WAR NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 23700, 7 October 1940, Page 6

WAR NEWS

GREEK FRONTIER

MOVEMENT OF ITALIAN TROOPS NEW POSITIONS TAKEN UP ATHENS, October 5. Italian forces totalling 130,000 men and 120 tanks have moved to new positions near the Greek frontier during the last few days. The Greek precautions are almost complete, and the frontier garrisons are wholly manned. BALKAN OLYMPIC GAMES three countries participating ATHENS, October 6. (Received October 7, at 12.5 p.m.) Turkey, Greece, and Yugoslavia are participating iu the Balkan Olympic Games at Istanbul. All the Greek newspapers give prominence to the games, saying they show a wish for peace. FEDERAL ELECTIONS CONFUSED POLITICAL SCENE PREMIER URGES NATIONAL GOVERNMENT SYDNEY, October 6. The Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menaces) , spealking at the declaration of the poll in his electorate, said if ,the negotiations for a National Government failed it would he a. calamity for Australia and a calamity to which he would resolutely refuse to contribute. “ If we do not secure a National Government, this Government will continue.” Mr Menzies added. In the House of Representatives election the Government received liberal support inevery State except one. In spite of the results in New South Wales, the Government actually made headway in five States and he claimed the Government parties were still much the largest in Parliament. Air Menzies claimed that the Government had won 16 of the 19 Senate seats and swept the poll in five States out of six. He said the total votes cast for the Government exceeded the total cast for all the Labour parties fiy 120,000. FORCED TO LEAVE BRITONS IN RUMANIA LONDON, October 5. A Bucharest message states that a new Rumanian-German trade agreement has been concluded, increasing Germany’s .allotment of Rumanian petrol products, but cutting down on grain supplies, 44 owing to the cession of territory decreasing Rumanian crops.” It has been announced that Mr Percy Clark, who was tricked into leaving his hotrf in Bucharest and kidnapped by three men, has been released after his home was searched for documents. It is learned that 150 Britons have left the (Rumanian oilfields, and many have been obliged to leave the country. Major Dumitrescu, of the Rumanian army, has been held for questioning about his relations with British oil workers and also his connection with an alleged sabotage plot.

BRITONS’ SELF-PROTECTION PLAN

FREQUENT CONTACT BETWEEN GROUPS LONDON, October 6. (Received October 7, at 1.5 p.m.) Britons in Rumania are making their own plans to safeguard themselves against the reign of terror introduced by a fanatical group of Iron Guards. The ‘ Daily Mail’s ’ Bucharest correspondent says the remaining Britons have formed themselves into groups of members, which are making contact with one another every four hours to prevent a long period elapsing between disappearances and the beginning of Consular inquiries. When the exPremier, M. Agrentoianu, learned that men were ransacking his house he made contact with the German Minister instead of the police. The ransacking immediately ceased, with profuse apologies. The British Legation has issued the following statement on behalf of Mrs Tracy: “ Her husband and other prisoners made her promise to say nothing about the treatment of prisoners until all are released. This is because penalties would probably bo inflicted on those still held prisoner should she speak freely.” The Bucharest correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says it is established that the kidnapping of Mr Millar was done with the full knowledge of the police, who deliberately misled the British Legation. The Iron Guard is torturing Britishers to induce them to reveal alleged plans to sabotage the oil wells. It tied their hands to high -walls and applied blowlamps to their feet. ACTION AGAINST FOREIGN JEWS BERLIN, October 6. (Received October 7, at 1.30 p.m.) The News Agency stated that Rumania has ordered the expulsion of all foreign Jews who illegally entered the country in the past five years.

NEW GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND

HIGHLY-POPULAR APPDINTMENT BRILLIANT CAREER IN AIR FORCE GREAT ADMINISTRATIVE ABILITY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, October 5. On© of the pioneers of the R.A.F., and holder of the 144th flying license issued in England, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Newall, during a discussion with representatives of the United Press on the general war situation, • revealed a clear grasp and profound knowledge of the problems of aerial warfare which have enabled him to outlast three Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff and two First Sea Lords during his three years’ membership of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. Three rows of ribbons and fading and discoloured “ wings ” on his uniform give some indication of his length of service. Subordinates at the Air Ministry pay tribute to Sir Cyril’s remarkable attention to detail and deplore the loss of a chief who guided the Air Force to the highest pinnacle of service yet achieved. EARLY FLYING DAYS. The new Governor-General learnt to fly while on leave from the Indian Army in 1911, when he undertook a course at the Central Flying School, Bristol. He flew a Bristol Boxkite, described as being kept together by string, rubber bands, glue, and nails. It was capable of 60 miles an hour at an altitude of 3,0b0 to 4,000 ft. Sir Cyril returned to India fired with a desire to initiate a similar flying school there, but he encountered opposition. He persevered, however, and two years later induced the authorities to lay the foundation for a school which had scarcely begun operations before the Great War broke out. Sir Cyril’s regiment wept to France, and he joined the Royal Flying Corps as a flight-commander. He was appointed in 1917 to command the 41st Bombing Wing, - which carried out an offensive against German objectives in order to counter the air raid’s against Loudon. Sir Cyril’s wing was the forerunner of the independent Air Force created in 1918 in which he commanded the Bth Brigade. . " HONOURED AND PLEASED.” “ Although I am sorry to leave my present post,” Sir Cyril said, “ I am tremendously honoured and pleased, particularly as my wife and I have always been interested in New Zealand and hoped for an opportunity of visiting it. As for the job here, I am always in favour of changes, especially when I have a successor like Sir Charles Portal, who is a first-rate fellow. I was greatly touched to receive a message of congratulation and greetings from the New Zealand Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), and also from Air Headquarters, Wellington. I am taking with me my two daughters, aged 14 and 13, and my son, aged 10. They are delighted at the prospect. “ I am looking forward to meeting people who are making such a noble contribution to the defeat of the enemy. I am also eager for close association with the defence forces, particularly the Air Force, and I desire to study the defence problems there first hand, although my work on the Chiefs of Staffs Committee has given me an insight into the defence of the Empire as a whole. I have never before been further East than Calcutta, although I once crossed the Equator by motor car and several times by air.” Fishing, particularly fly-fishing, is Sir Cyril’s principal hobby. He has never done big game fishing, but he hopes to learn the art in New Zealand. He is also intensely interested in music and painting. PINNACLE OF ACHIEVEMENT. The R.A.F. swears by Sir Cyril, whose command has always been personal—never that of an impersonal administrator. When the complete history is written of the R.A.F. it will also be a biography of Sir Cyril. There are few aspects of its growth in which he has not had a hand. He nursed the R.A.F. throughout two of its most critical years. Both Sir Cyril and the new Air Chief Marshal, Sir Charles Portal, are great believers in offensive operations. Both strongly maintain that the winning of the war will be greatly assisted by large-scale bombing offensives throughout Germany. The 4 Daily Mail’ says: “There is no muddle nor crushing defeat behind Sir Cyril Newall’s departure. He has spent a lifetime in flying, and no man has relinquished the command of a fighting force at a moment of greater achievement.” (The Times ’ says; “ Sir Cyril Newall will take to New Zealand the good wishes of all ranks of the R.A.F., with whom he is exceedingly popular. After his appointment as Chief of the Air Staff in 1937 he worked untiringly to make the R.A.F. the finest Air Force in the world. He has seen it grow out of all knowledge, both in size and efficiency. He retained' command long enough to see his ambition achieved.” AVIATION CIRCLES SURPRISED. Sir Cyril Newall’s appointment surprised aviation circles, who pay tribute to his great tactical gifts and state that he, has borne the brunt of organising the R.A.F.’s struggle both jn defence of the Homeland and in hammering Europe. One aeronautical authority declared that the modern R.A.F. is partly Sir Cyril’s creation. He was Chief of the Air Staff throughout tremendous expansion, and he forged a formidable* weapon.