War News in Brief

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 308, 30 December 1939, Page 7

War News in Brief

Medical Discovery May Affect War in Air ELIMINATING “AEROPLANE BENDS” United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. COLL T MBUS (Ohio), Dec. 28. The Mayo Clinic to-day announced the discovery of a complete preventative for aoroplano bends,- a disease which attacks pilots of interceptor planes duo to tho speedier drop of outside air pressure than internal pressure during the rapid rise to altitudes of 30,000 feet. It is believed that the discovery will have an important value in Western Front and North Sea air operations, permitting closer approaches at great heights before detection. The treatment consists of the continuous breathing of pure oxygen for two hours or walking a treadmill at the rate of two and a-quarter miles an hour for thirty minutes, thus freeing the body of nitrogen before altitude flights. EXCHANGE OF BRITISH AND GERMAN CIVILIANS BERLIN, Dec. 28. Tho German official news agency says that there will be further exchanges of British and German civilians shortly. Germany is not interested in retaining enemy civilians unless there are special reasons for so doing. BRITISH CASUALTIES EXCEED THE FRENCH PARIS, Dec. 28. The newspaper Petit Bleu states that the war has cost France 1434 dead and Britain 2511. “Our British friends,’’ it adds, “offer not only their machines; they offer themselves.” SWEDEN FACES COAL SHORTAGE STOCKHOLM, Dec. 28. German deliveries of coal and coke to Sweden amount to between 35,000 and 40,000 tons a month, compared with the contracted amount of 200,000 tons. ’ Britain is fully maintaining her supplies, but *Sweden relies on German/ for 60 per cent, of her requirements, and, in view of this, a shortage is threatened. ADMIRALTY PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Dec. 29. In recognition of their services in action against the Graf Spee, the Admiralty has announced the following promotions, all to date from December 13, 1939:—Commander D. H. Everett, of H.M.S. Ajax, to be promoted to Captain-Lieutenant; Commander R. B. Jennings and Lieutenant-Commander C. J. Smith, of H.M.S. Exeter, and Lieu-tenant-Commander P. T. A. Love, of H.M.S. Achilles, to bo promoted to commander-engineer; Commander T. C. S. Noake, of H.M.S. Ajax, to b 3 promoted to engineer-captain. SERVICE OF INTERCESSION FOR FINLAND (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Dec. 28. The Finnish Minister will attend a service of intercession for Finland to be held at Westminster Central Hall next Sunday. The service will be conducted by the Moderator of tho Federal Council of Free Churches, and the prayers will be read by the President of the National Council of Evangelical Free Churches. BRITISH LOAN TO SPAIN BEING DISCUSSED LONDON, Doc. 28. Tho Lisbon correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that Senor Pedro Solis, Spanish Undersecretary of Commerce, when interviewed, said: “I do not deny that there have been talks with a view to obtaining a loan from England. We shall bear in mind our capacity for payment, and we shall not accept any obligation Spain cannot fulfil.” NEWSPAPERS BANNED Received Friday, 9.15 p.m. BASLE, Dec. 29. Tho Swiss General Staff, unanimously supported by the Newspaper Publishers’ Committee, has banned the leading pro-Nazi daily newspaper, Neuobasle Zeitung and the Communist journal Freiheit.