LATE NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 24243, 28 September 1940, Page 5

LATE NEWS

NEW MOVE BY NAZIS REPORTED

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received September 28, 1 a.m.)

NEW YORK, September 27.

The New York Herald-Tribune says that a responsible European Government has informed its embassy at Washington that Germany will soon be abandoning the attack on Britain in favour of the occupation of the remainder of France preparatory to an attempt to take Gibraltar and bottle up the Royal Navy. The Germans have concentrated 26 divisions at Bordeaux and Biarritz.

Herr Hitler desires the diversion to cover the failure of the battle for Britain and also to force Spain into an alliance. This scheme favours Britain in so far as it will free the French colonies from loyalty to Vichy. The State Department has noted the synchronization of offensive movements in Europe and the Far East.

U.S.A. AND JAPAN MAY CLASH TOKYO, September 26. The Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister (Mr Suma) commenting on the United States embargo on scrap iron, said: “Our views on these discriminatory actions are well known. We must be patient until the last moment ” The newspaper Asahi Shimbun states that a clash between Japan and America now seems inevitable.

LOOTING OF BOMBED t PREMISES

LONDON COURTS HEAR CHARGES

(Received September 27, 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 27. Twenty-five cases of stealing from bombed premises were heard at London Courts including some cases classed as looting, which is a capital charge under the defence regulations. The sentences ranged up to three months’ hard labour. Three cases were committed for trial. A member of the Air Raid Precautions was committed for trial on a charge of stealing a cigarette case from a woman killed by a bomb. Sixteen demolition workers were sentenced to a fortnight to three months’ imprisonment for stealing a tobacconist’s stock and a soldier was sentenced for stuffing his pockets with six bottles of wine after helping the police to control crowds outside a bombed house.

Scotland Yard has organized antilooting detective squads in conjunction with the Flying Squad’s looters’ tour of the bombed areas immediately after the all clear. Another Scotland Yard problem is organized meat stealing for resale at cut prices. Six carcasses disappeared from one market on one day.

AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN REACH CANADA

(Received September 27, 6.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, September 27. The Federal Minister for Air (Mr A. W. Fadden) announced that the first batch of Australian air crew trainees to go abroad for immediate and advanced training under the Empire Air Scheme had reached Canada.