SUPREMACY IN THE SKIES

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20908, 13 September 1939, Page 7

SUPREMACY IN THE SKIES

ANGLO-FRENCH AIR FORCE BRITAIN FASTEST-FRANCE DEADLIEST BIG SUPPLY OF FIGHTERS AND BOMBERS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 13, 11.10 a.m.) PARIS, Sept. 12 French air experts assert that the arrival of the Royal Air Force units will assure the Allies of early supremacy in the skies on the western front. Britain has the fastest fighters and medium bombers in the world. France has the deadliest and speediest heavy bombers. LONDON, Sept. 12 London aviation experts are greatly satisfied with the Royal Air Force leaflet raids, which indicated that tiie German ground defences were weak. The pilots who participated state that searchlights were not operated on a single occasion, indicating that the detectors failed to register the approach of the machines. It was not until the leaflets fluttered down that the defences came into action. The anti-aircraft batteries apparently were weak and did not atteihpt a barrage. It is pointed out, however, that a real test will only come if important military objectives are bombed.

A GOOD HARVEST AQRIOULTURE IN BRITAIN BIGGER AREA UNDER PLOUGH (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlrbt) (Received Sept. 13, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 12 The recent fine weather throughout Britain has enabled a good harvest to be gathered in perfect conditions. The Minister of Agriculture has announced that an additional 1,500,000 acres must come under the plough in the coming year. Comparing the present agricultural position with that in 1914, he said it is vastly superior. In regard to tractors, for example, there is a marked improvement. Whereas in 1914 the tractors in use totalled only about 100, there are now 50,000 available. The Ministry of Food announces that supplies of meat are sufficient for all reasonable requirements, but possibly there will be some difficulty in securing particular kinds. To Speed Up Farming A Ministry of Information communique states that the Minister of Agriculture, in a statement on wartime plans, says: “We are attempting in one year what was achieved in four years in the last war. The Ministry appeals for a general speeding up of all forms of farming, pointing out that the current harvest has turned o.ut better than was expected. A statement, contrasting conditions now with those in 1914, adds: “This* time things ars different. Our plans are ready, food, fual and other requisites are stored, and 60,000 tractors ara held privately, plus a reserve etook. We are In a far better poeltlon for ploughing up Britain than In 1918, when our last national effort reached Its height.” Detailed instructions follow’ for the best means of conserving and improving livestock, poultry, and so on, and an appeal is made to the kitchengardener and allotment-holder to produce poultry feed. Transfer of Government Staffs A Ministry of Information communique states that the Government is taking steps to transfer from London a limited number of departmental staffs, who can perform their duties away from the centre of Government without loss of efficiency. From 7000 to 8000 persons will be evacuated. Though none of the departments concerned is evacuating wholly, there is no question that the whole of the Government is leaving London. It is emphasised that evacuation is only a natural measure of the precaution of decentralisation following the example of many London businesses. SLOVAK DESERTERS WILL NOT FIGHT POLES DISARMED AND INTERNED (Official Wireless) (.Received Sept. 13, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 12 It is reported from Bratislava that a Slovak battalion refused to entrain lor Poland, tlie officers and men saying that they would not fight :Uie Poles. The batlaliun was disarmed and interned in barracks. The Germans have forbidden flights by Slovak airmen, ostensibly because the Germans are unfamiliar with their planes and might shoot them down, but really because numbers have deserted to Poland.

SOVIET WORRIED THK GERMAN ADVANOK THREAT TO BOLSHEVISM AMBITION OF NAZIS United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 12 The Moscow correspondent of the New’ York Times says there are many reasons why the Russian people are worried over the German advance. Originally they believed that the pact would make it Impossible for France and Britain to back Poland, and the latter would be compelled to surrender Danzig, postponing a war indefinitely. When, nevertheless, it did break out, they believed it would be a prolonged struggle, with determined Allied attacks on the w’est preventing such concentrated attacks on the east as seem now to threaten the elimination of Poland in a few weeks and bring German troops along the whole length of the Russian border. The abrupt conclusion of the pact has entirely failed to convince the Russians that Hitler has really abandoned his role of saviour of the world from Bolshevism, nor have they forgotten the oft-repeated Nazi ambitions to possess the Soviet Ukraine. Three classes of Latvian reservists have been mobilised and defensive measures are being carried out on the frontier between Lithuania and Poland. War Quilt on Qormony The correspondent of the Independent Cable Service in Moscow says that after a week of careful avoidance of naming Germany as the aggressor, the newspaper Izvestia Indirectly places the war guilt on Germany, in the iirst review of the war. In spite of caution exercised iby the press, which has reported the war news impartially, says the correspondent, the Soviet, since the beginning has been convinced that Germany is the aggressor. Fighting Diplomatic Battle Each of these States has raw materials and strategic position which Germany covets, and it may be better to let materials go to Germany in driblets than to risk their entire loss by invasion. The Turks believe that it is possible lo keep all the south-east neutral, so as to become a rampart against further German attempts to dominate Europe. On this basis Turkey is figliling a diplomatic battle and Britain is said to be eucouraging her. CZECHS IN FRANCE TO FORM TWO DIVISION* (Received Sept. 13, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 1* A radio from Paris reports that Czechs in France are expected to constitute two divisions and that this Js Based on the framework of SOO officers and non-commissioned offloers who fled from Czechoslovakia :n March. RUMANIA AND RUSSIA AOTIVITY ON THE FROM TICS LONDON. Sept. U Troops are moving on the frontier of Rumania and Russia, says a message from Bucharest, and trenches are being dug along the Dniester River, following increases in the Soviet defences on the frontier and activity at points previously unprotected. Rumania is concentrating defences in the west and south, and preparations have been completed for the evacuation of children from Bucharest.