POLES’ DASHING COURAGE

Southland Times, Issue 24227, 10 September 1940, Page 7

POLES’ DASHING COURAGE

Praise Bestowed By British Pilots “THEIR ENTHUSIASM IS INFECTIOUS” (British Official Wireless) (Received September 9, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 8. The pilots’ own accounts of Saturday’s daylight air attack on London reveal the dashing part played by the Polish squadron. Perfect between three fighter squadrons was said to be responsible for smashing a big enemy formation near the east of London. Of these three squadrons the Polish squadron of Hawker Hurricanes had the largest bag. When the Poles arrived about 40 Dornier bombers were flying at 20,000 feet. Some distance behind and above was a small formation of Messerschmitt 110’s and further behind still, at an even greater height, probably 30,000 feet, were Messerschmitt 109’s. The latter

were attacked by Spitfires. The Messerschmitt 110’s did not seem to know what to do. One of the Hurricane squadrons attacked the rear of the Dornier formation, which then turned east and provided the Polish squadron with a firstclass target. The Poles, who had been flying in sections of three, one behind the other, swung round so that the whole squadron was almost broadside on to the bombers. They dived down to 4000 feet out of the sun to the attack, each member of each section choosing an individual target. “TREMENDOUS FIGHTERS” A British pilot, praising the courage of the Poles, said: “They are tremendous fighters. Their enthusiasm is infectious. When they go tearing into the enemy bombers and fighters they go so close that you think they are going to collide.” One Pole, after shooting down two Dorniers, was himself attacked and baled out over Essex. He landed safely near Roughton and rejoined his squadron a few hours later. Three of the Poles got two bombers each and the fourth got one bomber and one fighter. In action with the Polish squadron was a Czechoslovak pilot who flew his plane to Poland after the invasion of his country by the Nazis. He fought in Poland last autumn and came to England with the squadron. His Czechoslovak fellow countrymen were in the air over London with their own squadron at the same time, bringing down five Nazi raiders.

MR WILLKIE DENIES - CHARGE

REPUBLICANS ACCUSED OF APPEASEMENT TENDENCY

NEW YORK, September 8.

Speaking at Rushville (Indiana),_ Mr Wendell L. Willkie, the Republican candidate for the Presidency, denied the charge that the Republicans are an appeasement party. The charge was made by Mr Henry Wallace, Democrat candidate for the Vice-Presidency. Mr Willkie said that he would not lead the United States into the European war if he were elected. The House of Representatives passed the Conscription Bill by 263 votes to 149. The Bill now returns to the Senate because of the changes the House made. Foremost among these changes are: (1) The House increased the draft age limit to from 21 years to 45 years, whereas the Senate limit was 21 years to 31 years; (2) The House inserted a provision requiring a 60-day wait before invoking the draft; (3) The House set down different methods of compelling industry to co-operate in the defence programme, although both chambers would empower the Government to control and operate plants whose owners are recalcitrant. TRAWLER SUNK BY MINE (Received September 9, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 8. Eight men are missing after the sinking of the trawler Salacon by a mine in the North Sea.

M. MANDEL PLACED UNDER ARREST

LONDON, September 8.

M. George Mandel, former Secretary of the Interior in France, has been placed under arrest. The property of M. Pierre Cot and M. Guy La Chambre, both former Ministers of Air in France, has been confiscated. Both men are at present in the United States.