LONG OVERDUE

Evening Star, Issue 23677, 10 September 1940, Page 6

LONG OVERDUE

NORWEGIAN SHIP TIRRANNA BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CAPTURED OR SUNK MELBOURNE, September 10. (Received September 10, at 1 p.m.) The Minister of the Navy (Mr Cameron) said he had known for about two months that the Norwegian motor ship Tirranna was overdue on her voyage from Melbourne to Mombasa. It was feared that the Tirranna had been either captured or sunk by an enemy raider in the Indian Ocean. The Tirranna carried a. crew of 60 and 12 passengers, including Lieuten-ant-commander S. Rasmussen, who married a New Zealand girl only a few months before he sailed. Nothing has been heard of the vessel since she left Melbourne on May 30. VATICAN WORKING FOR PEACE POPE'S MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT NEW YORK, September 9. (Received September 10, at 1.20 p.m.) The Pope informed President Roosevelt in a message carried by Mr Myron Taylor that the Vatican was doing everything in its power to halt the war in Europe and establish a just and enduring world peace. It is pointed out that the nature of the statement holds out little basis for hope that collaboration between President Roosevelt and the Pope could produce the prospect of immediate peace. CANADA'S WAR STRENGTH REPORT ON POTENTIALITIES WASHINGTON, September 8. The Foreign Policy Association, reporting on Canada’s war potentialities, noted that on July 24 the Air Force included 1,765 officers and 17,688 airmen, with 22 schools operating under the Empire scheme, under which 1,216 officers, 10,524 other ranks, 2,298 civilians aiid 2,643 pupils are in training, being an increase of 79 per cent, in two months. The army increased from 90,973 in. June to 154,000 on August 21, of which number 40,000 were abro'ad. The navy at the end of July had 113 vessels, with nearly 9,000 officers and men. Shipyards are constructing 18 mine-sweepers and 64 anti-sub--marine vessels, while two destroyers are being built and three liners • are being converted to armed cruisers. N.Z. AIRMEN CASUALTIES [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 9. The following Air Force casualty list was issued to-night:— Sergeant Laurie Andrew Woodney Rasmussen, killed on operations; father, Mr F. W. Rasmussen, 69 Epson Avenue, Epsom, Auckland. Percy Roy Paul, a clerk at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station at Harewood, was admitted yesterday to the Burwood Hospital, where he' was reported to bo seriously ill with pneumonia. His wife is Mrs M. Paul, 12 Morlcy street. New Plymouth. RUSSIA AND SWEDEN TRADE CREDIT AGREEMENT MOSCOW, September 8. A trade credit agreement between Russia and Sweden has been signed providing . Russia with £6,000,000 credit for five years for the purchase of Swedish equipment.' Interest will be : at the rate of 4J per cent. Over a fivefold increase in Russian and Swedish turnover is envisaged. It is proposed that Russian exports include petroleum products, grain, fodder and manganese. AMERICAN FLEET MANOEUVRES IN PACIFIC .HONOLULU, September 9. (Received September 10, at 11.13 a.na.) The United States battle fleet left Kahaina Roads for five days’ manoeuvres in the presence of Colonel Knox, Secretary for the Navy. HUGE CONTRACTS TONNAGE TO BE INCREASED BY 70 PER CENT. WASHINGTON, September 9. (Received September 10, at 1.30 p.m.) The Navy Department has awarded .contracts for 201 warships, which will cost 3,861,000,000 dollars. It is estimated that they will require five years to complete. Simultaneously it is revealed that the final negotiations have been reached towards the acquisition of 2,400 aeroplanes worth 108,000,000 dollars. To-day’s naval contracts will increase the present authorised tonnage by 70 per cent., including seven battleships, eight aircraft carriers, 27 cruisers, 115 destroyers, and 43 submarines. The House unanimously passed the 23,680,000-dollar Dry Dock Bill, authorising a 10,000,000-dollar dock in New York, a 7,500,000-dollar dock in the Panama Canal area, and improvements to the Boston dry dock.

TRAWLER STRIKES MINE EIGHT MEN MISSING (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 8. Eight men are missing, after the sinking of the trawler Salacon by a mine in the North Sea. TO THE BITTER END AUSTRALIA STANDS WITH BRITAIN BRISBANE, September 9. (Received September 10, at'll a.m.) Declaring that the 'Australian Government would support Britain to the bitter end, the Attorney-General, Mr ¥. M. Hughes, warned the nation that the Government would be forced to do many distasteful things, because the people must be prepared to pay a price in the fight for liberty.