THE KING AND QUEEN

Evening Star, Issue 23679, 12 September 1940, Page 10

THE KING AND QUEEN

TOUR OF LONDON AREAS SYMPATHY WITH PEOPLE DEEPLY APPRECIATED (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, September 11. (Received September 12, at 9.50 a.m.) The King and Queen took shelter under a police station this morning during an air raid warning while their Majesties were on a tour of the bombed areas in South-east London. Their Majesties first visited a block of flats where a direct hit was scored by a German bomb and a number of people killed, and were deeply moved by what they saw. They then conversed with bereaved persons. They watched A.R.P. workers clearing the wreckage and expressed warm appreciation of their work.

As their Majesties walked from the scene the Queen conversed with a group of women, many of whom had lost relatives in the raids. As their Majesties entered their car this group sang * There’ll Always Be An England.’ Proceeding to another place where a heavy calibre bomb had completely demolished 12 houses on one side of the road and wrecked 12 others opposite, the Queen again spoke to a number of women, one of whom said: “Hitler knocked our house down, but he ain’t got us down.” Their Majesties both climbed over debris to look into a huge crater which a bomb caused. As they walked down the streets between wrecked or badly damaged houses, both the King and Queen frequently stopped and spoke to people, who told them that their visit had cheered everyone up wonderfully. One woman said to their Majesties: “Hitler has to have a bodyguard wherever he goes, but you come down here just like this. God bless you and keep you.” Their Majesties, in another borough, saw a church which had been wrecked by German bombs; also a block of flats damaged on Monday night. Everywhere throughout the three hours’ tour the sympathy shown by their Majesties was deeply appreciated. Their Majesties were much impressed by the wonderful spirit of the people. INDO-CHINA BORDER BRIDGE BLOWN UP JAPANESE TROOPS ON FRONTIER CHUNGKING, September 11. It is reported that the Indo-China authorities blew up a bridge at Shuikow, on the Kwangsi border, 25 miles west of Lungchow. A Kweilin message states that the Japanese have transferred 4,000 troops from Lungchow to the Indo-China border, also 5,000 volunteer Formosan High School students. JAPANESE DEMANDS \ GOVERNOR IN DIFFICULT POSITION SINGAPORE, September 11. (Received September 12, at 9.10 a.m.) Arrivals from Indo-China report that the Japanese demands are: Firstly, three air bases in Tongking, with 8,000 personnel each; secondly, the use of the Camranah Bay naval base; thirdly, the passage of 60,000 troops through Tongking. It is declared that the Governor, Admiral de Coux, is holding out against the Japanese, but cannot do so much longer, owing to pressure from the Vichy Government One report says Admiral d© Coux has already agreed to three aerodromes, ■ with I,OOQ personnel and the passage of 20,000 troops. Another report is that Admiral de Coux has sent three telegrams to President Roosevelt. The contents are unknown, but is is “ believed that he pointed out Indo-China’e critical position, especially as 95 per cent, of the population is opposed to Vichy and is for General "de Gaulle.” SIN O-JAPANEBE CLASH CHUNGKING, September 11. (Received September 12, at 1.35 p.m.) An official Central News Agency despatch from Kwangsi reports an' outbreak of Sino-Japanese hostilities within Indo-China. It adds that the Chinese are fighting 2,000 Japanese across the frontier.

GERMANS EXPLOITING SWITZERLAND

ITALIANS MORE HELPFUL LONDON, September 6. A correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ who lately has been in Switzerland says that Switzerland economically finds herself almost entirely at the mercy of Germany. Switzerland wants coal, which can only be provided by Germany, he continues. In return for coal, Switzerland is surrendering great quantities of reserve stocks of certain materials and also nearly all her petrol. Switzerland is not solely a German reserve. The Italians have interestsJn the south. Their attitude possibly reflects fundamental differences, hidden under the calm surface of the Axis brotherhood. They have shown a helpful attitude towards Swiss economic difficulties. In several ways, Italy would be a loser if Germany assumed control of German-speaking Switzerland, the correspondent ■ adds. It is important for Italians that their routes to France should not be threatened by a Germanised Switzerland, and, therefore, wherever possible, they are countering German propaganda, which aims to disintegrate the Swiss State from within. ITALIAN AIR LOSSES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY! September 11. It was announced in Cairo to-day that 177 Italian aircraft had been destroyed in the Middle East since Italy entered the war, and that 90 more had probably been lost.