ARMY IN AFRICA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23880, 3 February 1941, Page 8

ARMY IN AFRICA

FRENCH TROOPS' DUTY OPPOSING COUNSEL IWEYGAND AND DE GAULLE THE BATTLE FOR LIBYA By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (.Received February 2, 5.35 pan.) LONDON, Feb. 1 Broadcasting to General. Weygand's armv in North Africa, General de Gaulle, leader of the Free French Forces, urged help to complete the conquest of Libya, and said France was closely bound up with the outcome of the battle in the French independence would vanish forever if the battle were lost. General Weygand broadcast an appeal to the French in North Africa to collaborate loyally in reconstruction under Petain, says a message from Algiers. He gave a warning that action would bo taken against all propagandists. "We build a new Africa, in which there is no place for politicians." he said. "You will hear one day from your chief. What we want from you is faith and confidence." NEED IN MODERN WAR MECHANICAL ACCESSORIES HOW TANKS SAVE LIVES CAIRO, Jan. 25 he Italians in Bardia and Tobrtik were quite prepared to tight it out," said Major-General I. G. .Mackay, commander of the 6th Division, A.1.F., in an interview. "If you go at them in a half-hearted way they won't surrender, but will fight on," -Major-General .Mackay declared. "But when an attack is prepared and big artillery fire and tanks are employed, with a determined infantry following up and giving them no peace, they realise the odds are against them and that they might as well surrender as be killed. "I think that is the reason for the large number of prisoners we take and the lighting ending as quickly as it has. "It all shows that if you have weight of artillery and heavy-armoured vehicles the man with the machine-gun and rifle cannot stand against you. I think this is the cheapest way to go to war. "Both Bardia and Tobruk have shown very few casualties on either side. Seemingly impregnable positions were taken quickly. Tanks are an economy in such matters, as they save human lives. "There is only one kind of equipment for a modern army, and that is these niechanical accessories in their hundreds and thousands. Additional proof of that is that Germany overran strong defences in Holland and Belgium in a few days and brought France to her knees in six weeks. the Australian nation goes to war, it has to realise that the easiest thing to produce is men, but if we want tliem to fight well we must also produce thousands of tanks oyer and above the ordinary fighting equipment. "There is r.o question that the troops in this action, both Australian and British, showed themselves to be a splendid body of men, and each one in his particular rank and service fought his very best. "The 7 success obtained was due to the teamwork of everyone, from the staffs and commanders down to the newest recruit." HUNGRY ITALIANS PUBLICIST'S ADMISSION LONDON. Jan. 31 A. message from Zurich, confirming for the first time discontent in the poorer classes in Italy, which comprise 95 per cent of the population, states that the Italian publicist, Ansaldo. in an article in 11 Telegrafo, says those better situated are hoarding food in a disgusting and scandalous manner, with the result that the poorer classes have become so discontented that they ! are showing their indignation. It is officially stated from Berlin that several-members of the Hoover War Relief Committee have arrived for negotiations after touring Belgium and Holland, where they gained a comprehensive picture ox the food position. STRIKE? IN WARTIME POLITICIANS' OPINION REMARKS STRONGLY RESENTED SYDNEY, Feb. 1. t Strong official reaction was noted to j statements made at Thursday's confer- . ence of the Country Party, when pro- ] minent delegates expressed the opinion j that -strikers in wartime should be put i against a stone wall to face a firing i squad. ; The Attorney-General, Mr. W. M. ! Hughes, declared that nothing would! do more to encourage Bolshevism than ' to talk of firing squads. People who j made such statements seemed to forget I that this was a free country and what \ was regarded as possible in 1890 was not possible in 1911. "While I deeply deplore the stoppages in industry," said Mr. Hughes, "I feel impelled to ask the gentlemen ' who. suggest putting the workers up against t.he wall and shooting them how they would regard a decree ordering them to sell their wheat at a shilling a bushel or bo shot." Similar opinions were expressed by other Federal Ministers and prominent business men. TRAWLERS HIT BACK GERMAN BOMBER SHOT DOWN (Received February 2, 5..'i5 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Jan. .11 Geiman airmen who myke brutal attacks on British fishing vessels are being R' V(, n cause to regret their actions" Jwo trawlers, the Charmouth and the J.attrey, More peacefully fishim>- when they were attacked by a large Messersehmitt.. The airman circled the trawlers and—it is beyond doubt—established t.iat the vessels were fishing. The aircrait then attacked, but the bombs missed both the trawlers. The aircraft then circled again and attacked with machine-guns and cannon. Both trawlers fought back vigorously and the aircraft was hit repeatedly, and /finally driven off damaged and thought to be on fire. Although the trawlers made no claim to having shot down this aeroplane, it crashed into the sea. some miles away. GAOL FOR GERMANS NEW YOTJK, Jan. 31 ! > Wilimlm Kunze and eight GermanAmerican Bund associates were senUnced says a message from Newton. New Jersey, to 12 to 14 months' imprisonment for violation of the State Tl,e