ALEXANDRIA BOMBED

Evening Star, Issue 23907, 10 June 1941, Page 5

ALEXANDRIA BOMBED

AH ALL-NIGHT RAID NO WARSHIPS HIT ALEXANDRIA, June 9. It is feared that hundreds of persons were,killed or injured in a nightlong air raid. Squadrons of German planes dive-bombed the Arab and European residential quarters, which were severely damaged. The main attack developed over the harbour, where British and Greek warshipsput up a terrific barrage. No warships or military objectives were hit. A later message from Cairo says it is estimated that between 200 and 300 were killed in the raid. A special Royal Air Force Middle East communique issued on Sunday states: Royal Air Force fighter aircraft intercepted and shot down an enemy bomber over Alexandria this afternoon. An enemy aircraft crashed near Agame. Crowds streamed from*the city following Saturday night’s air raid, the roads being thronged for miles with cars and carts piled up with bedding, furniture, and old horned gramophones. Families of eight and 10 people crammed into taxis, while the poorer folk trudged on foot, many leading goats. British people are participating in the rescue work. 1 The Prime Minister, Sirry Pasha, announced an immediate appropriation of £300,000 for relief. TRANSPORT FOR EVACUEES (Rec. 8 a.m.) CAIRO, June 9. The Prime Minister, Sirry Pasha, announces that the Government will pay the expenses of all wishing to leave Alexandria. Trains have been placed at their disposal.

NETHERLANDS INDIES ' JAPAN’S TRADE OVERTURES FRESH INSTRUCTIONS TO DELEGATES TOKIO, June 9. It is reported that Mr Matsuoka intends to send fresh instructions to the Japanese delegation in the Netherlands East Indies within a few _ days. Tho importance of the instructions is foreshadowed by reports that Mr Matsuoka intends to draft these after full consultation with the Ministers of the Navy and Overseas Affairs and the other Government departments concerned. STRINGENT MEASURES URGED COMMENT IN JAPANESE PRESS TOKIO, June 9. The ultra-Natioualistic organisation, tho “ Kokusai Mass Party,” presented a resolution to Prince Konoye and Mr Matsuoka urging the Government to end the negotiations with the Netherlands East Indies and talm stringent measures concerning tho position. Meanwhile the ‘ Asahi ’ asserted that the next few days would decide the fate of the parley, and added that there was little hope for a renewal of the negotations, due to reports from Foreign Office authorities with the Japanese delegation that the Indies reply was “ extremely unsatisfactory.” BISMARCK SUPPLY SHIPS TWO MORE SINKINGS SEARCH BY NAVY CONTINUES LONDON, June 9. Two more enemy ships, which were intended as supply vessels for the Bismarck, have been sunk. This news follows the announcement late last w 7 eek that three supply ships and an armed trawler had been destroyed. Making this announcement, an Admiralty communique states that when it became known that the Bisarck was setting out to attack merchant vessels iu the Atlantic, it was obvious that she could not operate for any length of time without replenishing fuel supplies. Measures, by air and sea, were accordingly taken to search for supply ships, and already five and an armed trawler have been sunk. The operations are continuing.

AMERICA'S POSITION MUST FACE REALITIES WASHINGTON, June 9. The Assistant Secretary of War, Mr Robert Patterson, in a speech, declared: “The French leaders have become so physically and spiritually bankrupt that they have evidently undertaken to .help Germany to enslave others. The Nazis have not concealed their hostility to the United States and allvwe stand for. Some say war with the Nazis is just round'the corner. It may be so. But of this we may be certain—Hitler will wage war against us the instant it suits his plans. Wo must face reality, conscious that there will be sacrifices, and that we may have our measure of blood, sweat, and tears.” MIDDLE EAST COMMAND BRITISH TROOPS IN EGYPT (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY', June 9. The War Office announces that Lieu-tenant-general Sir J. Marshall Cornwall, whoso appointment as G.0.C.-in-Chief appeared in the London ‘ Gazette ’ on June 3, has assumed his appointment as G.0.C.-in-Cliief of the British troops in Egypt, which is a component part of General Wavell’s command in the Middle East. Lieutenant-general Marshall Cornwall, who is 54, was chief of the British military mission _to the Egyptian army in 1937. and since the beginning of hostilities has spent much time at British G.H.Q., Cairo. In recent staff talks with Turkey he represented the Middle East Command. From 1928 to 1932 lie was British Military Attache at Berlin. When the prerent war broke out ho was DirectorGeneral of Air and Coast Defence at the War Office.