DESTRUCTION OF SUBMARINES

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 6

DESTRUCTION OF SUBMARINES

HIGHLY SATISFACTORY AVERAGE BRITISH WARSHIPS IN ACTION LONDON, September 21. A communique issued by the Ministry of Information announced that the sinkings of submarines in a fortnight worked out at an average of three tothree and a-half a week, compared with an average of just over one a week in 1917 and one and a-half a week in 1918. It is believed that Germany possessed 30 submarines over 500 tons ready for sea when the war began. British warships steaming at full speed and firing as they went were sighted from the south-east coast of England, says the ‘ Daily Mail.’ They were headed for the French coast, firing at a point ahead. The bombardment continued for five minutes. COMBINED ACTION BRITAIN AND FRANCE FINAL PLANS COMPLETE LONDON, September 20. The Paris correspondent of the ‘ News Chronicle ’ states that the purpose of the visit to Paris by the .Secretary for War (Mr L. Hore-Belisha) was to make final plans for immediate combined French and British action. Marshal Gamelin attended the conference. There is reported to be considerable movement of troops and motorised units behind the French lines. A statement from Berlin describes the German concentrations at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) as defensive and not offensive. They are designed, it is declared, to meet the French advance down the Moselle Valley. RUSSO-JAPANESE AGREEMENT FRIENDLY ADVICE " TO ALLIES WASHINGTON, September 21. The new Japanese Ambassador, Mr Kchsuke Horinouchi, in a statement said that the Russo-Japanese agreement to end the border warfare was not consummated through Germany’s good offices and should not bo regarded as a preliminary to a non-aggression pact or any move for close association between the Soviet and Japan. He added that Japan had given friendly advice to England and France to withdraw their, troop* from China lest Japan should be involved in the European war. Japan’s policy was to avoid entanglement and concentrate on a settlement of “ the China affair.” HITLER TO VISIT WESTERN FRONT " THEN THE GREAT CLASH WILL BEGIN " BASLE, September 21. The German newspaper . ‘ Ruhr Arbeiter ’ says Hitler will shortly go to the western front, and “ then the great clash will begin.” HAGUE COURT DECISIONS NOT BINDING ON DOMINION GENEVA, September 21. The New Zealand High Commissioner in London (Mr W. J- Jordan), in a letter to the League of Nations, stated that New Zealand no longer considered herself bound by decisions of The Hague Court. South Africa sent a letter on similar lines. GIFTS TO BRITAIN SOUTH AFRICAN FOODSTUFFS LONDON, September 21. The Johannesburg correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says that the City Council is sponsoring a campaign to raise £1,000,000 to despatch local surpluses of eggs, hutter, sugar, and other foodstuffs to Britain, free of all charges, as a gift. Assurances of support have already been forthcoming from all parts of the Union. MINISTRY OF ARMAMENTS CREATED IN FRANCE PARIS, September 21. (Received September 22, at 8 a.ra.) A decree creates a Ministry of Armaments under the direction of the Minister of National Defence, who is responsible for all supplies of armaments, chemicals, and explosives and the control of all factories.