PURCHASE OF AIRCRAFT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24422, 7 October 1940, Page 8

PURCHASE OF AIRCRAFT

HELP FOR THE EMPIRE GIFTS FROM NATIVE PEOPLES STRIKING TRIBUTE TO BRITAIN LONDON, Oct. 5. (Received Oct. 6, at 8 p.m.) The Governor of Nigeria has received the following letter from Abu Kugar, Sultan of Sokoto and spiritual head of the Moslems of the Northern Provinces of Nigeria: “ I wish to inform you that we heard recently that the German wireless said that the slave-driven natives of the English colonies are compelled by force to contribute to a win-the-war fund. That is a lie, and I would like to ask Hitler whether it is by force also that we gather in our mosques and schools to offer up prayers from our hearts day and night for the success of the British arms, and for the downfall of his majesty’s enemies. When we in Sokoto heard of the, win-the-war fund we took counsel together and agreed that everyone who wished should make a contribution which seemed proper. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that £6211 11s Id has been collected from all sections of the community and forwarded to the Bank of British West Africa at Lagos. This spontaneous contribution from the people of the Sokoto emirate is a token of their loyal prayers for victory. We hope that it may be possible to buy a fighter aeroplane, and'that it may be called Sokoto, so that it may become our representative in defending the United Kingdom and fighting the Empire’s enemies.” The Sudan Government’s gift of £IOO.OOO for the purchase of a squadron of fighter planes is officially stated to have been made to signify in px-actical form the gratitude of the people of Sudan for the benefits conferred by the British Government and their confidence in British victory. The Minister of Aircraft Production (Lord Beaverbrook). in a message to the Sudan Government, describes the gift as an inspiring demonstration of loyalty and devotion, and adds: “It rejoices our hearts in the hour when the valour and might of the nation is mobilised to overcome its enemies. We send your aircraft to battle, and our gratitude to you When victory brings peace once more to the world, we shall not forget those who helped us so nobly in the day of peril.” FURTHER DONATIONS LONDON, Oct. 5. (Received Oct. 6, at 10 p.m.) With the seventh instalment of £4OOO, the Gold Coast Spitfire Fund has reached a total of £40,000. Sierra Leone has sent the British Government £20,000 for bombers, and Treng Ganu, in Malaya, 50,000 dollars towards the air funds.