WAR SITUATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20097, 17 November 1939, Page 7

WAR SITUATION

REVIEW IN COMMONS NO MAJOR OPERATIONS SUPREMACY AT SEA POLISH COLLABORATION (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn ; (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 10 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. IC. “Developments during the past fortnight have strengthened the position of the Allies," said the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, in the House of Commons to-day, in making a weekly review of the war on behalf of the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain. "In particular, the United States has by recent legislation restored to us the right to purchase the abundant supplies that it is able to offer us.

“Fresh evidence of the close and friendly collaboration between ourselves and our allies is afforded by the official visit which the Polish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister are now paying to this country. We have been very happy to welcome Genera! Sikorski and to renew contacts with M. Zaieski and discuss with them the measures being undertaken to enable detachments of all the Polish armed forces to join in the Allied war effort against Germany. Polish Naval Detachment “A detachment of the Polish navy already is giving valuable service in co-operation with the Royal Navy, and we hope that it will be possible to take early steps, in consultation with the French Government, to organise a self-contained Polish military force for service in France. Such forces will, in addition to their intrinsic military value, be symbolic of the right to an independent national existence which it is the purpose of the struggle to vindicate on behalf of the j gallant Polish people.”

Sir John Simon referred with pleasure to the discussions he had had with M. Reynaud, the French Minister of Finance, and reviewed the official statement regarding them issued yesterday. Talks With Dominions Dealing with the discussions with the representatives of the Dominions and Indian Governments, he said the progress already made was most encouraging and had shown the great value of direct and personal contact. It had been possible to gain a fuller knowledge of how the assistance the Empire overseas offered in such gener. ous measure might best be utilised for the furtherance of the common cause. He alluded, also, to the visit of the overseas representatives to the front in France and to Paris, where they had discussions with M. Daladier and Marshal- Gamelin.

Turning to the theatres of war, Sir John Simon said there had been no major operations during the past fortnight.

“At sea, our watch and ward continues,” he said. "Sir John Gilmour informed the House two days ago that discussions already had taken place between him and Mr. Winston Churchill with a view to speeding up the convoy system. Faster convoys will be instituted and as more escorting vessels become available the number of convoys will be increased.” One Destroyer Lost

Since the beginning of the war British destroyers have steamed hundreds of thousands of miles with the loss of only one. The merchant ships of Germany remained for the most part in their own or neutral ports, and of those which had left harbour, the great proportion was either captured or scuttled. Four enemy ships were taken last week and two large vessels scuttled.

British merchantmen continued to move in great numbers across the seas. All possible was being done to protect the British mercantile marine in accordance with the provisions of international law. Many of these ships had been armed and recent experience showed that if attacked they would acquit themselves with the skill arid .courage necessary for effective and successful defence.

On land, the operations were curtailed by bad weather. Four enemy aeroplanes dropped bombs on the Shetlands on November 13. They were heavily engaged by anti-aircraft forces. The bombs, 12 of which fell on land and eight in the sea, caused no casualties and the damage was negligible.