DROVE THE HUNS FROM THE SKY

Evening Star, Issue 23692, 27 September 1940, Page 7

DROVE THE HUNS FROM THE SKY

V.C.'AIRMAN OF LAST WAR IHSPERING MESSAGE TO RAF. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September l 26. (Received September 27, at noon.) Air Marshal Bishop, the famous V.C. airman of the last war, in a broadcast, said it was a great thrill that he was speaking on British soil when only a few days ago he was in Canada. Recalling a quarter of a century ago, when he was “ doing his humble best towards victory,” the Air Marshal said they then had difficult and unequal fighting in the skies; “ but,” be continued, “ 22 years ago we drove the pirate Huns out of the skies of Europe.” The Empire, said Bishop, was on the march, and with Britain through and through. “ As the months, go by,” he added, “ there will be twined pilots in their thousands coming to Britain to do again what their forebears did.” Before speaking of the Empire air training scheme, which he said was far ahead of schedule, the Air Marshal said; “The Empire plan will bring from our Canadian shores the trained aviators of our sister dominions of Australia and New Zealand, and our own Dominion of Canada. Men from all parts of the Empire will train together, as later on they will fight together. It will be an air force which is truly an Empire Air Force, binding the glorious ties of Empire, which in the words of Burke ‘ are light as air, but strong as links of iron.’ ” He concluded; “To-night we think again of Britain of 1805, girding herself to meet Napoleon, the conqueror of Europe—as you gird yourselves now to meet Hitler, the conqueror of half Europe. The role that once belonged to the Mother of our Empire alontf, now belongs to all the Empire. A heavy load of responsibility now falls upon the commonwealth of democratic peoples. I repeat—from Canada L bring you good cheer and a message of courage. We who up till now had the easier task admire more than ever before the great, hard task which has been yours. I bring you greetings of Canada—of Canadians with you until final victory is achieved. We in Canada say Britain yet shall stand, and the Empire emerge from these times of trouble greater, more vital, and a more decisive l factor in world history than ever before.” FRENCH BOMB GIBRALTAR MOST SEVERE ATTACK OF WAR SOME CIVILIAN CASUALTIES LONDON, September 26. It is reported from Gibraltar that 100 French planes from Morocco yesterday afternoon subjected the Rock to the most severe attack since the outbreak of war. They dropped about 300 bombs of various sizes, many falling in the sea and on barren areas. Buildings, roads, and old defences were considerably damaged, but little damage was done to military works or the personnel. A small ship hit was sunk. There were a number of civilian casualties, some fatal. Anti-aircraft guns shot down three, possibly five, planes. A number of bombs fell at La Linea. It is reported from La Linea that the planes circled the Rock in waves of 10 for 125 minutes. Smoke enveloped the arsenal, flames leapt from the naval base, and many fires were observed. The Havas Agency reports that 110 tons of bombs were dropped on Gibraltar yesterday. Officials at Vichy declared that the Renown was hit during the air raid on Gibraltar yesterday, and was compelled to leave port. RENOWN UNDAMAGED VICHY REPORT UNTRUE LONDON, September 26. (Received September 27, at 9.7 a.m.) There is no truth in the report that H.M.S. Renown was damaged in the bombing attack on Gibraltar.