BRITISH FLEET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1942, Page 3

BRITISH FLEET

MAKING FOR THE INDIAN OCEAN ACCORDING TO ITALIAN REPORT. ENEMY NAVAL UNITS SIGHTED NEAR BURMA. LONDON, March 28. The Rome radio reported that a major British naval force, including two battleships, two aircraftcarriers, several cruisers, and smaller ships, passed the Cape of Good Hope yesterday en route to the Indian Ocean. The Dome! news agency states that a Japanese naval squadron arrived in Rangoon after the adjacent waters had been cleared of mines. It was announced in Burma yesterday that air reconnaissance reported the existence of a small enemy naval force of one cruiser and a few destroyers operating in the vicinity of Burma. ? QUEEN’S SYMPATHY r ; • TALKS WITH AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, March 27. Several Australian members of i bomber crews were introduced to the King and Queen when Their Majesties recently visited aerodromes of the Bomber Command. The Queen held a long conversation with a sergeant from Woodstock, Maryborough, Queensland, ■ who worked for an insurance company before joining the R.A.A.F. and is now captain of a Whitley bomber. “I feel so much for your people now that your shores are attacked,” said the Queen, who added that she felt sure the tide would turn for Australia. As she turned away she said, “Please remember my sympathies are always with you." At another aerodrome the Queen spoke to a sergeant from Adelaide who referred to the Royal visit to Australia when the Queen was Duchess of York. The Queen commented on the great work Australians were doing in the aerial war.