1940-05-26 — Page 3

Lomary Super

Sunday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

MAYT

NEXT FEW DAYS MAY DECIDE FATE OF WAR

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH” ·

WITH THE FRENCH FORCES, MAY 25, (UP) ———THE STRATEGIC RETREAT FROM BELGIUM HAS ENDED,

THE ALLIED FORCES ARE NOW ALIGNED ON THE LINE THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO DEFEND.

THIS LINE RUNS FROM GHENT TO VALENCIENNES, TO- CAMBRAI, TO PERONNE, TO LAON, TO RETHEL AND AROUND TO SEDAN IN THE NORTH.

It is firmly hold and, at the time of telegraphing this despatch, there seems no possibility that the Germans will be able to break through.

Behind the firm Allied lines, the German mechanised units which ponotrated north-westwards towards the coast are completely isolated.

They rely for petrol upon any bowsers they can raid and for ammunition upon their own limited supplies.

They have insufficient petrol to force their way back to the main German Army.

Nazi Planes Routed

LONDON, May 24 (Reu-- ter). The Air Ministry announces that while on patrol over the French coast this afternoon, 11 of our fighters encountered a much larger enemy force.

Without loss to them. selves, they attacked and shot down 11 Messersch- mitts and seriously damaged three others.

ATTEMPT TO KILL TROTSKY

Exile's Bedroom Machine-Gunned

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH”

WEYGAND

FEELS

DISASTER

HAS BEEN AVERTED

By RALPH HEINZEN

UNITED PRESS WAR CORRESPONDENT

PARIS, MAY 25 (UP),—THE WHOLE FORCE OF THE ALLIED AIMES WHICH WERE IN RETTEAT" ACROSS BELGIUM AND NORTHERN FRANCE HAVE NOW TURN- ED ROUND ALONG NEW STRATEGIC POSITIONS AND THE GERMANS, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEY STARTED THEIR BLITZKRIEG, ARE FACING THE FULL FORCE OF ** ALLIED RESISTANCE.

MEXICO CITY, May 24 (UP). Twenty unidentified gunmen to day attempted to assassinate M. Leon Trotsky, the exiled Rus- sinn leader, by machine gunning his bedroom in his home at Coyoacan."

The outrage occurred at 4 a.m.. the machine-gunning lasting for a quarter of an hour.

Ralled From Bedi

M. Trotsky and his wife Natalia escaped the hail of bullets by rolling from their beds on to the floor.

The would-be assassins also threw thermos bottles containing Incen- "diary Buld through the windows.

The fuld started two fres, which Mme. Trotsky extinguished with blankets.

Subsequently, M. Trotsky charged that the attack had been organised by the Russian OGPU under Stalin's direct orders.

General Weygand, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, went yesterday morning to the scene of the Battle of Flanders, which he is now personally commanding. NAZI. ARMY ENCIRCLED?

Apparently delighted with the fighting spirit of the Allied armies, he flew back to Paris at noon and personally reported to M. Reynaud that within a few hours he hopes to say that the WHOLE DISASTROUS SITUATION HAS BEEN WELL AVERTED AND THAT THE GERMAN ARMY ITSELF IS ENCIRCLED IN A POCKET.

As soon as this manoeuvre is accomplished, the Allied Supreme Commander will permit the main Allied armies to adopt the defensive and hold the encircled German forces until the "lost battalions" of German tanks have been cleaned up. FRENCH H. Q. ADMISSION

May 26, 1940.

BRUSSELS BURNS DRAMATIC AIR MAIL PICTURE

· INCREDIBLE AND HORRIFYING damage caused to Brussels, Belgium's capital after a series of raida by Nazi bombers shortly before the city capitulated to the invaders. Here, in the first picture published in Hongkong of the German rape of Belgium, we see firemen attempting to extinguish a blaze caused by an incendiary bomb.

Crisis Drawing To End, Hell Is Let Loose From The Air

French General Declares R.A.F.

PARIS, May 25 (Reuter).-"Thore Is no reason why we should not have confidence in the future," wrlies General Duyėl in "Journal des Debats."

General Duval says: "The crisis caused by bad dispositions s the start is drawing, to an end. We shall not come out unscathed nor. will the Germans, but we shall come out of it" He says the situation is now established practically every.

"The French military leaders make no secret of the fact that thewhere except in Flanders, "where the crisis has reached-n-degree--- whole disastrous German penetration was due to a break through several poor divisions in the French Nlath Army.

The German General Staff wore swift to seize upon the advan- Tage_This break through gave them."""

Now, however, there can be no withdrawal and li has become quite apparent that the General Staff is staking the whole outcome of the war on the battle,

In an effort to avert the menace of General Weygand's new tactics, the Germans are throwing fresh troops, tanks md artillery into action along the Estout River.

Naxis Rush Reinforcements These men and materials are be lieved to have been rushed up from the Swiss frontier, where there hing been a noticeable thinning of the German reserves,

The fatigun of two week's con-

HITLER STAKES ALL

In One Battle

of extreme violence.

*The Germans are directing all efforts against the Channel const They appear to have massed practically all ther mechanised strength in Flanders."

CARRY OUT MERCILESS RAIDS

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" LONDON, May 24 (UP). The Royal Air Force continued their unrelenting attacks against German columns-on-the-Western Front to-day.

Nazi concentrations in the Arras and Boulogne districts were mercilessly bombed, says an Air Ministry communique.

Last night R.A.F. units made strong sorties on the enemy's

and the Rhineland.

HONGKONG SHIPYARD TO lines of communication in northeast France, southern Belgium

BUILD BRIGANTINE

Hits were registered on the railway junctions at La Chapelle, Beaumont-and-Gambloux Rolling-stock-and-trang- port columns were set afire, and many explosions occurred.

Other bombers attacked Charleroi where they scored

Undaunted by the loss of his ill-fated yacht Elvira, Mr. A. Carmelo, the Mexican Consul in Manila has now ordered a larger sailing vessel, a brigantine through Mr. E. S. Moses of Hong-direct hits. kong. Mr. Carmelo is at present on a visit to Hongkong.

Abrigantine is two-masted

with

She

В

and

"Sixth Sense" Saved Life According to a private guard, M. full packs is telling heavily on the

tinuous fighting and movement with Win Or Lose War vessel, square-rigged like a brig, but Trotsky's life was saved as a result Germans, and there has been a most of his sixth sense."

evident slackening of the Nazi effort When he realised what was hapin the whole pocket between Bedan, pening, Trotsky and his wife willed Valenciennes, flethel, Arras and BERNE, May 24 (Reuter).--|15 ft. and draught 6 ft. 3 ins. out of bed and lay flat on the floor to

German official drcles openly? Cambrai. escape the raiders' bullets

This slackening is also partly admit that the Roich is The intruders apparently used ruse to enter Trotsky's home which explained by the difficulties of

by a

a high wall, and is organised suppiles and communlea- playing all its trump cards. is surrounded constantly guarded by five additional tions, owing to the very poor lhes the Western Front, according to

the bodyguards inside and a special rear-difficulties which have been

of communicaljon in

German neutral correspondents in Berlin. further complicated by the intense

patrol of police outside.

fore-and-aft mainsali raking masts. Mr. Carmelo's new craft is of the following dimensions: Length over all, 58ft. 10 ins., beam will be fitted with Diesel now auxillary power of about 40/00 h.p.

The designs of

of the brigantine are on from the board of Mr. Murray G. of Marblehead, Ma59., Peterson USA well known naval architect and designer of schooners.

It is stated that the Germansko au old fashioned ship she will Although the brigantine will look nature of the Allied aerial activiller. realise that the result of the

luxuriously fitted out. She will

be

NAZIS' BIG SEA LOSSES

26 Ships Sunk In April

SPECIAL TO THE “TELEGRAP}"

KOBE, May 26 (Domel)

80 Nazi Planes Down

WHY THEY

No less than 80 Nazi planes WILL LOSE

were brought down or seriously damaged in the numerous raids with the R.A.F. carried out dur- ing to-day.

Ten British planes are reported to be missing.

the

S. African Premier On

Psychological Defects JOHANNESBURG, May 24

Eleven fighting British planes over (Reuter).-General Jan Smute, this, afternoon the South African Premier, French coast brought down'eleven Messerschmidts speaking at a civic banquet-in and seriously damaged three more, honour of his 70th birthday, stated the Air Ministry communique, attored 'n 'warning:” that the

Repeated Bombing Attacks

Government would deal with LONDON, May 24 (Reuter) The "Fifth Columnists"... Airi Ministry announces that. Intense General Smits also referred

Increased scale- air activity on an continued yesterday, last night and to South Africa's fine response

The guard said the raiders first overpowered and bound the five

Allies Use U.S. Planes policemen after which they gained

The British and French Air Force War will probably depend on the have accommodation for a party of entry to the house. A few of them. were dressed in uniforms of the to-day flung their enormous reserves issue of the present operations. 10 with erew quarters for four and That Germany during April lost policemen, and they succeeded in of American planes into these opera- Consequently, they are throwing she will be fitted throughout with

electric lighting, redio and refrigera- four times the amount of ship- kidnapping Mr. Sheldon, who was tions for the first time. Many of into the battle all their reserves tor. The vessel wilt thus be very ping as Great Britain is revealed to-day over the Aghting fronts into the call for volunteers. chief guard on night duty. He is still these planes had left New York only of mechanised material.

comfortable for extended cruises. by an independent source. The last month. missing

of the Mr. Carmelo has decided to name Piloted

his new-craft the "Nuestra Senora de shipping department la Paz (Our Lady of Peace), the Mitsui Company declares that the during last month, Germany lost Saint of Sailing In Patron Philippines, whose statue will be used 26 ships totalling 180,566 tona, As a figurehead.

building this new ship, Mr. while Britain lost but six vessels, Carmelo is following in the footsteps amounting to 35,033 tons. of his grandfather who owned a fleet The survey reveals that with the of brigantines, which traced between rapid intensification of the European losser of the Philippines and Mexico,

war, the total shipping This new ship will be built in ship- various countries during Aprit yard under the care of Mt. Tam reached a total of 40 vessels, oggre Tz, the master bullder in charge off Rating 245,403 tons, including 30 the building of the sloop Orient for freighters of 181,035 tons, six tankers Meara, Sparkman and Stevens and (31,247 tons) and four passenger the Ma On Shan, built for Squadron ships (83,181 tons). Leader Francis of the RAF.

What Hitler Hopes To Do

Offensive Directed At England

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH”

►

by British, French, Belgian Operations in northern France and and Polish avintors, they tore at the Belgium are believed to comprise the German ronds and railways, the first part of Hitler's plan. Allied Interference with the German The German troops, however, are bottle-neck at Aachen (Alx-ta meeting & resistance with which they Chapelle) proving particularly suc, do not appear to have reckoned. cessful in the day's operations. The second phase of the plan would Allied Positions Maintained be a direct attack against Britain. SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" PARIS, May 24 French High Command communique states that all positions along the Somme River have been maintained.

Gerinan

to attempts penetrate

• behind the Maginot fortifications south of Sedan have been checked.

R.A.F. units on Thursday shot

(Domel)-A

NEW YORK, May. 26| down more than 20 German planes, (Domel)-Hitler's major offen- including several Messerschmitt

Official Communiquo SPECIAL TO THE TELEGRAPH"

ABBEVILLE CARNAGE

Wholesale Slaughter |

sive-which will be directed atghters, according toan-official England will be preceded by communique, mass aerial and naval"attacka,|| #1-94; reports Loula Lochner, Associat ed Press correspondent who at rived at the Channel coast Thursday with the German Army.

Although Germans are unlikely to counters have extended to seized the town, according to a latinch a full-dress offensive against the regions of St. Omer and Boulogne, Red Cross man who has just England immediately since they are and so far have prevented the restora-left northern France. intent upgn rushing all Allied oppation of the continuity of the whole sition in northern Belgium and front.

By-Nazi-Bombers- LONDON, May 24 (Reutér). Abbeville, where the German PARIS, May 24 (UP) The 528th advance turned northward to- official communique says that violent encounters have been going on for wards the Channel ports, was several days in the north of France, bombed to pieces by the German especially in the region of Cambrai air force before their troops

and Arras.

Imperial Airways Booked Out

#

in

France and Belgium.

He declared that the world would Repealed day bombing attacks were be much poorer at the end of the

and made by R.A.F. bombers on enemy war

would there probably columns in the neighbourhood of be unprecedented impoverishment the most, colossal destruction Arras and Boulogne...

after Strong sortica were made during the in history.

the enemy's lines of com- night of munication north-cast France: among the targets hit by the heavy bombers were military objectives at Baval and Hirson, where fires were started.

so obtained on also railway junction at La Chapelle.

At Givet, on the Mouse, shalling yard and a large column of transport were severely damaged.

The railway junction at Beaumont, was hit and the rolling stock set on Are.

Hits word

the

Psychological Defects The Germans lost the last_war their matchless military despite machine because, et paychological defects which remain nochangod and which will once more dofast Ger-

Nazi fanaticism may call forth a no Less

determined Berce and fanaticism on the other side, and to the moral factor will be added the religious factor.

South Africa will be in the strug- is to the full and to the end, said

The junction at Gembloux was also successfully attacked and an explosion was seen among the convoy of lor-General Smuts.

Since the outbreak of war in Sep- tember inst, the total loss of world shipping to over 2,000,000 tons, com- prising-443 freighters, 40 tankers-31: passenger ships, making: aandeles nearby. total of 521 vessels.

iand have been fully booked for some time and are now booked until June,

Urgent Requests Bynd now, made no vulnerable, 20 als airerate falled, to return.

H.K. Residents

50,000 PILOTS A YEAR

After the bombing at Charleroi an- other explosion occurred.

Heavy bombers attacked the enemy Heavy Air France Bookings communications at Emmerich, Colog

ne, Coblenz and elsewhere. Enquiries have been made to bring

Six Fall To Return children and relations from 'Scolland

WASHINGTON, May 24 (Router). From these widespread operations as from various of

Plans to give basle training of bombing through the Nazi orcipa The fighters continue to win specta-pilots to 50,000 men in the year bu

ginning July 1 were disclosed by tion of Holland, Belgium and the cular, victories against the enemy.

From reports received they have President Roosevelt at a Press con- Anxious for the safety of drive to the Channel ports, The last time I'mw it, it was one

Heavy bookings, have been made shot down, or seriously damaged at ference.

The President added that Congross vast desolation of smouldering ruins, children and relations in 'Britain

all Air France, planes openting least 80 enemy aircraft alsen yester

would be asked for a supplementary. with the shattered streets strewn many Hongkong residents have between Hongkong and Europe and day morning.

Ten fighters are missing but some appropriation to handle the pilot pro- with dead and dying women and mille enquiries at the local the next plane is fully booked.

In making their enquiries many chlidren

pilots may

yet return. jan Ti portal way Loles in order pleaded the Hil-airling Alions 200ssireraff lava bean lost of speed-beate Aubmarinos, and that the war will not affect tho slabum

It appar WIRE -bombers on British transports and quo of the Netherlands East Indies; ently without thought of milltary to bring their relations to the what route it will follow it Itals suddenly enters tho' war on Ger- warships.CK BRET

stated the Australien Minister for objectives, dropping, high explosiva Colony by plane.it, Ma Inlal attempts nt continuous External affairs to-day. A similar incendiary bombs and inçeridiary Imperial Airways has been unable many aidé, as some said that they bombingeni-Ostend, Dinkirk-and-undertaking, he said, had been given darts, which shoot about like jumping to comply with these requests as all intended to dy to England and bring "Dieppo are, already in progress. | by Japan...

[crackers,"

planes between Hongkong and Eng back their children with them

France and behind the lines, Lochner

says that Germany's majer divo will ""

be preceded by aut attempt to destroy

British Naval, air and land organisa- CANBERRA, May 24 (Router)

on

by

Albenes around Borglundron the course will be during the last week, making the many citizens holding pilot lloencos, total over 1,500 enemy aircraft. lost and from men between the ages of 15

who desire training in aviation since the invasion of the Low and 25 who are not in college, but Countries.