AIR FORCE EFFICIENCY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 599, 27 February 1929, Page 9

AIR FORCE EFFICIENCY

TRIBUTE FROM SIR F. HUMPHRYS KABUL EVACUATIONS British Official Wireless Reed. 12.23 p.m. RUGBY, Tuesday. The Bari of Winterton, Under-Sec-retary for India, stated in the House of Commons to-day that he was glad to say that the evacuation of the last remaining members of the staff of the British Legation at Kabul was successfully achieved yesterday. Sir Francis Humphrys, the British Minister to Kabul, in paying a warm tribute to the remarkable smoothness and efficiency with which the Air Force has carried out the arduous undertaking, has telegraphed: “The Royal Air Force has performed an historic achievement. It has conveyed. 586 persons in 82 airplanes without a single mishap to passengers since December 23. over mountainous country, in the depth of winter, and at an average height of 10.000 feet. “Conditions have always been difficult and during the last two days they have been almost insuperable on account of a heavy fall of snow.” Lord Winterton paused to observe: “I am sure that the House will cordially endorse this tribute.” He then continued to read the telegram, which ran: “In the early stages of the aircraft operations, which first established touch with the Legation, the machines were repeatedly under fire, and one was shot down over Kabul. The pilot fortunately was unhurt, and lias since rendered invaluable assistance to Sir Francis Humphrys. “Royal Air Force personnel have flown over wild border country unharmed. Recently owing to the extreme severity of the weather conditions and the very low temperature prevailing, accompanied by heavy squalls of snow, the task of all concerned has been rendered exceptionally difficult and dangerous, both in the air and on the ground. “One machine made a forced landing through its engine actually freezing, while in flight. Its two occupants for some days were in the hands of Afghan tribesmen, although subsequently they were successfully evacuated by . aircraft.”