WAR TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 287, 26 March 1941, Page 2

WAR TOPICS

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"PATENT INFRINGED" GERMAN PLAINT "It is the greatest infringement of patent rights in history, : ' declares the Bj-rlin newspaper, Voelkischcr Beobachter, in discussing Hie landing of parachute troops by Britain in Italy. The newspaper, however, does not state -whose patent—Germany's or Russia's. Although seeking to miiv'nrsc the effectiveness of the raid, the newsminer adds: "It cannot ha-e been difficult to find volunteers for such an attempt, for dating and men have never been lacking in Britain." The decision to treat captured British parachutists as ordinary prisoners of war "in the honourable and chivalrous manner characteristic of the Italian people" has been given attention here, especially in view of earlier uncertainty. The military correspondent of The Times says that although the Italians have an ornate way of putting things there is no reason to sneer at the statement. "We may be content that they are prepared to conform to the usages of war regarding uniformed troops who are in no sense spies." Hitler wants the Italians to treat our parachute troops honourably because he himself sets great store by this form of attack, suggests the Daily Express in an editorial. RAILWAYMEN IN ARMY Railway employees released for military service overseas number '2728, according to figures quoted by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. R. Semple. He said that in addition about 550 employees were undergoing territorial training.

Mr Semple said that 3124 raihvaymcn served from 1914 to 1918 with the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 44G, or 18 per cent, losi their lives, and 111 were awarded military honours, including one Victoria Cross. The total enlistments of railway-men in >he last war were 4162.

LEGLESS PILOT Squadron-Leader Douglas R. S. Bader, the legless pilot whose investiture by the King with D.S.G'. and D.F.C. is announced, ler.ds a squadron of Canadians. Bader was a crack Rugby player and a stunt pilot when, in 1931, he crashed and was only saved from death by the amputation of both h!s legs. Nine months after that accident. he was equipped with alumjnium legs, took a course in civil aviation, and applied to be taken back into thq Service. He was ref used. He took a job in an oil company, devoted himself to golf, to swimming and to squash. Likewise he danced —usually with the wife whom ho led to the altar without the aid of sticks. He applied to the Air Ministry to "no taken back the day Avar broke tut. "Let me fly single-seaters." hp said. He was tested—he had to keert his elbows on his knees, as, when he "blacks out" in a turn, he has no automatic reaction in his artificial limb*?—and was passed. They"'him the job of an air-taxi"mjin; but he wanted to be in the fighting line. Ultimately, he won his point. He had a sMght crash and his metal legs were bent. They were hammered out by the armourer in half an hour and he was in the air again. "Couldn't have done that with the old ones," he said. Bruler went from Pilot Officer to Plying Officei to Flighty Lieutenant. He was made a Squadron Leader., One day, they were flying at 15,000 feet: half a mile below them tW'ey saw » cloud of German machines flying in f rom the sea. There were between 70 and 100 of them. Leading the squadron. Bader dived sheer, guns spitting. The Germans scattered, Three of them climbed to dodge the attack but Bader swerved in mid-air, zoomed up and caught one of them point blank. A thrcc-secind burst of fire cut the machine to pieces. Again Bader swerved- chased another machine, which fled: but there was no escape. - Tho eightfold guns whirred and the enemy plunged to earth. He was attacked ns he turned, avoided the assault and counter-attacked in turn, but the German pilot had had enough ; he streaked for France and Badei had no fuel to chase him. His squadron brought down 11 machines that day and he now holds the D.S.O. Mrs Bader sews the D.F.C. onto the uniform of every member of the squadron who wins* one—and her needles are busy. -

More, when Bader walked into a local inn, every single R.A.F. man got to his feet: not for his rank—■ for his guts. WAGES BONUS WHAT OF SOLDIERS' DEPENDANTS ? An assurance that dependants of soldiers overseas would get the 5 per cenL cost of living bonus as given by the Arbitration Court to industrial workers was sought from the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, in a question of which Mr H. S„ S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton), gave notice in the House. Mr Kyle said in a note that soldiers' dependants were in a worse position, owing to the rise in the cost of living, than any other section of the community. , "They do not pay any taxes," said Mr C. A. Barrell (Government, Hamilton) .

"A la Churchill." She tail woman of about 50, and travelling home on an Aucklarra suburban tram. Neatly dressed, normally she might have attracted little attention had she not been smoking a cigar, and .with; evident relish, loo! When she reached her stop she rose unconcernedly, picked up her gloves, bag and a paper in one hand, nonchalantly flicked the ash from the cigar, and before alighting, placed it in a cor- - ner of her mouth., a la Churchill.