PERSISTENT STORY

Evening Star, Issue 23682, 16 September 1940, Page 3

PERSISTENT STORY

INVASION ATTEMPT ALREADY FAILED AMERICAN DOCTOR'S REPORT SAW HUNDREDS OF GERMAN BODIES HIMSELF Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright JERSEY CITY, September 13. - Dr Charles F. Bove, head surgeon of an American hospital in Paris, on his arrival from France said the Germans had already attempted and failed several times to invade England at different points. Dr Bove described seeing hundreds of German bodies in the water near Cherbourg. He added that the Germans were constantly practising for invasion. They were forced to leap overboard and swim considerable distances fully uniformed and equipped. Dr Bove declared that he was aware of the invasion attempts from personal observation and talking with responsible sources. FRENCH WARSHIPS ARRIVAL AT DAKAR STATEMENT BY VICHY GOVERNMENT VICHY, September 11. /The Navy Minister announced that tlio Montcalm, the Georges Leygues, and the Gloire, in company with three destroyers, arrived at Dakar from Toulon. This completed the first major French naval movement. since the armistice. It is believed that the ships have been sent to protect the trade routes with Dakar, Casablanca, and other ports, where much needed foodstuffs are awaiting shipment to Franco. [A message from Gibraltar stated that the British naval authorities there confirmed that the French cruisers Gloire, Montcalm, and Georges Leygues, and the destroyers L Audacieux, Le Mail, and Le Fantasque passed into the Atlantic from the east. Their destination was not disclosed, but it was believed tiiat they were rallying to General do Gaulle.] THE RED SEA BRITAIN IN COMPLETE COMMAND LONDON, September 13. The Simla correspondent of ‘The Times ’ says the measure of the British command- of the Red Sea is reflected in the official disclosure that since the outbreak of war 71 troopships and supply ships from Indian ports have used the Red Sea route to the Middle East without loss. Since the Italian occupation of Somaliland two large contingents have passed unmolested through the Red Sea. Vessels from British, Australian, and South African ports are continually using the route in both directions. NEW BALLOON BARRAGE ENEMY RAIDER TRAPPED LONDON, September 14. It is learned authoritatively that the enemy bomber which fouled a balloon barrage cable and was destroyed early on Friday was caught in a barrage of improved desjgu. Balloons of this barrage fly at considerably greater height than has been possible hitherto. FANTASTIC CHARGE GEM OF NAZI PROPAGANDA MORE SINISTER WORK BY R.A.F. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 14. The German news services yesterday broadcast in all languages an absurd allegation that the R.A.F. has. been dropping over Germany and occupied territories containers carrying the Colorado beetle or potato beetle. There is no truth in this ridiculous story. The opinion is expressed here that Germany is spreading the rumour to explain the prevalence, of the disease, which has caused havoc in the Reich this summer. All through the season the German home broadcasts have been issuing detailed instructions as to how to fight this post, and how to obtain the collaboration of a special official detection service established to cope with it. The last such broadcast on duly 23 described the beetle, detailed the areas in which it was prevalent, and stated, “It was originally introduced into Europe from America,' and was widespread in Belgium and France. It has come to Germany.”

NEXT PHASE OF WAR

SPECULATION IN BRITAIN HITLER'S DESPERATE NEED FOR EARLY DECISION (British Official Wireless.) Press Association— By Telegraph — Copyright RUGBY, September 14. Mr Churchill's broadcast on Wednesday, in which he showed how seriously he regards the chances of an early attempt at invasion and with what measured confidence lie feels the nation may face tlie prospect, has given a direction to public discussion on the next phase of the war. Those who for some time have been expecting that events must soon move towards some kind of climax find corroboration in Mr Churchill’s rallying call, while those who argued that a pause was inevitable after the obvious failure of the Luftwaffe’s attempt to obtain air mastery over Britain are more ready than formerly to concede that they may not have given sufficient weight to Hitler’s desperate need for an early decision. In particular, those _ who tended to the latter view are obviously shaken by the new tactics of the wanton bombing of London. Leaving entirely on one side the legitimacy of the objectives selected for attack, where these can be distinguished from the entirely indiscriminate unloading of bombs over the heads of a large civilian population, they are of such minor importance from the point of view of directly damaging the British military strength that these tactics can only be explained on the assumption that Hitler is hazarding all on the chance of creating demoralisation in the I’ear while he tries to circumvent Britain’s defences at the coasts. The most competent authorities, therefore, present the air war on London’s churches, houses, offices, and schools, on men, women, and children from the’poorest in the East End to the richest in Mayfair, from the humbles! to the King and Queen, as an admission of weakness. In this connection il is interesting to note that the almosi unanimous verdict of observers from the United States is that this form of attack represents one of those major and disastrous miscalculations to which German exponents of power politics always seem to be liable. MISTAKEN FOR GERMAN BRITISH PILOT'S EXPERIENCE COUNTRY PEOPLE OH THE ALERT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 14. The watchfulness of the British people to prevent enemy pilots who have been shot down and descend over the country by parachute from escaping is well shown in a story, told not. without humour, by a Royal Air Force pilot who had to “ bale out ” owing to his oxygen apparatus catching fire. “ I came down rather too quickly and landed heavily in a potato field somewhat winded,” lie said, “ I had hurt my legs and back, but not seriously. Before I could get up half a dozen land girls came running up with sticks, a spade, a hoe, and a pitchfork. I called out, ‘ Hello, girls, help me out of my brolly will youF’ Realising that I was British they dropped their weapons, but suddenly dived for their sticks again, yelling, ‘ Hold off.’ I looked round to see them running at a Home Guard, who was stalking me with a rifle to his shoulder.” The pilot was later placed in an ambulance, which had not gone far before it capsized in a ditch, so he then transferred to a fire engine, which soon suffered a similar fate. After that he decided to walk. NEW JAPANESE WARSHIP LAUNCHING ANNOUNCED TOKIO, September 14. The Jure naval station announced that' a new warship, the Ishigski, was launched. Its category has. not been disclosed. EMPIRE AIR SCHEME TRAINED MEN NOW ARRIVING IN ENGLAND LONDON, September 15. ‘The Times,’ after noting that airmen trained in Canada are now ax-riv-ing in England, says ; When the scheme was first launched umo months ago one of the main advantages foreseen was that it would enable the airmen to be trained in a climate giving them many more hours in the week for flying instruction than can be expected in this country. Now that the air of Britain is in the front line of battle, so that Hying instruction in it lias become difficult and precarious, this advantage is even more valuable. The training scheme itself is part of a larger programme which provides for great expansion of the Air Forces of tbo dominions. It contemplates a flow of trained crews into the Empire Air Forces at the rate, not of thousands, but of tens of thousands a year.

UNREST IN SYRIA

SENTIMENT NOW FAVOURS DE GAULLE FEELING RUNNING HIGH AGAINST ITALIAN MISSION Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 13. The Associated Press correspondent says a tremendous change in Syrian sentiment in favour of General de Gaulle has occurred since the arrival of the Italian Armistice Commission. The French National Committee Spokesman in Cairo said: “ Resentment against Italian efforts to disarm Syria is running high. An explosion may come at any moment. For the last month Syria has been emphatically in favour of Vichy, but bitterness has been engendered by the conviction that Italy was the first to arrive for spoils. Italy had not defeated France, and never could.” He added that the British Fleet bars an Italian landing, but if Syria were disarmed air-borne troops might take contx-ol and make a thrust against the Mosel oilfields, cutting off Britain’s main Middle East oil supply. The members of the Italian Mission are reported to have been manhandled. A colonel’s nose was punched and legionaries jumped on another. Emir Abdullah, in a speech, said the Franco-German armistice was critical for Syria The Italian Commission had displeased the Arabs because no foreign commission had the right to enter Arab mandated territory with the object of maintaining authority. Any administrative change must be to the Arabs’ advantage JAPANESE APOLOGISE BOMB DROPPED ON CANADIAN SHIP TOKIO, September 14. The, Admiralty announced that their naval flyers accidentally dropped a test bomb on the Canadian liner Empress of Asia, injuring four Chinese members of the crew. The navy sent surgeons on board and apologised. The purser said that no structural damage had been done, and the Empress of Asia continued on her voyage to Vancouver.

N.S.W. BY-ELECTION

THREE LABOUR FACTIONS SYDNEY, September 15. A further New South Wales Assembly by-election, due to the resignation of Mr Eric Spooner, to contest a Federal seat was held on Saturday in the Ryde electorate. There were five candidates, three of whom were representing rival schools of Labour The Government candidate, Mr A. J. Mitchell, seems likely to retain the seat when the preferences are distributed early in the week His primary votes total 7,522, while his nearest opponent, the official Labour candidate, Mr A. AVilliams, has 7,580- .«•

THE N.Z. “REBELLION ”

TYPICAL ROME RADIO LIE AUSTRALIAN SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS DENIAL MELBOURNE, September 14. On Thursday morning the Rome radio stated that New Zealand was experiencing open rebellion. Troops had been stopped from leaving the country to put down the uprisings. On behalf of New Zealand the Australian Department of Information, in a special shortwave broadcast throughout the world last night, stated that the allegation was a typical Rome radio lie At 4.55 a.m. (Australian time) on Thursday the Rome radio included in its foreign news service the following item: “At Wellington, New Zealand, owing to an outbreak of rebellion in the Dominion, troops for Britain had stopped leaving the country.” A transcription of the broadcast was taken by the Department of Information and cabled immediately to the Rt. Hon. -P. Fraser. He cabled back an emphatic denial, which was embodied in last night’s special broadcast in all foreign languages.

STORAGE IN BOSTON

WOOL FROM ANTIPODES UNITED STATES MAY DRAW SUPPLIES BOSTON, September 16. (Received September 16, at 8 a.m.) A total of 260,000,0001 b of Australian and New Zealand wool belonging to British owners is being stored in Boston for the winter. It is understood that the title of ownership will remain Briish, but the United States is permitted to draw supplies in the event of an emergency. Shipment to the United States is expected to begin at the end of September, requiring 40 ships. The United States Government is paying the > storage, also any excess freights. It is emphasised that the wool will be bonded and will be unavailable on the general market. It will not be used for ordinary commercial purposes.

NEW CANADIAN CORPS

PREPARING TO GARnY WAR INTO ENEMY TERRITORY LONDON, September 14. Lieutenant • general M'Naughton, commander of the Canadian Force in England, addressing troops of the southern garrison, said: “We are building a new Canadian Corps to carry the war into enemy territory. It will consist of 14,000 officers and men, compared with its 1918 predecessor of 21,000, but will be immensely harder hitting and speedier. “ The division’s average pace has increased from two miles and a-half an hour to 12J, moving over 100 instead of 10 miles in 24 hours. “ The corps also includes units from other parts of the Empire.”-

DARING NEW ZEALANDER

LOW ALTITUDE ATTACK ON FLUSHING DOCKS LONDON, September 14. A New Zealand bomber pilot responsible for a daring attack on the Flushing dockyard had his plane, which dived a stone’s throw* from the docks, thrown

up 600 ft by a tremendous explosion a® a result of hits on buildings and ammunition dump The pilot said he met a ternfit anti* aircraft fire, and as it was not worthwhile dodging, he dived down. Th® crew were thrown on their faces as th® plane shot up. The machine was hit and was partly out of control. ’ but reached Enel an cl without casualty.