WAR NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 23678, 11 September 1940, Page 8

WAR NEWS

OUTER HEBRIDES

Gin FOR PURCHASE OF PLANES ISLANDS' FINE WAR RECORD (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph —Copyright RUGBY, September 9. The spirit of the British people and their determination to rid Europe of the curse of Nazi oppression are illustrated by the action of the population of the islands of Lewis and Harris, who are mostly fishermen and crofters, in sending over £6,000 to Mr Churchill to be devoted to the purchase of aeroplanes. In a telegram to Mr Churchill, which he gratefully acknowledged, the islands’ Spitfire Committee says: “On the anniversary of the declaration of war the people of Lewis and Harris, in the Outer Hebrides, are proud to convey to you their unswerving loyalty and devotion to the national cause. Since September these islands have claimed the high honour of haying more men proportionately in the fighting services than any other part of the Empire. Many villages have had close on 20 per cent, of their total population on service since the outbreak of war. The casualties have been three times higher than for the country as a whole. The people still at home, wishing to mark that record of those on active service, have to-day forwarded the sum of over £6,400 to the Ministry of Aircraft Production for the purchase of fighter planes to be called the Lewis and Harris fighters. This sum was col- . lected in a single. week with the enthusiastic support of the islands’ crofting and fishing communities.” Typical of the spirit which accomplished this result is the comment of a crofter who contributed £l, declaring that he «4iad not £1 to give but he would sell his croft to get it. WAR NEWS GABLES 1 , * AUSTRALIAN COMPLAINT SYDNEY, September 10. Australian newspapers generally are complaining of the heavy delay in cable messages from London . covering air raids and other important items. Some are taking up to 10 hours in sion.AWARDED JHE D.F.G. AUSTRALIAN PILOT-OFFICER LONDON, September 10. (Received September 11, at 1.20 p.m.) Pilot-officer Alexander Herbert Gould has been awarded the D.F.G. The citation states that he piloted a plane detailed to carry out a very low-altitude night attack on warships in Wilhelmshaven Harbour in July in face of a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire. On many previous occasions Gould has shown conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He always pressed home his attacks in the same fearless manner. His father lives in Kiami, Australia. AMERICAN RED CROSS GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS WASHINGTON, September 9. The Cross ordered the immediate purchase in London of 12 mobile canteens, each composed of eight vehicles, at a total cost of 65,000d01. These will be used to rush hot foods to bombed areas. Since May the Red Cross has sent to England 151 ambulances, 5,000,000 surgical dressings, 2,138,000d0l worth of medicines, thousands of pounds weight ■of canned and dried foods, and 470,000 pieces of clothing. NEW ZEALAND WAR CASUALTIES DEATH OF A PRIVATE . [Pee United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 10. The death of Private Alexander Lindsay Meikle, a member of the second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in England, was officially reported today. Mrs E. Horwell, Timaru, is his sister. AIJCKLANDj Se pt em ber 10. Advice that his son, Sergeant Gunner James Bracegirdle, serving with the R.N.Z.A.F. in England, is missing, has been received by his father, Mr Arthur Bracegirdle, of Parnell. Sergeant Bracegirdle, who was 21 last November, joined up two weeks after the outbreak of war and went to Levin for preliminary training in the Air Force. Later, he went to Obakea to train as a gunner, and he left New Zealand last march. NEW PLYMOUTH, September 11. Advice has been received at New Plymouth of the death on active service in Eng>and of Sapper Oswald J. Jans, a member of the forestry detachment of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary .Force. Jans, who was 47 years of age, was unmarried. He was the second son of the late Mr and Mrs O. Jans, for-' merly well-known residents of the Stratford and Oakura districts. Jans also lived for some time at Oakura and Okato, but for the past 10 years had lived in the King Country, where he was engaged in contracting. He saw three years’ service in the last war. He enlisted from Taumarunui.

THE VICHY TRIAL

ENGINEERED BY NAZIS GENERAL DE GAULLE'S. SCATHING COMMENT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 9. Describing the Vichy trial as having been deliberately engineered, General do Gaulle, broadcasting, said: “The Vichy Government, acting under Hitler’s horsewhip and Mussolini’s lash, had the task of convincing the world that France was wrong to enter the war. To this so-called Government the people were criminals who believed that France was threatened or thought France should fight well, and those who resisted this honourable temptation were selling themselves into slavery without even drawing a sword. “ Although in the whole world,” General de Gaulle continued, “ from Gibraltar to Kamchatka, from Magellan to Behring Strait?, not a single person seriously doubts that those responsible for the war are the dictators in Berlin and Rome, yet a monstrous trial lias been started in France against Frenchmen, who are being prosecuted for this offence. This is truly a magnificent achievement magnificent, let me hasten to add, for the enemy. “ One day,” General de Gaulle said in conclusion, “ without doubt there will be a real tidal of the guilty party, and there is every reason to believe that many of those now prosecuting will then be in the dock.” A message from Pondicherry states that French India rallied to General de Gaulle and denounced the Vichy Government. UNOCCUPIED FRANCE FOOD AND RAW MATERIALS GERMAN DEMAND ON GOVERNMENT MONTREAL, September 10. The Washington correspondent of the ‘ New York Times ’ says it is reliably stated that Germany formally demanded that the Vichy Government ship to the Reich 58 per cent, of the food and raw materials of unoccupied France and similarly such products imported to France in future. It is believed that tire new French Ambassador, who will endeavour to obtain food relief for France from the United States, will meet fresh obstacles, due to the foregoing. THREATENED WITH FAMINE GERMANS REMOVING FOOD NEW YORK, September 9. Dr Joseph : Stokes, jun., returned from a six weeks ’tour of unoccupied France on behalf of the Quaker relief organisation. He said the Germans were doing, nothing to help the inhabitants of the unoccupied zones, which are threatened with famine. The Germans, ho said, could permit food to enter, but the fact that they are removing food to Germany shows that they need it themselves, AMERICAN BOMBERS HELD AT MARTINIQUE WASHINGTON, September 10. (Received September 11, at 8 a.m.) The State Department is concerned at the fact that the French forces in Martinique remain in possession of 130 American bombers aboard an aircraft carrier. ' Diplomatic efforts to repossess the planes via America have not been successful.

MIDDLE EAST RAIDS

ITALIAN POSITIONS BOMBED FIRES STARTED AND TRANSPORT DAMAGED CAIRO, September 10. (Received September 11, at 12,5 pm.) A Royal Air Force communique states; “ The R.A.F. bombed Massawa and started fires. The South African Air Force raided Mogadiscio, bombed a motor transport, started a fire, destroyed an aeroplane, and damaged four others on the ground. It was observed that the main motor transport park which was attacked on August 28 was gutted. Qne enemy plane wag shot down During an enemy raid on Malta on September 7 we shot down one enemy fighter and seriously damaged another.” ROME'S REPORT ROME, September 10. (Received September 11, at 10.35 a.m.) A communique states “ Our air force started (ires at Jaffa, blew up a train at Mersa Matruh, and machine-gunned troop encampments in North Africa. The enemy raided a post in Cyrenaica. One was killed and four wounded. The damage was insignificant. The enemy also attacked Massawa, Asmara, and Dessie. Two wore killed and three wounded.”' UNREST IN ITALY SCORES OF ARRESTS ROME, September 10. (Received September 11, at noon.) It is reliably stated that scores of Italians Were arrested recently for defeatist and unpatriotic talk.

WELCOMED IN TRINIDAD

ANGLO-AMERICAN AGREEMENT CHORUS OF OFFICIAL APPROVAL (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 10. (Received September 11, at 1.35 p.m.) Trinidad’s public welcome of the agreement between Britain and the United States has been formally expressed by civic and commercial leaders. Captain Cipriani, sen., an elected member of the Legislative Council, Mayor of Port of Spain, and Labour leader, characterises it as a “ very great step forward.” Mr T. M. Kelshall, a nominated member of the Legislature, and ex-Mayor of San Fernando, said the agreement commanded the wholehearted approval of every sensible person in this community, and of the entire freedom-lov-ing world. The president of the Trinidad Chamber of Commerce speaks of it as one of the greatest events in history. The implicit trust of one nation for another is in glaring contrast to Nazi protective occupation. SOUTH AFRICAN VOLUNTEERS 100,000 HEN UNDER ARMS CAPE TOWN, September 10. General Hertzog’s motion that the Speaker be given the power to convene Parliament if he thought it expedient after consulting the Prime Minister was defeated by 82 votes to 57. The Prime Minister (General Smuts), in a speech, said the clearest proof that his policy was a success was the reliance on volunteers for the Army. “ To-day we have 100,000 men under arms, and I could get any number,” General Smuts declared.

SWEEPING CHANGES

NEW ORDER IN RUMANIA FOREIGN ENVOYS RECALLED BUCHAREST, September 10. (Received September 11, at noon.) Ex-King Carol’s name is being erased from all army associations. Ten generals and one Admiral who allegedly degraded the prestige of the army have been retired. The title of Ambassador has been abolished, and Ambassadors and Ministers are being recalled from Vichy, the Vatican, Ankara, Berne, Washington, Lisbon, Stockholm, and Berlin. M. Gabriel Marinescu, a former Bucharest police prefect, attempted to escape to Yugoslavia under a false passport, but was detained by legionaries .and returned to Bucharest. JAPANESE SHIPS FOR ENGLAND ORDERED TO PUT INTO LISBON LISBON, September 10. Japanese ships bound for England were ordered to put into Lisbon. Three have arriyed. and several are expected. CANADIAN WAR LOAN OTTAWA, September 10. (Received September 11, at 1.45 p.m.) The 141,000,000d0l second war loan has been fully subscribed.