MARCH THROUGH LONDON

Evening Star, Issue 24290, 3 September 1942, Page 5

MARCH THROUGH LONDON

U.S. TROOPS ACCLAIMED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 2. Two hundred officers and men or the United States army and 20 marines marched through the West End of Loiidon to the City this afternoon to lunch at the Guildhall as guests of the City of, London. The army detachments, marching in squads of 50, were drawn from all arms of the service, and huge crowds lining the route gave them a tremendous cheer. Among the guests were the DeputyPrime Minister, the American Ambassador, Mr Eden, Mr Alexander, other Cabinet Ministers, and Sir John Dill. The Lord Mayor, welcoming the guests, said this was the first meal to he served in the Guildhall since it had been repaired after the German bombing blitz. Major-general Lee, replying, said: “ We came over here for the duration, and none of us wants to return home until victory has crowned our efforts.” Mr Eden said: “ The Americans came 3.000 miles over a perilous sea to join with us in the cause of the United Nations, united to overthrow the most shameless and inhuman tyranny the world has ever seen and united to nut in its place a world where men can live and work freely.” We believed, he continued, that the futures of Great Britain and the United States must be worked out in the closest possible partnership and understanding. Our soldiers and United States soldiers were the forerunners in the cause we were all serving. When they passed to offensive action it was they who would mark the return of liberty to the European Continent. RECORD SCORE CRACK HURRICANE SQUADRON (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 1. One of the oldest British squadrons of Hurricanes now leads in the score of enemy aircraft destroyed by the Fighter Command. This squadron, says the Air Ministry News Service, has accounted for over 230 enemy planes. It has carried out many successful intruder patrols and has fully established the versatility of the Hurricane as well as the skill of its pilots. The squadron was ordered to France at the outbreak, and with_ other Hurricane units fought against greatly superior numbers of aircraft during the German break-through in May, 1940. By the time the squadron withdrew it had destroyed over 106 enemy planes. Back in England, it helped to rout the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, and in 1941, _ when the Fighter Command began its_ offensive, the squadron was again prominent. By now the Hurricane had been given still more deadly fire power. Between daylight sorties over the Channel the. squadron carried out night patrols ,and on the night of May 10 destroyed seven of 33 aircraft brought down. It was about thia time that Juttelwascher, a Czech sergeant pilot, began to shoot down German planes at regular intervals. As flight lieutenant he is the Fighter Command’s most successful intruder pilot. Three in one night ia his best effort to date. The squadron began work as an intruder unit this year, armed with four cannon, and so far it has destroyed 23 of the enemy at night over or near their own bases. UNDER CLOAK BRITISH LABOUR MISTRUSTS COMMUNISTS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright (Rec. 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 2. The National Executive of the Labour Party circulated affiliated organisations warning against the Communist Party’s subversive activities under the cloak of friendship for Russia. The circular recalls that the Labour Party conference at Whitsuntide by 1,899,000 votes to 132.000 rejected proposed co-operation with the Communist Party, and the fact must not be lost sight of that the Communist Party is supporting the war effort not because Britain is, or has been, in danger, or because fredom and democracy are at stake, but solely on account of Russia. Labour Party members must not be led astray by the expensive propaganda of a very small political organisation, mysteriously commanding very largo funds. Labour Party members must remember that many nations are fighting at Britain’s side, some of which have as great claims upon our generosity as Russia. ITALY'S TROUBLES ACUTE FOOD SHORTAGE ROME, September 1. Signor Mussolini presided at a meeting consisting of the Governor of Rome and the mayors of 24 leading towns. He also telegraphed l to a meeting of 5.000 Syndicalists in Milan, stating that he was fully aware that the food shortage in the big industrial centres was becoming acute. He attributed this to speculation and unscrupulousness, which, he said, would be punished, IRAQ SUPPORTS BRITAIN MESSAGE FROM PREMIER (British Official Wireless.) ((Rec. noon.) RUGBY, September 2. “ The Arabs have not forgotten the help you have rendered them in _ the past, and we would much have liked the opportunity to assure you that we regard the support Iraq is giving Great Britain and the United Nations as support given to the Arabs themselves,” General Nuri El Said, Prime Minister of Iraq, states in a message replying to a telegram from Mr Churchill expressing regret at not having been able to visit Bagdad. Mr Churchill expressed appreciation of Iraq’s fulfilment of its treaty obligations and co-opera-tion with Britain. NEW ZEALAND WAR SPIRIT GENERAL HURLEY'S PRAISE WASHINGTON, September 1. Praising the war spirit of the New Zealand people, Brigadier-general P. J. Hurley said that New Zealand’s casualty list was greater in proportion'to the population than that of any other of the United Nations. “ The New Zealanders are great people.” he said. “ They have come to a full realisation that the present challenge cannot be mot by words and that we must attack, defeat, and destroy the enemy ourselves.” General Hurley conferred with President Roosevelt.