland in welcoming the Amer dered under the conductorship of can squadron which is visiting B/M Kifford, many artistes parti New Zealand.

elpated in the programme. tween them, and Italy was most

The sailors marched through the Miss Irene Artenh also gave tempting.

streets after the civic reception. dance exhibitions. Now with President Roosevelt's taken in Holland, states & London visitors, referred to the spontane-concert were: Fte, Schorsch, Mr. Capt Stone, speaking for the Artistes who took part in the assurance of assistance, there was message, where 300 Dutchmen have ous and enthusiastic, welcome and vic, Labrum, Cpl. Edmunds, O. P. O. no doubt that the Greeks would been sent to concentration camps thanked the New Zealanders for Edge, D/M Holdford, Capts, Marsh maintain their national freedom because of alleged ill-treatment of looking after American women and Chattey "Rovery," and C. 8. M. and that all possible aid would be German Internees, They are ob- and children evacuated there from Minnshan. given to them for working out liged to wear prison clothes and the Far East. their reconstruction,

are only allowed to receive one letter à month,

"Still more important is the position of Yugoslavia," said Mr. Bartlett, "where the gov ernment la receiving the, full- blast of Herr Hitler's was of nerves and also advice from America not to give way. This- is most important, The Pre- sident's speech will have a good effect in encouraging Yugo- slavia now to stand up to Herr Hitler."

German reprisals have been

In the Netherlands, on the other hand, the whole treatment of in ternees is based on humane prin- ciples.

One-third of the staff of an air-

"He said this had made a lasting impression in the United States

INDIAN AMBUSH NEW DELHI Mar. 19 (Reuter)

CHEQUES LOST

The loss or theft in Kowloon of seven traveller's cheques, issued by the American Express Company. between Monday and yesterday has

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