RUSSIAN TROOPS

Evening Star, Issue 23698, 4 October 1940, Page 5

RUSSIAN TROOPS

CONCENTRATIONS ON GERMAN FRONTIERS PROPAGANDA AGAINST NAZI THREAT INTENSIFIED FALL OFF IN DELIVERIES TO REICH LONDON, October 3. The Polish Telegraphic Agency reports that refugees arriving at Bucharest confirm reports of a mass concentration of Russian troops along the Rivers Bug and San, forming the frontier between German and Russian-occupied Poland. 'A similar concentration has been bogun on the frontier of Carpathian Ruthenia, where strong mechanised units are camouflaged among the forests. Worochta, in the Carpathian Mountains, is padked with tanks and motorised units. Moreover, numerous transports and motorised units are going to Rowne and concentrating on the Gerraan-Russian frontier in that area. Neutrals arriving at Bucharest from Moscow confirm reports that propaganda against the German threat is being intensified. Russian deliveries to Germany have diminished, and the trade treaty is not being carried out fully. RUSSIAN YOUTH TO SERVE IN STATE LABOUR RESERVE MOSCOW. October 3. A decree calls up youths throughout Russia, aged 14 to 17, to serve in the State Labour Reserve. They will be mobilised for four years’ work in mines and factories. Military service will be suspended during industrial conscription. The decree points out that the measure is necessary to increase Russia’s productive capacity. NAZI BATTLE PLANES EXAMINATION BY BRITISH EXPERTS MANY INTERESTING DISCOVERIES (British Official Wireless.) RTJGBY, October 2. In a large shed somewhere in England is a collection of German battle planes, specimens of all types now in use by the Luftwaffe. They escaped the usual destruction awaiting enemy, machines which come into the sights of our eight-gun fighters. Some made forced landings, while others crashed with no more damage than could easily be repaired. These “ museum pieces ” have been minutely examined by British experts, who have thus been afforded a comprehensive knowledge of Nazi air strength. This knowledge is put to excellent use in the drawing office and the operations room where the collection is housed. Exhaustive tests' in the air confirmed once again that German Messerschmitts are not nearly as TnanoßUvreabla as Hurricanes and Spitfires, nor are they so fast, but British pilots have a healthy respect for the M.E. 110 twin-engined fighter-bomber, which they acknowledge to be a very good aeroplane. THE ONLY NAZI “ WINNER.’? A squadron leader said he considered it was the only “ winner ” in the whole range of German aircraft, yet many pilots would rather face an M.E. 110 than an M.E. 109 single-seater fighter, which is becoming more and more heavily armoured. German designers are piling armour and armaments on to planes in a desperate effort to avoid further great losses. A Goering blunder was to go into mass production two years too soon, and to switch over to new types now was a very difficult task for the German industry. British planes are one jump ahead and are likely to stay there. The radio equipment of German planes is of fine workmanship, but is inferior technically to the 11.A.F. equipment, and the same applies to bomb sights.The materials are still good, because all Germany has been starved for the benefit of the Luftwaffe. FURTHER SURPRISES. As further additions to the museum are brought in they provide the experts with interesting surprises. One M.E. 110 brought down had no armament at all—it had cameras instead. A J.U.-88 dive bomber dated August 7, 1940, was found to have six free machine guns, which is three more guns than are normally used. The rear gunner was apparently expected to work four guns by himself. Another interesting discovery was that the M.E. 109’s have recently been carrying four 1101 b bombs under the fuselage. A wireless transmitter packed in a kind of tin golf bag was yet a further find. This is used in a rubber dinghy used by German pilots forced down at sea. The outfits consist of a transmitter about the size of an attache case, which, by means of an electrio motor, sends out automatically an. SOS, but cannot receive messages. There is an aerial, shaped like an open umbrella frame, and a box kite from which an alternative aerial can be hung.

WAR FINANCES

HEW SOUTH AFRICAN LOAN CAPE TOWN, October 3. (Received October 4, at noon.) It is officially announced that it is intended to float a new £18,000,000 loan before November.