NEWS BY RADIO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 February 1940, Page 6

NEWS BY RADIO

ANOTHER GERMAN RAID ON SHIPPING * i ATTACKS ON DEFENCELESS VESSELS, ENEMY PLANES DRIVEN OFF BY FIGHTERS. The following Davcntry reports have been rebroadcast by the New Zealand National stations:— German planes yesterday carried out another raid on shipping on the northeast and east coast of Britain. This is the first, raid since three bombers were lost last Saturday. The raiders again attacked defenceless ships, including a dredger and thirty-foot fishing boat. The latter was not hit but two of the crew of the dredge lost their lives when one of the lifeboats capsized. Crowds of people on shore watched two German aeroplanes bombing a ship. A number of bombs were dropped but British fighters appeared and the raiders disappeared. FRENCH SECRET SESSION. A secret session of the French Chamber of Deputies is still in pro* gress. It was suspended just before 10 p.m. and rpsumed at 3.30. The vote in favour of a secret session came as something of a surprise. The motion was moved by M. Blum (Socialist) and though the Prime Minister. M. Daladier, opposed it, he said he would leave it to the House. The motion was agreed to by 262 votes to 227. all strangers and newspaper men were asked to leave and the first meeting in camera for 20 years commenced. The Daladier Cabinet is not in any way imperilled, as no question of confidence is involved. It is understood the session is concerned with the operations of Russo-German agents in France. Eleven Communist members refused to take part in the session, so that it could not be said they had given away information. The French police aremaking a new drive against Communists. Twenty-three people have been arrested in the last 24 hours. It is believed that they planned to hold secret meetings to reconstruct the Communist Party in France. AN AMERICAN SURVEY. President Roosevelt announces that Mr Sumner Welles, Assistant-Secretary of State, is to .make a personal survey of conditions in Italy, France, Britain and Germany. He has been instructed to make no proposals or commitments in the name of the United States. Reports made by Mr Welles would be seen only by the President and by the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull. MEETINGS IN BRITAIN. In the House of Commons the Home Secretary, Sir John Simon, was asked whether stops had been taken by the police to prevent Fascist interruptions at meetings addressed by Cabinet Ministers, and which were broadcast, as such interruptions were designed to help the enemy. Replying. Sir John said that however much one might deplore such interruptions at meetings addressed by Cabinet Ministers, under the law in Britain they were in the same position as othei meetings, and no greater protection could be given to Cabinet Ministers than to other speakers.