NEWS BY RADIO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 October 1939, Page 6

NEWS BY RADIO

GERMAN SUBMARINE LOSSES

MORALE OF CREWS SHAKEN. RELENTLESS BRITISH HUNT. The following Daventry reports have been relayed by the New Zealand National stations: — It is stated in London that there is reason to believe that Germany has lost half the number of ocean-going submarines she possessed at the beginning of the war. During the past week only one small British ship had been sunk. It is known that there are still a few lurking round British shores and these are being relentlessly hunted down. There is no truth in the Germai* allegation that submarines have been attacked by British merchantment or that any British merchantment had been disguised as Q-ships. The morale of U-boat crews had been badly shaken and submarines are leaving the usual lanes for further afield.

SOVIET & LATVIA.

A message from Moscow states that a pact of mutual assistance, including military aid. in the event of any aggression by a great foreign power and gives the Soviet authority to establish Soviet naval bases. Lithuania is expected to be the next State to come under Russian influence.

The talks in Moscow' with the Turkish Foreign Minister continue at slow tempo. The Minister has seen the Soviet Commander-in-Chief and the Commissar of Foreign Trade. The 90th celebration of Field-Mar-shal von Mackensen’s birthday has been cancelled. The reason given is that Field-Marshal von Mackensen has vented his wrath at the death of General von Fritsch, which he ascribed to spite on Herr Hitler's part. It is said the cancellation, of the celebration has caused a considerable stir in German military circles.

Sweden is taking protective measures against the U-boat camuaign. The Swedish fleet, has commenced to patrol Swedish territorial waters and a hundred cargo steamers are being armed for coastal patrol duties. A spokesman in Berlin has denied that Germany has any intention against Belgian neutrality. Reports have been circulating in Brussels that Germany might invade Belgium on the excuse that she was not able to prevent the violation of her territory by belligerent aeroplanes.