NURSES’ ORDEAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 158, 4 June 1940, Page 7

NURSES’ ORDEAL

HOSPITAL SHIPS BOMBED. ONE VESSEL ABANDONED. Received June 4, 9.45 a.m. LONDON, June 3. German ’planes have bombed and machine-gunned two British hospital ships, the Worthing and the Paris. The latter was abandoned but the Worthing reached port. Three German’ dive-bombers bombed the Paris in mid-Channel. The ship did not contain any wounded, but six nurses narrowly escaped when a bomb hit the davit of a boat in which they had been ordered to leave the ship. One was badly wounded and a cabin boy was killed. The nurses were, hauled hack on board with ropes, whereupon seven more bombers attacked and flew so low that the faces of the airmen were visible. . The ship was finally abandoned and all aboard were picked up. It is officially announced in Paris that during last night French bombing ’planes continued their work of dropping supplies to Allied troops in the Dunkirk region. This time, large supplies. of medicines were dropped. KING’S ADMIRATION. INDOMITABLE SPIRIT. DISASTER TO TRIUMPH. / (British Official Wireless.) Received June 4, 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, June 3. The following message from the King has been received by Mr Churchill:— “I wish to express my admiration of the outstanding skill and bravery shown by the three Services and the Merchant Navy in the evacuation of tho British Expeditionary Force from Northern-France..So difficult an operation was only made possible by brilliant leadership and indomitable spirit among all ranks. “The measure of its success—greater than we had dared hope—was duetto the unfailing support of the Royal Air Force and, in the final stages, the tireless efforts of naval units of every kind.

“While we acclaim this great feat, in which our French Allies, too. played so important a part, we think ■ with heartfelt sympathy of the loss and sufferings of the brave men whose self-sacrifice has turned disaster into triumph.” CANADIAN . OUTPUT. • PILOTS AND AIRCRAFT. Received June 4, 9 a.m. TORONTO, June 3. The Deputy-Air Minister (Mr James S. Duncan) said fighters and bombers ready for immediate action were being sent to Europe. Pilots and air crews would in future be. dispatched constantly to Europe, while Canada would maintain the framework of the Empire air scheme to enable its regearing to capacity at the earliest possible moment. . * At present Canada was making an effort to reach the maximum output of air personnel for overseas service. .A number of graduates intended for the air scheme and also instructors had been diverted overseas. Canada was acting immediately to increase the aircraft industry not oniy to replace the ’planes the United Kingdom was now unable to send for air training, but also to supply the United Kingdom with ever-increasing numbers of fighters and bombers.