WAR NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 23683, 17 September 1940, Page 8

WAR NEWS

COMPLETELY EXPLODED

N.Z. REBELLION " FANTASY REPUDIATED IY ALLEGED AUTHORITY Press Association —By Telegraph —Copyright NEW YORK, September 16. (Received September 17, at 9.10 a.m.) The New York ‘ Times ’ has received ' a cablegram from the Prime Minister of New • Zealand, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, protesting against the German and Rome overseas broadcast quoting the New York ‘ Times ’ of September 8 as the authority for the report that New Zealand troops had revolted against embarking for England for the war. , Mr Fraser called the report baseless and fantastic, and expressed the certainty that the 1 Times ’ had not published it, but requesting an authoritative denial. The ‘Times’ issuee a denial, declaring that it never published such a report.

FRANTIC PROPAGANDA

GERMAN STREAM OF LIES BESPERATE EFFORT TO KEEP UP SPIRIT OF PEOPLE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 16. (Received September 17, at 9.40 a.m.) Instructive commentary on the air fighting of the week-end is found in the German Press and wireless reports, which, as the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says, have ' burst. into frantic tales of the destruction of London aifl the panic of liohidoneM. “It is cle#r.” adds the ‘Telegraph,’ “ that desperate efforts at propaganda are necessary to keep up the spirit of the German people. This, ns usual, has thrown all restraint to the winds and the old familiar and completely unfounded tales of the flight of the Court and the Government and the collapse of civilian morale are given currency. One of these reports says the roads out of London are blocked with panic-stricken refugees. There is no patricle of truth in this report. London life gods on and the difficulties caused by the bombings are being surmounted with surprisingly little apparent interference. Even while air raid warnings are in force there is little noticeable diminution in the rush of London street traffic.” The ‘Telegraph’ add^: “Facts, not lies, will decide the. war, and we have the tight to be proud of the success of London’s defence and the grim and gay tamper of her people.” ,

REPORTED MISSING ATLANTIC FLYING BOAT MONTREAL, Septeber 16. According to the ‘ Daily News,’ it is reported, without confirmation, that the British flying boat Clare is missing on her third hop to New York, and it is feared that she is lost, since an unidentified large plane is repofted to have been forced down near Iceland on Saturday. AUSTRALIAN DEFENCES Bill PROGRAMME PLANNED SYDNEY, September 17." (Received September 17, at 9.10 a.m.) The Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menaies) announced that £20,000,000 will be spent on defence works in Australia by the end of next June. A considerable portion will be spent on Air Force establishments . for training airmen. Twenty-one schools will be in operation by the end of this year, when 2,500 technicians will also be under training. SOUTHERN RHODESIA ' JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS (British Official Wireless.) ' RUGBY, September 15. The Governor of Southern Rhodesia replied as follows to the King’s message of congratulation on Southern Rhodesia’s jubilee: “Your Majesty’s gracious message was read by me to a large gathering at the ceremonial of hoisting the same flag which was hoisted here 50 years ago. Your Majesty’s words of appreciation and encouragement were received with respectful gratification, and they will inspire your Majesty’s loyal subjects in this colony to unremitting endeavour to show themselves worthy of your Majesty’s confidence and approval, both in the prosecution of the present war and thereafter, when your Majesty’s arms hare achieved final victory.” SAFE ARRIVAL AIR MINISTRY OFFICIALS ABOARD MONTREAL, September 16. (Received September 17, at 2 p.m.) The Clare has arrived at Bourcherville with three passenger officials from the 1 Ministry of Aircraft Production.

SINO-JAPANESE WAR

CLIMAX EXPECTED IN FEW WEEKS INVADERS PRESSED FOR TIME NEW YORK, September 16. (Received September 17, at 2 p.m.) The Hongkong correspondent of the North America Associated Press stated that officials believe that the climax of the Sino-Japanese war will come within a few weeks. The Japanese are in unmistakable internal straits because of the growing economic pinch at home and unrest in the field in China. They desire a great 1940 push before the weather prolongs the campaign into the winter. It is also reported that they want a good victory to strengthen home morale. There is no indication that the Chinese are not ready for an attack. If the Chinese can deliver a smashing defeat of the expected blitzkrieg the Japanese are likely to hav«e the worst winter since their attempt at a new order in China started. "MEN AGAINST AMERICA" ARTICLES IN NEW YORK * POST ' NEW YORK, September 16. (Received September 17, at 2 p.m.) The 1 Post ’ features the first of a series of articles on ‘ Men Against America,’ headed by a Nazi consul’s threats against an American editor, who was warned of reprisals by Hitler. The charges are supported by a photostated letter from the German Consul at New Orleans, von Spiegel, who attempted in February, 1938, to intimidate and coerce the editor of the pro-American German language newspaper, ‘ Texas Free Press.’ The letter declared that Germany in future would act drastically against international newspaper propaganda containing lies. AWARDED THE D.F.C. [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 17. The following New Zealanders have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross: — Flying-officer Brian John George Carberry and Pilot-officer Michael James Herrick. The latter is a son of Mr E. J. Herrick, of Hastings, and is 19 years of age. .He was educated at the Wanganui Collegiate School, where he matriculated and left to enter the R.A.F. College at Cranwell as a cadet in the middle of last year. No details have yet been received of the exploits which gained the award for these two' officers.