WISHFUL NAZIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 15 November 1939, Page 8

WISHFUL NAZIS

AIR FIGHT TALES LOSSES BY FRENCH BRITISH COMPARISON BID TO CAUSE RIFT MOSLEM CANARD fF.li'r. T.'l. Copyright—FnHe.l Press Assn.) ( British Okie Ltl Wireless.) Reed. 1.40 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 14. The claim circulating through the German nows channels putting the Allied losses in the air war at 80 planes is scouted in. London. It is suggested that the measure of its accuracy is to be. found 'in the accompanying statement that the German losses total only 17, In fact, 17 German aircraft have been brought down on or near the British coasts alone —15 by other aircraft and two by anti-air-craft gunfire. The German statement, therefore, conveniently neglects all other German losses in the air since the war began.

While official quarters are not to be drawn into denials affording a disclosure of the actual Allied losses, which, there is no doubt, is one of the purposes of this characteristic Nazi misrepresentation, there is some comment among well-informed observers on one feature of the German story which represents the proportion of British and French losses within the imaginary total mentioned as 16 and 64 respectively. Obvious Efforts It is believed the object is to create the impression that Britain is leaving the air battles to France in accordance with the persistent and rather obvious Nazi efforts to drive a wedge between the Allies. This particular attempt takes on a somewhat forlorn aspect when it is regarded against the background of actual achievements of the Royal Air Force in France and its almost daily reconnaissance flights over large areas of Germany. Incidentally the British losses on these reconnaissance (lights have been remarkably few in proportion to the distance covered and the tasks accomplished—a fact that speaks highly both for Site skill of the pilots and the quality of the aircraft.

In contradiction of the implications of the inaccurate figures put about by the Nazis, it can be stated that the British and French air forces are doing their full share in the mutuallyagreed spheres. Arabic Broadcasts The almost daily assertions in Arabic broadcasts from the German short-wave station at Zeesen that the Moslem peoples are all ready to rise in arms against the Allies are described in a letter to The Times from the Secretary -of the Colonial League as yet another example of wishful thinking by the Nazis. He says that despite the vast sums spent by the Reich Ministry of Propaganda over the past few years in attempting to alienate the affections of the Moslem world, the followers of Islam in the British and French Empires, and also in the neighbouring countries, remain steadfast in their loyalty to the democratic Powers.

Out of a total of 210,000,000 Moslems scattered over the globe there is not a single community but is opposed to the Nazi creed of racial hatred and domination alike on religious and political grounds. He cites in this connection the Arab newspaper Alofba, of Damascus, which says: “We do not know to what Arab peoples the Nazis refer. In no ease do Arabs need defending. They are, above all, against Germany, against Nazism, and against the aggressor. Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Arabia, Bahrein, the Persian Gulf. Zanzibar, the Yemen and the protectorates of the Yemen, and manifesting their hostility towards Germany. Where are the Arab countries that remain for the German race to incite?”