World News in Story and Picture

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 3 (Supplement)

World News in Story and Picture

BRITISH AIRCRAFT EXPORTS. During 1925 British aircraft to the total value of £2,720,441 were exported. This figure was over £800,000 in excess of that of the previous year. Apart from this increased export trade the industry had to fill large orders for the British Government, for the new programme of expansion of the Royal Air Force has necessitated the construction of many army 'planes. Three leading companies announce orders which aggregate hundreds of thousands of pounds in value, and which come from many different countries. One company is supplying aircraft to Greece, Austria, Australia, Finland and Egypt. Its biggest contract is for 38 twin-engined monoplanes for Australia. Another company, which last year sold aircraft to 25 countries, has received orders recently from Uruguay, New Zealand, Turkey and Iraq. One of the most interesting exhibits at the recent international aero exhibition at Stockholm was a twinengined ambulance monoplane. The fittings of this machine include specially designed stretchers and containers for medical instruments and stores, oxygen cylinders and tent, and blood transfusion appa-

ratus. Such a craft is of untold benefit to large sparsely-populated areas, where it is impossible to arrange for speedy transport to hospital. The flying doctor is ever ready to aid and succour the ailing in the "out-back" areas of Australia. TELEPHONING AT SEA. A Japanese liner, the Chichibu Maru, arriving in San Francisco recently from . Yokohama, reports favourably on a new type of highfrequency radio telephone equipment that had just been installed on the vessel. The trials had proved so successful that a similar system will be installed on the liner's sister ship, the Tatsuta Maru. It will be possible now to keep in telephonic communication with land while the ships are crossing the Pacific. It has taken three years to perfect the system. The Japanese Ministry of Communication has worked with the Nippon Electric Company in developing the equipment, and tests have been carried out by three engineers from the Ministry of Communication. The tests have assured commercial operation of the equipment over a range in excess of 5000 miles. Land communication with stations at San Francisco and Tokyo will afford passengers a round-the-world telephone service at all times while on transPacific voyages.

EX-SERVICEMEN IN LONDON. After so many cables telling of European disorders and disagreements come« a cheering report of the meeting in London of allied # and enemy ex-servicemen. They were in England to attend as fraternal delegates the annual conference of the British Legion, and represented the ex-servicemen organisations of France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and Hungary. Before leaving for home they were received by King Edward at Buckingham Palace. It is to be hoped that every one of these men, having met in amity, will [ be able to assist in creating a more generous spirit among his own people for the other nations of Europe and in dispelling that feeling of enmity and distrust that menaces the peace of the world. AIRMAN HONOURED. Mr. H. F. Broadbent, of Sydney, has been awarded the Harmon Air Trophy of the Ligue International d'Aviateurs, Paris, as the British airman who did the most to advance aviation in 1935. He made the record solo flight from England to Australia last year.

TOY VILLAGE IN ENGLAND. Six years ago a little model village named Bekonscot was built at Beaconsfield, Bucks. It has already earned about £1400 for charities. Additions have been made to the village from time to time, and during the past year a floating dock with liners, cargo boats and, battleships was constructed. The various types of njedel machinery are worked by electricity, and large crowds arrived to watch the electric trains which run on Sundays. When all the electric models are working, the cost of electricity for one day is £5. The village is up-to-date in every way and has an airport where there are models of aeroplanes of many countries. ROYAL VISIT TO CORNWALL. I For the first time for a great many years a king of Britain has paid a visit to the Duchy of Cornwall. Many old ceremonies and customs were observed by the King on the journey. At Exeter the King was met at the city boundary by the Mayor, who presented the civic sword. The King touched the hilt to signify that he was pleased with the city and confident in its loyalty. This custom dates back to 1597, when the eword was presented to the city by Henry VII.