1940-12-16 — Page 17

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FINAL EDITION

Hongkong Telegraph.

Kowloon,

FOUNDRED 1801...

No. 16333

HQ $XT=TRUE MONDAY DECEMBER 16,

THRUST INTO

LIBYA:

THRILLING ADVANCE BY BRITISH FORCES

By PAUL TAYLOR

Special to the "Telegraph"

CAIRO, DEC. 15 (UP).—THE BRITISH MECHANISED FORCES INVADING LIBYA THROUGH A DESERT SANDSTORM TO CARRY THE WAR ON TO ITALIAN SOIL, TO. NIGHT ARE REPORTED DRIVING TOWARDS THE FASCIST COASTAL BASE OF BARDIA WHICH IS ALREADY ABLAZE UNDER TERRIFIC SIEGE LAID BY THE ROYAL NAVY.

BOTH BARDIA—ten miles ACROSS THE BORDER FROM EGYPT AND PORT TOBRUK, FURTHER WEST, ARE REPORTED TO BE IN FLAMES AFTER THE ALMOST CONSTANT ATTACKS OF THE BRITISH BY SEA AND AIR.

R.A.F. WIN BIG AIR BATTLE

26 Italian Planes Down CAIRO, Dec. 15 (Reuter).--Twenty-six Italian

The big Italian base of Tripoli was bombed on Friday night it was stated officially, and two ships were directly hit..

Reports have reached Cairo of the capture of the Italian frontier Fort Capuzzo and the re-taking of Sollum, thus completely closing the bottleneck "death trap" on Fascist legions fleeing Egyptian air-soil. But no confirmation of these reports can be

craft were destroyed in intensive R.A.F. activities which were continued in support of the land operations of the

army.

Twenty-four of them were shot down by fighters| which maintained an incessant patrol throughout the day in protection of advanced British troops..

A number of other enemy aircraft were damaged but their desiruction is not confirmed,

About 50 Capronis” were" patrolling over Bardia, but the British bombera porelated in the attack, causing heavy dantage.

ITALIAN

SUBMARINE

SUNK Naval Units Engaged

Two enemy aircraft were des- troyed at Derna and others were severely damaged.

made.

HARD FIGHTING CONTINUES

("REUTER'8" SPECIAL

After official disclosure of Britain's week-old desert blitz" which carried the war into: Italian Libya, both the Royal Air Force and the Mediterranean ficet issued communiques relat- ing shaftering attacks dis-

organising the Italian retreat.

Naval Communique

Sir Andrew Byly Cunningham,

1940,

HATA SINGLE COPY 10 CENTS

$34.00 PER ANNUM

Gilman's

for

132 Nathan Road, Kowloon. Tol. 58540.

THE ITALIANS ARE FLEEING BEFORE THEM

The brilliant work of the mechanised units has largely made possible the British vie- tory in the Western Desert. This official photograph shows one of the armoured car units which have been operating in the advance on Libya. When the picture was taken officers of the unit were making good use of a "brolly" at the side of their car during a halt,

GREEKS PUSH STEADILY ON TOWARDS VALONA

→

By BEN AMES · "United Pros" Correspondant . -

British Advanced the trih naval forces,

ATHENS, Dec. 15 (UP)—The Greek troops to-night were reported to be In Sandstorm

sald there was a "successful attacks pushing steadily up the Adriatic coast of Albania towards Valona after two heavy on Bardin at night "despite abortive bombing attacks on the already battered seaport, carried out by British planes. attacks by enemy E-Boats.

"Our naval forces have been con- Fierce fighting raged in a CORRESPONDENT)

tinuing operations along the coast in swirling sandstorm around Hal- One fighter squadron of our

support of the army between Sidl advanced forces alone accounted ing is still in progress on the

CAIRO, Dec. 16.-Hard fight-Barrant

few miles south of faya, a Bardia. "The Italian submarine Naiade (787. Sollum in the Didomar zone on for 14 Savolas and four Cap-Egyptian-Libyan frontier in a tons, normal complement 41 men), the Egyptian side of the border. ronis. Three more Savoias and three Capronis were shot down whirling sandstorm, according to operations, was immediately sunk by Fort Capuzzo was not re-taken)

which attempted to interfere with our Lato reports indicated that our destroyers.

only!

na

"Units of the Fleet Air Arm have also been co-operating with the Royal Air Force in attacks along the Libyan coast."

Bombs On Tripoli

although it may be isolated.

by other squadrons.

latest reports received here.

Exact details of the operations From these operations,

are as yet not available. but three of our aircraft failed to

Greek quarters admit strong Italian counter-attacks at the British casualties are still known return-safely-but-it-is-probable that at least one is safe on our mined major scrapping.

to be very slight despite deter

southern end of the Albanian Iside of the line,

front, but asserted that each one The R.A.F. continue to batter tons of bombs were dropped by Fleet

The communique said that four had been repulsed, although LONDON, Dec. 15 (Reuter).-fest time by our bombers

Grotone Harbour was raided for the Sollum barracks, proving that in Air Arm planes in. on attack on Fascist resistance appeared to The Italian submarine, Nalade, night of December 13 and on the same this area at least Italian troops Tripoll, 700 miles west of Bardia at be fiercer in some of the sectors. has been sunk by British, Fleet Air Arm aircraft success-are still on Egyptian soil.

the other end of Libya. Heavy dam- The R.A.F. Issued a communique destroyers, states a communique hits on two ships,

fully attacked Tripoli, securing direct British

age was done. forward

reporting two bombing attacks during mechanised

Planes of the Fleet Air Arm took Saturday on Valona, which the columns are putting up a magnificent off from warships in the Mediter-Italians are either evacuating or are from the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, received by the

show, thrusting at the enemy post-ranean to attack Tripoll. It is sald preparing to evacuate owing to the! tious at many points along the that all Italian airfields near the front terrine air bombardments. Admiralty.

frontier and inflicting serious casual-

TURN to Back Pago, Column 3

Hits Registered

01

on

the

Barzlin

Hes on the defending Italian forces. The indefatigable manner in which

In the heavy attack The submarine had attempted barracks and warehouses were de- to interfere with operations molished and a large fire was started, our tanks and armoured

followed by explosions. Both there which British naval forces are continuing along the coast in and at Tobruk, fires were still hurn- lorries have been pushing on more

support of the Army between Sidi Barrani and Bardin.

ing

day

than a

cars

and

from the raids on the previous for a week reveals clearly the terri- hundred mileg day and night

At Sollum, barracks and other mili-le efforts made behind the scenes by

Enemy U-boats also alincked a tory objectives were heavily raided. the maintenance corps during the . naval unit but without success and All bombs dropped at Crotone Har- Preparations for the offensive.

front

the attack was driven off.

bour burst along the water Naval participation In

Clockwork Precision the heavy whille at Tripoll, where shipping in the attack on Bardia is revealed by a harbour was the main objective, two communique which says that a night hits were registered on one ship and of night to perform odd maintenance Apart from brief halts at the dead bombardment 011 that port was an explosion followed the bombing jobs-often in disused Italian camos carried out with successful result, of a second.

-British mechanised forces nre Asmara, Gura Zula amk Danghills rolling on with clockwork precision. were successfully raided in Italian

At the same time the R.A.F. is con- East Africa.

LATEST

See Back Page For

· Further" Late : News

FRENCH GOVT.

New Assembly To Be Called

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" VICHY, Dec. 15

#

The communique stated that the Arst R.A.F. attacle was made against Italian military stores and a motor transport park, while the second raid was directed against the aerodrome

at Valona. All the British aircraft

returned safely.

-

Last Night's Heavy Raids On Britain

Special to- the "Telegraph"

LONDON, Dec. 15 (UP)-The Luftwaffe converged in waves on a town in North England to-night, piercing a heavy anti-aircraft barrage and dropping explosives in a steady hail, begining soon after nightfall.

Thai Border apparently using it mainly as a

Fighting

Relays of raiders swept over a town in the East Midlands,

guidepost on their way north, The Nazis also subjected the town to a concentrated bombard- ment.

Recent Heavy Firing

A short raid on London was punc- SPECIAL TO THE "TELEĠRAPH"

tured by heavy gundre. Only one BANGKOK, Dec, 16 (UP)—bomb is reported dropped. It fell in The High Command revealed park, doing no damage. that That and Indo-China forces!

New Offensive exchanged brief but heavy fire) The raid came late and the "All Clear" was sounded before midnight, at 5 p.m. on December 14 at The raid broke a three-day lull in BELGRADE. Dec. 18 (UP)-A Aranyaprades. strong Italian counter attack Жав repulsed and hurted back by Greek

sald

Italians Defend Tepelini

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

which British observers professed to

Raiders were also reported in west and south-cast England and at a few other scattered points.

During this exchange, Thaisee growing signs that Eller is about forces attempting to storm Tepeliai artillery hit a flagstaff, tumbling to swing the main striking power of fe into zome new offensive, the Luftwaffe in a double-pronged drive towards the Tricolour to the ground.

support of Italy. perhaps in the Albanian port of Valona.

The High Command said that there

Defence guns on the south-cast After fighting their way into the were no Thai casualties (UP) streets of Tepelini in a hand to hand It is stated that 50 Annamitek crossing the area.

coust fired on a number of planes tinuing to plaster enemy aerodromes Marshal Petain has announced battle on Saturday, only to be hurled crossed the frontler on Saturday, Fleet Air Arm

concentrations in far corners of his intention of creating a back, the Evzone (Greek) forces are seeking Thal protection. Libya 'day and

night. Pilois

are National Assembly,

to liave working ceaselessly, pausing only to LONDON, Dec. 15 (Reuter). The e-fuel and to re-

renewed the move

assault carly this

French Threaten Reprisals moming without success. bombs Fleet Air Arm has best co-operating

re-load

before possibly heralding the

A considerable number of raiders res. Heavy losses are reported on both with the R.A.F. in the attack on the taking off for the battlefeld.

again

HANOI, Dec. 15 (UP)—Iteview- crossed the south-east coast. A wide- toration of some measure of sides from Struga which is on the ing Saturday and Sunday's hostilities, spread and intensive anti-aircraft | Liliyan coast, states the Admiralty. Army personnel in Cairo unani- the Parliamentary government Yugo-Slavian border.

To-night the Greeks are reported to Including eight raids with over 100 barrage kept the raldiers at a great cities in which there wero three The announcement was made Tepelini at Re nearest point awaiting French casualties and many houses just outside an East Anglican town, only 24 hours after the removal reinforcements before attempting destroyed, a French official made a but no damage has been reported. of Laval.

another assault on the heavily de-statement that "heavy French re Ideal Flying Weather It stated that

National TURN to Back Pago, Column 5

prisals are likely to-night. Bamba The Channel was blanketed in a Assembly would advise and "sharo

are now our only means of making low-flying fog above which the sky responsibility.

TURN to Back Pago, Column 5 TURN to Back Pago, Column 5

In an attack un Tripoll, four tons mounly declare that a great part of crushed by authoritarian France, be holding positions aboutļu mile from bombe dropped on four Indo-China (height as they flew inland,

of bomba were dropped.

In addition to direct hits on ships, explosions and damage to warehouses

were observed.

the

success of. the entire operations is due to Air Chlef Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore's well-calculated and con- TURN to Back Pago, Column 3

Hungry French Raid

Thai Towns For Food

Special to the "Telegraph”

BANGKOK, Dec. 15 (UP)-It is officially stated by That sources that a shortage of foodstuffs has caused widespread distress on the French side of the Mekong frontler, resulting in

Marshal Petain did not reveal) whether it will be partially or wholly elected. French political Parties havo been banned, therefore the new likely to contain Assembly is representative of all corporations and

professions as well respresenta lives scientific Institutions and uni- vorsilles.

It is indleated also that a body similar to Mussolini's Italian Cham-

Warning To Russia

Bevin's Straight Talk

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

GLASGOW, Dec. 15 (UP)--- ber of Fasces will probably be set up. Mr Ernest Bevin, Minister of

A rigid censorship, which forbids torolgn correspondents to mention Labour and National Service,

British

A number of bombs were dropped

Planes

Stage Sunday Raid On Berlin

Special to the "Telegraph”.

BERLIN, Dec. 15 (UP)-The Royal Air Force today.

|_ the frequent ralding of Thal towns by hungry French hidin-anyway" Lavaldismissal, sharply-warned-Russia-not to ended the city for the first time in 19-days. However, it was

changes in the Constitutional: Acts, interfere in the internal affairs Annamite unlts who are seeking bod. `-

"or other matters”...... surrounding The report added that all warned that Francii planes were ap-vesterday affair, indicated that of Britain when he spoke at a one of the least eventful raids thus far.

Marshal. Petain's announcement of civil dinner to-day,

In the centre of the city; light air alarm owing to the present French civilians have evacuated prouching. They returned an hour the new consultative National Referring to Communists who had firing was heard for about ten weather conditions, were caught la the Mekong region.

fater, the enemy having failed to put Assembly is directly connected with hockled at an earlier meeting, Mr minutes soon after the alarm. restaurante In the west end of the In an oppearance. Military circles the removal of Laval, 3:

Bovin said: "The Government has

city. This resulted in a tremendous believe that refugees have exaggerat Aerial Activity,

definitely in a telephone inquiry by war strategy. It has to teach Russia complete silenco,

when the "All Clear" wna sounded." UDORN, Dec. 18(UP)That they admitted that Ullern, had been gillar Press from Zurich to Vichy that her method of carrying on her

Owing to the lengthy gap, however, A communique Imued after the planes took off from the Udorn base raided twice on December 10 and that Laval is in custody on foreign policy does not pay in this since the last raid, tens of thousands raid stated that leaflets were dropped at 5 am. on Friday when they were TURN to Back Page, Column 5 disclosed charges."

of Barliners, who were expecting, an¦ in the suburb..

ed the reports of air raids. However On Sunday. It was established got to face the issue as a matter of Afterwards there was nimoat | jam in buses, street cars and subwDYS.

country.