1941-04-03 — Page 21

Thursday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

April 3, 1941.

Signals And Sappers Prominent

Prominent British

British Officers In Capture Of Asmara Describe Great

("Reuter's" Correspondent In Eritrea)

ASMARA, Ápr. 2-It took three months of the fiercest fighting of the war, in Africa to reach Asmara, the capital of Italy's oldest colony. The city stands on a great 7,000-feet high plateau protected on all sides by diminishing ranges of hills. Our troops advanced more than 250 miles across country designed for defence, stub- bornly pushing back an enemy of more than twice their number,

The Italiana had the ad-

vantage, through native troops

SUDAN

used to the country. They are ANGLO-TOYPTIAN renowned fighters but their spirit was broken at Keren, and at Asmara. the Italian High Command appeared to pin its faith on the crack Savoy Grenadiers and other white troops freshly brought from Addis Ababa but these quickly crumpled before the dash and determination of our forces.

campaign has Eritrean virtually terminated before the rainy come and the tremendous energy of the General Commanding the opera- tions who, although he drove the troops hard, never found the response lacking.

Tho

For the greater part of the time, our men were fighting on the tops of steep hills two, three or four thousand were always feet high, yet they plentifully supplied with water. AL whom I asked said that the rations were astonishingly good.

The Signal Corps performed extru- ordinary fents throughout the cam- palgn. During the Battle of Keren, alone they laid 300 miles of wire, keeping it in order over ground con stantly swept by machine-gun fire and mortars.

The Sappers also were unusually prominent since the rapid advance depended upon the speed with which they cleared the numerous blocks in the road. At all but one of these blocks they had to work under, fre, yet they cleared them within 12 hours.

.

Battalion Destroyed

In breaking through the fourth road block cocountered, our troops destroyed a battalion of Savoy Grenadiers. Seventeen officers and 300 men were captured, including the Colonel, who was found hiding in a 'dlich.

Over 100 Eritreans were taken. Our armoured vehicles advanced along the road to Asmara. Indian troops ranged over the hills on both sides pushed the Itallons off the heights and simultaneously another mobile force advanced down rallway-six miles to the south.

the

The capitulation of the capital was the sequel.

N. Y. Stock Exchange NEW YORK, Apr. 3 (Reuter). A seat on the New York Stock Ex- change has been sold for $22,000, showing a decline of $3,000 from the a new previous sale. This represents. record low level.

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Ottig

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Medi

AUT

British Officers Sent

To Polish Camp

LONDON, Apr. 2 (Reuter)-Seven hundred British officer prisoners of war in Germany have been transferred to camps in Poland possessing inferior amenities on the ground that condi- tions in an officers' prison camp in Canada did not conform to the Prisoners of War Convention.

This was revented by Mr R. Law, War Financial Secretary to the Oflee, in the House of Commons to- day. Mr Law said that enquiries had shown that the allegations regarding the Canadian camp were completely unfounded and that the camp had been favourably reported on by the International Red Cross.

Strong representations, Mr Law added, had been made to the German Government which he hoped would result in the return of the officers their original

Italia

It admits the losses, which could not be concealed because the survivora of the crews are in British hands, but mys nothing about the damage to the Vittorio Veneto which may or may

got not have

Naval Victory

("Reuter" With Mediterranean Fleet) ALEXANDRIA, Apr. 2 (Reuter).—Eye-witness stories of the great Mediterranean battle were given "Reuter" to-day by officers |

in the battleships Barham and Valiant and the cruiser Gloucester.

These made clear that the

lightning, broadsides from our battleships nipped in the

bud any hopes the Italians may have had of hitting

back. The Italian cruisers,

IMPERIAL

COUNCIL OF WAR

No Necessity Yet

Zara and Fiume, received LONDON, Apr. 2 (Reuter).- broadsides from the Barham The formation of an Imperial and Valiant within a few War Council, consisting of the seconds of sustaining direct Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, the hits from the Warspite.

Captain G. C. Cooke of the Dominions, Southern Rhodesin or Barham compared the battle- their representatives, a represen ships which used six-inch as well tative of India and representa- as 15-inch guns to a "team of tives of the colonies and protec- three perfectly trained boxers," torates, was suggested by Lord The Barham's first broadside Ellbanks in the House of Lorde scored a direct hit under the to-day.

Viscount Cranborne, Secretary of bridge of one cruiser and the State for the Dominions, intimated opposed the second caused a series of explo- that the Government

suggestion as not at present practic- sions.

and circumstances As this cruiser then began burning table or possible. He added that there

the were doubtless furlously from bow to stern, Barham shifted her fire to the second situations in which a conference of ship in the line which was already Dominion Prime Ministers might be burning. She received a broadside of the utmost value.

near the waterline. The fire aboard her became so fierce that a further Was target was sought but none found.

A point might be reached in which we might be able to look more into the future than at present and at such a moment, on Imperial Con ference might be essential.

An eye-witness said that the

In the Government's view, that cruiser's guns remained pointing fore and aft throughout the action. The moment had not yet come but should came from the situation alter so as to make it only Bre they put up Breda guns with tracer shells from possible to have such a conference, the Government would heartily wel anti-aircraft armament.

come it...

serve food.

Best Night Shoot Ever Commissioned Gunner Edwards of the Barham described the broadsides as the "best night shoot I have ever scen." He told how for many years overlooks the British Navy constantly Indeed it comntly

prac- the presence of this fast super-tised night actions.

Captain Cooke spoke in the highest battleship and two other battleships

in his ship.. of the Cavour and only speaks

class,

Peaks praise of every man of light units which were out- including the cook, who continued to Kunned by heavy but much slower craft. It somewhat lumely attempts to make capital out of the fact that they did not use their superior speed an important of reasons "for

which are not specified. character" LONDON, Apr. 2-The apologis but there is silence regarding the suci by the Italian authorities British claim that they were lamel explained away the crushing defeat by the British torpedo attacks from of the Italian Navy off Cape Matapon the air.

The statement also passes over in is a naive document which shows how completely the Italians are de-silence the fact that German aircraft ceiving or attempting to deceive fired upon the British vessels engaged

In rescue work., themselves.

Apologia

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Aboard the Gloucester, I was told

Near East Bombing

South Africans Drive Off Italians

how the Gloucester, Orlon, Ajax and Perth contacted the enemy warships

CAIRO, Apr. 2 (Reuter),— througliout Inst Friday while they endeavoured to lure them in the The bombing of enemy aero- direction of the British Fleet.

are

The officers of the Gloucester and dromes in Tripolitanla and South Orion testified to the good shooting African Air Force activities in

and. Abyssinia of the Italians. The Gloucester is Eritrea keeping sheli

splinters as trophies features of an R.A.F. com- though these did not scratch her munique. paint-work in failing aboard her. It says that the R.A.F. continues to

When the Italians closed in, our cruisers were able to reply and give active support to the successful Deveral

of their wolvors fell near operations of our ground forces in them. Shortly afterwards the Italian Eritren. South African fighters inter- battleship Vittorio Veneto was cepted and drove off a number of

Italian-planes-In-the-Asmara area. sighted, approaching full speed with

South Southern Abyssinia, in

a tremendous bow wave. All her African aircraft attacked enemy com- guns were soon trained on our munications and defences and various

cruiser squadron.

her

Crippling Attack

fir-

kinds of transport between Awash and Adama.

After the bottleship had been ing for some time, it was noticed that

range was lengthening.. was when torpedo bombers from the Enemy aerodromes in Tripolitania aircraft-carrier Formidable were were bombed yesterday by our air- making their crippling attack on her. craft.

Motor transport was also bombed and machine-guined at many other This places.

With our battle fleet coming up, From all these operations, our air- the four cruisers were again sent craft returned sately with one excep ahead to try and contact the enemy. tion. They succceded towards evening when the Air Arm was carrying out their dusk attack

After nightfall our cruisers con- tinued to hunt for the Italian Fleet, Meanwhile our battleships had got In rango of the Zara and Flume which were apparently asslating the stricken cruiser Pola,

Axis Ships

Protest Is Rejected

WASHINGTON, Apr. 2 (Rou-, ter)-Mr Cordell Hull, Secre- tary of State, has decided to reject the Gorman and Italian demands for the release of seized Axis ships, it is understood..

Asked st

conference press whether there was any present inten-: tion of releasing the ships na demand ed by the Axis protest Note, Mr Hull said that he had not heard of it în Government quarters.

When the United States replied to the proves ould probably toka up added, the State De- he partment with the Italian and German Embas sica the question of publishing cor- respondence,

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“Open Door” Is Shut To British Trade In China

LONDON, Apr. 2 (Reuter) Questioned about the "Open" Door trade policy in China in the House of Commons to-day, Mr It, A. Butler (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) said. that the British Government had for some time been watching The trend of Japanese policy towards foreign interests In China. and in particular the effect on British trade.

Recently he took opportunity That is why we have taken the op- to draw the attention of the portunity to bring the matter to the Japanese Ambassador to the urgent attention of the Japan

Government." AN present state of affairs which

Italy's Action In 1916 LEE THEATRE the British Government found

LONDON, Apr. 3 (Router) The right of the United States under international law to requisition 20 Italian, two German and 39 Donish of which the authorities took charge on Sunday, was maintained by Professor Goodhort, an authority on international law, broadcasting to night m the B.B.C. home nows.

1x

la

Every nation has the right, if it t Dressing, need of ships, he said, to requisition foreign vessels in iis fer

ritorial waters, subject to payment fáir compensations

GAHY COOPER,

THE WINTERNE

of

ByItaly-In 191 selted 37 German

Impossible to reconello with the past protestations of the Japan- osa Government about the main- tenance of the. "Open Door,"

Asked by Sir John Wardlaw-Milco

U.S. DEFENCE CONFERENCE

WASHINGTON, Apr. 8 (Reuter),

Whether It was right to assume that-IN order to accelerate progross with the Japanese had now gone back on the National Defence and For-

all their agreements regarding Euro

paan interests, Mr Butler said:

eign Aide programmes, Président

on one hand, Japanese state Roosevelt has requested his Secre ments, and on the other hand the taries of Stale, of War, Navy and the situation as it is now developing Treasury, and Mr Harry Hopkins, The Japaficas statements any that

Ahip: although the countriekware COMING SOON! their polley is unchanged whereas the who is in charge of the aid to de

Therint régi Portugal, Brasil," Paru Depot Pal Karajapus

and Spinknek taller petion.

more we look at the situation: the mocracies programmo, to confer With more unsatisfactory, we see it to be, bir ile afternoon,