ALLEGED MISTAKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 March 1940, Page 5

ALLEGED MISTAKE

NAZI ATTACK ON BELGIAN PLANES EXPRESSION OF REGRET. INDIGNATION IN BELGIUM. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, March 4. The German news agency says that the Government has expressed regret to Belgium for the shooting down of a Belgian plane “in mistake for ti. British plane.” According lo the iiq,ws agency, the clash occurred only a few “Hying minutes” front the French border.

Indignation has swept over Belgium at the news of the three Belgian fighters being shot down by a German bomber, which was unmistakably over Belgian territory. The incident is regarded as one of the most serious since the outbreak of the war.

The pilot who was killed was Patrol Leader Sub-Lieutenant Hanrard. His plane was brought down in flames in a wood of oak trees. The second machine from which the pilot landed by parachute, had his petrol tank riddled with bullets, and the third landed on rough ground and upended on its nose, the propeller being smashed. The Belgians have asked how a Dornier was able to dispose of three fast fighters and escape undamaged. The answer is that the Belgian pilots were signalling the German to land when the Nazis, with six machine-guns, opened fire against the three fighters simultaneously, after which the Dornier made off at full speed to the frontier. The Belgians did not anticipate that they would be attacked.

The German excuse to Brussels concerning the shooting down of Belgian planes by a Heinkel bomber appears unlikely to improve public opinion in Belgium, a radio message states. The German reply states that the bomber was attacked on its way back from a flight over France by seven British machines, one of which was shot down. The German pilot thought he was over French territory and was being attacked by more British planes. It is pointed out, however, that the German bomber was actually suirounded by the three Belgian planes, which could easily have been identified. M. SPAAK’S WARNING BELGIAN STRENGTH A PLEDGE FOR PEACE. BRUSSELS. March I. The Foreign Minister, M. Spaak, in a speech said: “We ask nothing from anybody except that they respect our territorial integrity and allow us to live in peace." He added: “The Governments essential preoccupation is to keep the country from war. The last six months has not been wasted. We have reinforced our army, and anyone trying to break through Belgium must calculate on prodigious losses of life and material. Our strength is a pledge foi peace."

EXPLANATION RECEIVED GERMANY AGREES TO PAY INDEMNITY. (Received This Day. 10.50 a.m.) BRUSSELS. March 4. The Foreign Minister. M P. H. Spaak. received the German Ambassador. Later the Foreign Office issued a communique indicating that a German explanation had been received and adding: "The Reich Government expressed sincere regret and gave an assurance that the prohibition of (lying over neutral territories will bo repeated. The Retell undertakes to examine Hie ease and pay any indemitv demanded."