THE FOOD BLOCKADE

Evening Star, Issue 23685, 19 September 1940, Page 10

THE FOOD BLOCKADE

POSITION DF SWISS CHARTERED SHIPS DISCUSSION IN LONDON LONDON, September 18. (Received September 19, at 12.35 p.m.) A Swiss representative, Dr Keller, has arrived in London to discuss the food blockade, also the position cf Swiss chartered ships from America, held up by contraband control at Gibraltar and other ports. DANISH FOOD SUPPLIES DRASTIC RATIONING BEING INTRODUCED COPENHAGEN, September 18. (Received September 19, at 11.20 a.m.) The radio has announced that further drastic rationing of food is being introduced. SUPREME WAR COUNCIL FORMATION SUGGESTED LONDON, September 18. (Received September 19, at 12.35 p.m.) Lord Davies gave notice of a question in the House of Lords suggesting tho formation of a Supreme War Council, including the dominions and India. AUCKLAND SINGER KILLED VICTIM OF BOMBING ATTACK LONDON, September 18. (Received September 19, at 12.25 p.m.) The singer, Hineraoa Eosieur, of Auckland, was killed by a bomb. Mr Jordan attended the funeral, PRICE DF SUGAR REGENT RISE EXPLAINED LONDON, September 18. (Received 1 September 19, at 11.20 a.m.) Replying to a request for an explanation of the recent increase in the retail price of sugar when the world price was continually falling, also as to when the new Cuban contract price was under Id a lb prime cost, Mr R. J. G. Boothby, in the House of Commons, said the sugar supplies for Britain wore drawn mainly from the Empire. Purchases of Cuban sugar were relatively small. The recent increase in the retail price was due to the increases in the cost of raw sugar and in freight, insurance, refining, and storage.

GERMAN FDREIGN MINISTER VISIT TO ITALY BERLIN, September 18. (Received September 19, at 8 a.m.) Von Ribbcntrop is paying a brief visit to Italy. DEFENCE TALKS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND LONDON, September 18. The Chief of the New Zealand Geuei'al Staff, Sir John Duigan, and a representative of tho Air Force are at present visiting Melbourne for the purpose of holding talks with the chiefs of staff of the Australian forces on subjects of mutual interest. They will visit leading military establishments, including Duntroon College, where there are a number of New Zealand cadets. MILITARY INSECURITY PHILIPPINES APPEAL TO AMERICA MANILA, September 17. The Finance Secretary (Senor Manuel Roxas), broadcasting, appealed to the United States to strengthen its position in the Philippines by sending more arms, planes, and defensive equipment. He added that the military insecurity of the islands endangered the United States peace. “ She cannot intend to leave the Philippines to be overrun by an invader,” he said. The war and the consequent disruption of trade had made impossible the preparation of the islands economically for independence in 1946. DRIFTING BALLOONS DAMAGE REPORTED IN SWEDEN LONDON, September 18’. (Received September 19, at 1.30 p.m.) The Stockholm correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says: Dozens of British barrage balloons drifted over southern and western Sweden yesterday, trailing steel cables and damaging the electricity supply and other communications. Tho balloons drifted 30 miles across Sweden. Planes and anti-aircraft guns of the Home Guard attempted to bring down the balloons, and were occasionally successful. An electric train service in western Sweden was interrupted by balloons and trams in Gothenburg halted. Several southern Swedish communities were blacked out. Forty balloons wore reported over Denmark, whore much damage was done and power cut off in the whole of south Jutland. One balloon drifted over Helsinki.

It is officially stated from Berlin that German pursuit planes brought down 920 British balloons adrift on the Continent.

NEW ALLY FOR A MINIATURE REPUBLIC ARMY FULL OF FIGHT LONDON, September 18. (Received September 19, at noon.) A proclamation in San Marino has ended the 26 years’ war this tiny republic has waged on paper against Germany. War is now declared on Britain. The two captains-regent, addressing the cheering populace, declared the army was in splendid fighting trim. It consists of 39 officers and 950 rankers. [The independent republic of San Marino, which claims to be the oldest State in Europe, is embraced in the area of Italy. Its frontier line is 24 miles in length, the area is 38 square miles, and the population 14,389.] BRITAIN AND SPAIN AGREEMENT REGARDING OH. IMPORTS LONDON, September 18. (Received September 19, at 1.25 p-m.) England and Spain have reached an agreement under which Spain will limit her oil imports to a quantity sufficient for domestic consumption. The agreement is regarded as highly satisfactory. ITALIAN BOMBERS FORCED LANDING IN TURKEY ANGORA, September 18. (Received September 19, at 1 p.ra.) Four Italian bombers returning from a raid on Tel-Aviv made a forced landing on the Turkish coast on September 9. One nose-dived into the sea and was not seen again. Tw r o floated |or three hours. Six members of the crew are believed to have been drowned, an Italian red cross plane rescuing the remainder. The engine of the fourth plane cut out as the result of failure of the lubricating system, but it made a good landing. POLES IN GERMANY MUST WEAR SPECIAL DADGE BASLE, September 18. (Received September 19, at 2 p.m.) A German decree compels all Poles in Germany, male and female, to wear a yellow triangular badge bearing the letter “ P.”