AN EPIC OF THE AIR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 6 August 1929, Page 5

AN EPIC OF THE AIR

SIR E. HUMPHRY'S DISCLOSURES

HOW THE R.A.F. SAVED US FROM WAR

Exciting experiences during the fighting round Kabul were related by Sir Francis Humphrys, recently British Minister in the Afghan capital, when he distributed prizes at his old school, Shrewsbury, writes the "Morning Post'' correspondent. Ho said:— '•1 want to tell you something about an epic of the air which is unparalleled in history. When all means of communication bv land were hopelessly cut off, aeroplanes flew to our rescue from Baghdad and oven from Egypt, covering as much as 1100 miles in a single day. ' "These machines had operated before only in hot climates, and at a maximum height of 4000 feet. They were suddenly called upon to fly over snowbound, inhospitable mountains, at heights far greater than the Alps, in a temperature of 30 degrees below, zero, and to land on a strange aerodrome in two feet of snow with a fierce battle raging in the neighbourhood. RAKED WITH FIRE "Never once did they refuse my call. More than 80 journeys were made, and 35.000 miles were flown, with the loss of two machines. Six hundred British subjects and foreigners were .conyeyed to safetv without a single casualty. "There was one exciting incident. King No 2 besieged with a garrison of 5000, was given a twenty-four-hour ultimatum to surrender to an attacking force of 16 000. The alternative was a murdering assault with scaling ladders, no quarter, and general loot and massacre. "The King replied that- nothing would induce him to come out- unless the safety of himself and his ladies was taken in hand by EngKshmen. We had no soldiers and no means of enforcing authority except with our tongues. The aerodrome was situated between the two armies—only 400 yards from each other—and was raked with a devastating crossfire. "We had to take the risk and telegraphed for aeroplanes. When the machines arrived in sight we have the signal to both armies to cease fire. Fortunately for us. they obeyed the signal. The aeroplanes landed in silence, and the King and his ladies, escorted by unarmed Englishmen from the Legation, went to the waiting machines and were flown wifely to India. ' "There is no doubt whatever that the R.A.F. on this occasion by their gallantrv not only saved the city and the foreign legations from a terrible fate, but aho saved England from another war."