’PLANES FOR BRITAIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 290, 14 September 1940, Page 5

’PLANES FOR BRITAIN.

DUTCH PEOPLE’S GIFT. KING EXPRESSES THANKS. (United Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDON, September 13. In thanking Queen M'ilhclmina for the gift of 40 Spitfires and 18 Lockheed Hudson bombers from the Netherlands East Indies, the King said that this tribute to the magnificent work of the Royal Air Force, both in attack and defence, would be a, great encouragement to British flying men.

Queen Wilhelmina and her Ministers are already doing everything possible to begin immediately, as soon as the moment comes, the revictualling of the Netherlands with foodstuffs, as well as to provide raw materials for the economic restoration of the country, states a British Official Wireless message. ‘‘We fully appreciate,” said Queen Wilhelmina in a broadcast, “that, notwithstanding our considerable • merchant navy, it will not be possible to give everybody immediately what he wants, but we trust that the 'Dutch solidity plan will guarantee a steady mounting flow.” Expressing her heartfelt thanks for the countless expressions of congratulation, affection and sympathy received on her sixtieth birthday, Queen Wilhelmina. said that the commemoration had developed into an overwhelming demonstration for |he restoration and independence of the Netherlands and the reunion, in undisturbed freedom within the framework of the Dutch State, of a Dutch community of 70,000,000 citizens.. “As a united people we endure this trial. New proof of this can be found in the spontaneous generosity of the Netherlands East Indies for the Queen Wilhelmina Fund which has-been put at my disposal. The patriotism of the donors and their strong will to win the war for the liberation of the Netherlands have given l’ise to their wish that part of their "contributions of a total of 5,000,00G\ guilders shall be spent on military purposes in the Allied struggle. “In conformity with the intention of the donors, I have informed the King of Britain that- they plan to give a, number of military aeroplanes through tho medium of the Prince Bernhard Fund, in which fund this amount will be deposited. ’ “These great demonstrations of unity and the will to independence, together with such signs of national' generosity and energy, cannot but lilt us abovo the difficulties and sorrows of these days and enable us to look with confidence to the future, which, under. God’s blessing, will .give us all back a free and independent, country.” " ,