Manila, Oct. 10.
Dr. Henry F. Grady, special United States Treasury Department expert surveying Far Eastern economic conditions, today chuckled end denied Japanese reports that he had signed a 99-year concession with the Chtnese Government for exploitation of Chinese mines.
Dr. Grady said that he had not yener eny new agreements with Chungkine for minerals. He ex-antimony. other vital raw materials were lone Dr, Grady added that the purpose of his trip last week to Chunekin^ was to speed un the delivery of th various strategic materials needed the United. States in the manufac of war equipment. He stressed tha Aeliveries of the minerals already were Food. hut he received assurance: from the Chinese that they woman make every effort to expedite the deliveries, Japanese reports claimed that he had obtained a 99-year concession from the ETE ent to aged F. area in Lagnanoa (Milan, largest textile concerns engaged cloth for the army) was destroy and a thousand men were out work.
Naples has suffered even tensively. An oil refinery a raid on the aerodrome. of citizens scurried to the where they could not find modation, in order to escape ports suffer even more. "None of her ships are safe, whether dri their home ports or on the sea or in Tripolitan harbours.. Some certainly—get through. The io North African ports is short and while many ships are sunk, some escape. For those that reach port, however, dan-Rer and destruction are just as great. The R.A.F. never leave Benghazi or Tripoli long undisturbed; as soon as there is a target it is dealt with. Thanks to the greater and daily growing strength of the Royal Air Force in the Middle East it is possible to maintain a steadily increased pressure.
While bombers from Britain fly their 600 miles across enemy and enemy-occupied territory and make attacks on Northern Italy, other bombers come in and smash at the south. Weather limits the scope of attacks in the north but knowledge
time is far from pleasant for the that attack may come of any Italians. The south, however, takes its share of RAF. bombers ' which by day and night plaster ports and harbours from which the Axis conveys put out for North Africa. The dangers of a journey begin before ships are cast off from wharves. Soldiers making for the transports are liable to be bombed or machine-minned on their journey. Ina bar-hour, as at Palermo, their ships may be sunk before sailing. Such as do bat, run the gauntlet of attack before they reach a haven that is any thing but safe.
Benghazi and Tripoli are pettle-necks of supplies hat when the OUR. po: visits is well illustrated: by the. te-cent raid on Tripoli, Bombers come in over the port, the leader making a dive from about 4000 feet to attack the tanker. Stick bombs fell true and a brilliant flash followed by belching clouds of: black smoke. The resulting fire acted as a beacon for the other bombers coming in to attack and cargoes of high explosives were dropped on other ships, lighters and barges in the harbour. It must have been one of the most spectacular sights that even experienced pilots have seen. for of battered from the tanker soread like a blazing blanket over the waters of the harbour. The attack lasted for two hours ang when the aircraft left, the crews could see fire shining through smoke and haze from many miles away.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.