1941-03-31 — Page 1

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The

FIRST EDITION GILMAN'S

Hongkong Telegraph.

FOUNDED 1801

No. 10420

~拜禮 號一卅月三英港香 MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1941.

日四初月三

FIVE ITALIAN WARSHIPS SUNK IN BIG NAVAL & AIR BATTLE

Fleet Suffers No Casualties

British

28 Italian FIRMED THAT THREE ITALIAN CRUISERS, FIUME, POLA, AND ZARA,

Vessels Seized By America

Guards Places On Conte Biancamano

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

WASHINGTON, Mar. 30 (UP). The Treasury De- partment to-day ordered the Coast Guard to seize and .take possession of all Italian ships in United States terri- torial waters; these total 28.

This followed an earlier order under which the Coast Guard boarded the ships to prevent sabotage by the crews who alleged to have made many of the ships dangerously near the sinking stage.

ure

The Coast Guard ni Boston has been ordered to place guards on two German freighters but these have not been seized. Soldiers und sailors have boarded the Italian steamer, Conte Bian- camano, which is in the Canal Zone.

*The Conte Binneamano will be well remembered by Hongkung ru sklents as a regular caller at Hong- kong in pre-war days. She was on the Europe-Far East run and WHA Lloyd Triestino's latest vessel on the Orient schedule.

Nazi Ship Boarded

LONDON, MAR. 30 (REUTER).—IT IS OFFICIALLY CON-

HAVE BEEN SUNK AS WELL AS A LARGE ENEMY DESTROYER AND A SMALLER DESTROYER. THERE WERE NO BRITISH CASUALTIES.

Latest news of the naval and air battle in the Mediterranean shows that Britain has struck the greatest blow of the war at sea.

Five Italian warships-three cruisers and two destroyers-have been sent to the bottom without a single casualty or the slightest damage to the British Fleet.

INVASION

PORTS ATTACKED Activity By R.A.F.

LONDON, Mar. 30 (Reuter). -German Invasion ports along

ed by R.A.F. bombers after dusk to-night. Explosions were heard

The news of Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham's operations is described briefly the Channel were heavily attack- in the following communique issued by the Admiralty this evening:

"The Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, reports that no casualties or damage from the British side and fires were sustained by His Majesty's ships throughout the recent operation.

"Some of our aircraft are, however, not accounted for.

The Italian cruiser Zora.

Anglo-French Duel Near Gibraltar

Shore Guns Fire On British Ships

LONDON, Mar. 30 (Reuter).—An incident in which French shore batteries in Algiers opened fire on some British light nayal forces is related-in-an-official-communique issued by the Ad- miralty,

NEW YORK, Mar. 30 (Reuler).— Armed Court Guards have been seen It states: "Reports have been received that a convoy of boarding the German oil tanker | four merchant ships, escorted by French destroyers, was due to Pauline Friederich, of 4,733 tons, In pass-through the Straits of Gibraltar and that

convoy carried Boston Harbour, Massachusetts, e- cording to the newspaper, "Eoston important war materials for Germany.

Record,"

NEW WORLD

BY MR ATTLEE

-Eradicate Fear

LONDON, Mar. 30 (Reuter). -Looking ahead to the day

"Accordingly orders were given for Intercepting the convey which, how- ever, passed through the Straits within Spanish territorial waters. Our furces caught up with the French ships after they had left Spanish territorial waters and called "upon them to stop so that the normal pro- ccture of visit and search might be

carried out.

"The French shore batteries in the then opened fire on our ships

exercise of our

when Britain will have won the landing that they were mere war and peace, Mr C. R. Attlec, ly engaged in the Lord Privy Seal speaking inte belligerent rights.

KIANGSI VICTORY

Encirclement Of. Japanese

CHUNGKING, Mar. 30 (Cen- tral News). In the Battle of Glasgow today, predicted that. pelled to reply in their own defence scored a smashing victory over "His Majesty's ships were com- Kiungsi, the Chinese forces have in the new world, war would be and hits were observed on the shore. abolished and the shameful blot batteries.

of poverty in the midst of plenty would be removed.

Escape To Nemours

"We have to endeavour to free "In view of the action taken by people from the bondage of fear the French batteries; our warships fear of destruction either by war or

would have been fully justitied in by want. These are the two things firing on the French merchant ships which have oppressed the people of and their escort, but in the interests the twentieth century."

TURN to Back Page, Column 4

Crack New Troops and

Airmen Reach Singapore

|

the Japanese, declared the spokesman of the National Mili- tary Council in a press interview yesterday.

1

Among the casualties suffered by the Japanese was one division commander according to Japan- ese captives.

with

Three Japanese divisions participat- ed in the recent abortive offensive in northern Klangal, Advancing in three routes, the northern column was intercepted at an early stage of the campaign and thrown back losses, while the central and southern columns pushed forward and pene. trated to areas north-east of Shang- kao, south-west of Knoan and the southern bank of the Chin River,

SINGAPORE, Mar. 30 (Reuter)—The first units of the Bri-where they have been dispersed, cuf tish Army and Royal Air Force to reach the Far East from the up and decimated. United Kingdom since the war began, have arrived in Singa

Held In Net pore. This announcement was made to-day by the C-in-C, Far these areas

Surrounded by the Chinese in East, Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, announcing spokesman continued, the Japanese since March 22, the additional reinforcements.

have made repeated attempts to strength in the East is a threat to He added that the majority of no-one, but on the other hand, it senpe encirclement but so far have the newcomera wero of famous a great stabilising force and influence been frustrated, Indian regiments. The personnel Australia have sent strong forces to bodies are minus one hand which, The battlefield is strewn witli Already India pence,

and Japanese war dead. Most of the of the R.A.F. Includes some of this aren and they are continuing to according to Japanese captives, has Britain's crack fighter pilots play a most important part in main- cut off and taken away as identi while the British Army re-taining the status quo in the Far Ocation of the men killed in action. inforcements include artillery, East.

War booty. Includes feld pieces,

for

"it is cause for considerable satis-machine-guns, rifles and ammunition. faction to be able to record that the situation in other theatres of war is so favourable that forces from so far distant ns the United Kingden can not only be spared for service in this area but can be trans orted safely in Yosuke anite of the concentrated sen

infantry and mechanised units.

The Indian reinforcements Include Punjabis, Mussulmans, Rajputs and Dogrds as well as troops from Indian states in both north and south India.

After announcing the arrivals to day, Air Marshal Brooke-Popham de clared: "Our greatly increased TURN to Back Pago, Column 3 Rome.

Matsuoka Leaves For Rome LONDON. Mar. 30 (Reuter)-Mr Matsuoka, The Japanese and Foreign Minister, has left Berlin for

"So far, it is confirmed that the following Italian warships have been ounk: the eight-inch cruisers Fiume, Pola and Zara; the large destroyer Vincenzo Gioberto; and the destroyer Maestrale.

10,000-Ton Cruisers

"Further details are awalted." The Fiume, which was heavily

were seen in the direction of Calais..

Earlier during daylight, fre- quent patrols of R.A.F. fighters were seen over the Straits of Dover, flying across the Channel towards the French coast.

Nothing was seen of any German aircraft from the Kent coast except Eng bomber which was driven off,

The swoop of the R.A.F. on the German invasion ports along the French coast to-night was intensive and heavy. Watchers on the British side of the Channel had an excellent view. Bombs and gun flashes could bo seer along the entire coast from Calus to Dunkirk and clouds above Calnis were soon coloured by the glare of fierce Bres while the thud of my heavy explosions could be clearly heard.

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German Army On The

Move

LONDON, Mar, 30 (Reuter)-Reports from Solia indicate movements of German heavy artillery from the south to the north via the Kinajevo road through the suburbs of Softa, according to the Istanbul correspondent of the independent French agency.

The correspondent adds that German police are also carrying out passport control of passengers at Gwilengrad, on the Bulgo- Turkish frontier..

Vatican

Condemns Germany

Atrocity Campaign

LONDON, Mar. 30 (Reuter) ——All German broadcasts to-night gave prominence to reports of alleged anti- German ineldents in Yugo-Slavin, and It is pointed out in London that these reports closely follow the lines of the "atrocity" campaigns preceding the invasion of Czecho-Slovakia and Poland..

Mobilisation

armed, curried eight 8-inch guns CAIRO, Mar. 30 (Reuter). among her armament and her com-The important harbour of Tri- plement was 705 officers and ratings. poll was raided by British-A call to Catholic Germany to Extra military classes were called up

LONDON, Mar. 30 (Reuter). |- BELGRADE, Mar 30 (Reuter) All the three cruisers were of bombers during the night of awake and face the pagan action in a precautionary measure lo The destroyer Vincenzo Gioberto Friday-Saturday. Bombs

fell tendencies which

10.000 tons.

The

was 1,500 tons.

had

to-night. It is announced that this

the frontiers. the Nazi increase the defensive forces watching

The announcer declared that the religious situation in Germany was Tuesday. the Nazi attitude to the Church. in highly unsatisfactory and condemned outspoken terms.

was completed in 1930 and had a dis- among shipping and other ob-regime is spreading throughout placement of 1,700 tors and jectives. complement of 157.

the Reich and occupied territory The story is toll Maestrale

in an RA.F. similar Middle East communique Issured to- armaments but her displacement day. It states:

was made in a broadcast by the Vatican wireless to-day. italian East Africa. There was Survivors Reach Greece

further intensive activity by the RA.F ATHENS, Mar. 30 (Reuter)-Sur-In the town itself, the main station in the Asmara area yesterday, vivors have been landed at Piraeus buildings, trucks, sidings and motor from three Italian ships sunk in the transport park were repeatedly hit Eastern Mediterranean by British and severely damaged. Motor trans warships.

port und troops on the roads in The three Italian cruisers, Flume, same area were heavily bombed and Fola and Zara, and one Italian des-machine-gunned. Many vehicles were troyer are represented among these destroyed and others were damaged, survivors. They were brought in byj a Greek destroyer.

LATEST

··Seo Back · Page For · Further, Late Nows

A Birth batch of Italian civilians. icft by express for Milan last night. Except for diplomats and journ. alists, it is stated that most Germans and Italians here will have left by Envoy To Turkey ANKARA, Mar, 30 (Reuter).-The The threat of alate religion hung Yugo-Slav Ambassador to Turkey is over all religious life in these terri- leaving for Belgrade this evening theories.

It is understood that he has been The announcer said that lecturers, recalled by his government for con- pagan principles into German youth, teachers and propagandists inculcate sultation. who are deprived of proper religiousi instruction.

Free French Airmen "Aircraft of the Free French squa- Even in schools where the priest dron took part in the ruid

un an is in theory admitted, he often and chemy encampment between Gondar the door closed to him. and Asmara where military buildings were demolished by direct hits.

"North of Dessye and in the Awash area, considerable

able damage

was done to a large concentration of motor vehicles when they

bombed and machine-gunned.

were

Lupescu Saves Life

Frontier Closed

LONDON, Mar. 30 (Reuter)The German radlo.to-night reported that the frontier between Yugo-Slavin and Styria (Austria) has been closed by the Yugo-Slav authorities.

Germans living In Croatia have been asked to leave the country, says And Loses Property

the official German news agency. The first special train Wils.some 000 LONDON, Mar, 30 (Reuter). The Germans left this evening, Another remaining property in Rumoria be-train leaves early to-morrow tnorning. "The rollway station at Metahari | longing; to Madame Lupescu, who is Not only Italian Journalists but was also dive-bombed and the rail-accompanying ex-King Carol to Chile, way line was damaged.

has been confiscated, says a Bucharest "Aircraft of the South African Air message to the German news agency. Force carried out successful bombing and machine-gun attacks on motor transport and buildings in the Nagi tren, Near Diredawa, motor trans- port vehleles were overturned and many others were observed to be damaged after a machine-gun attack from the air.

Shipping Damaged "Libya-During the night of March 28-20, Royal Air Force bom- bers raided the harbour of Tripoll. Largo bombs were observed to fall Among the shipping and others were seen bursting between the wireless. station and the main electele power Elation.

Itallans generally are beginning to leave Yugo-Stavio, according to the TURN to Back Pago, Column 5

Britain's Air Raid Shelters Sensation

Special to the "Telegraph"

LONDON, Mar. 30 (UP).—It is reported that the Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security, Mr Herbert Morrison, lus ordered several hundred public surface shelters in Britain to be pulled down because they are made with faulty mortar and are not even able to withstand the weather. It is understood that the order followed a series of collapses.

a

"Albania-Three successful offen- #ive reconnaissancer- were made yesterday against the Albaninn vili-, The order affects 500 shelters | pounds sterling to the specifications nger Berat, Dukai and Dukati.

"From these operations, all our air-modating 8,000 persons in

in one town; nearly 60. accom- of Government experts when there craft returned safely."

was a shortage of mortar and cement. town near Birmingham, as well the chief components which were The experts advised a substitute for as many at Bristol.

lime and sand. The exports then Mr Harold Scott, Chief Adminis said they were "Just as good as trating Omeer of the London shelters cement." told the local authorities, "The Minister of Home Security has de-are unable to withstand the blast of It is reported that these shelters LONDON, Mar. 30 (Reuter)-With cided that all

of ungaged lime yards away:

ENEMY PATROL

SHIP SUNK

a' single bomb, a Coastal Command face shelters bumunal publia aur-even small bombs dropped, some

Blenheim to-day rank a German mortar must be closed." Provincial anti-submarine vessel off the Estuary authorities have been ordered loadering making it compulsory for Mr. Herbert Morrison, is also con- of the, Loire. The bomb, struck the examine all surface shelters for signs everybody In Britain to wear gas ship forward of the bridge, anys the of weakness, Air Ministry. There was a terrific explosion and the ship caught fire that those shelters were built 16 to the recent official warnings that The morning nowspapers revealed masks when away from home as a result of the lackadaisical responso and was seen to be sinking rapidly, months ago at a cost of several million the Germans may pomibly use – gat.