SPITFIRES AND BOMBERS

Evening Star, Issue 23680, 13 September 1940, Page 7

SPITFIRES AND BOMBERS

DONATION FROM DUTCH EAST INDIES QUEEN WILHELMINA EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO BRITAIN (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, September 12. (Received September 13, at 10.15 a.m.) Queen Wilhelmina and her Ministers are already doing everything possible to begin immediately as soon as the moment comes revictualling of the Netherlands with foodstuffs as well as raw materials for the economic restoration of the country. “ We fully appreciate,” said Queen Wilhelmina, broadcasting, “ that notwithstanding our considerable merchant navy it will not be possible to give everybody immediately what ho wants, but we trust that the Dutch solidity of the plan will guarantee a Steady and mounting flow.” Expressing her heartfelt thanks for the countless expressions of congratulation, affection, and sympathy received on the occasion of her sixtieth birthday, Queen Wilhelmina said the commemoration had developed into an overwhelming demonstration for the restoration of the independence of the Netherlands and reunion in undisturbed freedom within the framework of the Dutch state of the Dutch community of 70,000,000 citizens this was an historical fact of lasting significance. “ A people which has a vitality and strong will cannot be subjugated merely by ,force of arms,” she said. “As a united people we will endure this trial. New proof of this can be found in the spontaneous generosity of the Netherlands East Indies for the Queen Wilhelmina fund which has been put at my disposal. The patriotism of the donors and their strong will to win the war for liberation of the Netherlands have given rise to their wish that part of the contributions of a total of 5,000,000 gilders shall be spent on military purposes in the Allied struggle. In conformity with the intention of the donors, I have informed the King of Britain that they plan to give a number of military aeroplanes through the medium of the Prince Bernhardt fund, in which fund this amount will be deposited. The great demonstrations of unity and will to independence, together with such signs of national generosity and energy, cannot but lift us above the difficulties and sorrows of' these days and enable us to look with confidence to the future, which, under God’s blessing, will give us all back a free and independent country.” 1 The fund will be used to supply 40 Spitfires and 18 Lockheed-Hudson bombers to the R.A.F. “ MAY RELY ON CANADA" PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE. TO MR CHURCHILL . OTTAWA, September 12. (Received September 13, at 8 a.m.) Mr Mackenzie King cabled to Mr Churchill: “ The men, women, and children of Britain may rely on Canada redoubling her efforts to give all the support in her power to their inspiring resistance to the barbarous, inhuman slaughter they are being called on to endure.” HOME GUARD IN AUSTRALIA EMPLOYMENT IN TIME OF EMERGENCY CANBERRA, September 13. (Received September 13j" at 9.10 a.m.) A conference of police commissioners and officials yesterday drew up a plan for the creation of a Home Guard, who will be required to assist the police in a time of emergency and also deal with subversive influences in the Commonwealth. The conference will recommend the Federal Government to adopt the proposal. FRANCE PAYS THE BILL UPKEEP OF GERMAN TROOPS HUGE SUM ALLOCATED VICHY, September 12. (Received September 13, at noon.) The Bank of France has agreed to place 50,000,000,000 francs at the disposal of the Government to pay for the upkeep of the German troops in occupied France. NEW ZEALAND CASUALTIES (Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 12. The following casualties are officially announced: — Private Tokena Pokai, of the 28th Maori Battalion, killed in a motor accident on September 5. A sister is Miss Tipi Pokai, of Tikitiki, Ruatoria. Pilot-officer Charles do Vic Plalkett, missing in air operations. His mother is Mrs A. J Canning, of 24 Stafford street, Wellington.