GERMANS TAKEN BY SURPRISE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23445, 27 September 1941, Page 9

GERMANS TAKEN BY SURPRISE

R.A.F. IN ACTION ON MURMANSK FRONT BRILLIANT SUPPORT OF RUSSIAN DRIVE (Received September 26, 11.10 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, September 25, The Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph’’ says that the Royal Air Force is in action on the Murmansk front, driving off Slukas and Messerschmitts and so permitting the Russians to throw back the Austrians and Germans 10 miles behind the Liza river. The Royal Air Force's appearance on the Murmansk front is probably the most unpleasant surprise for the Germans for weeks, he says. When the Germans and Austrians advanced six days ago after forcing the Liza river they threw in strong forces of dive-bombers to blast the Russian positions. But Hurricanes met the Stukas which promptly made off under the cover of the morning mists. The invaders held their attack while squadrons of Messerschmitts were brought from Petsamo and Kirkenes. These after a series of dogfights also made off and the Royal Air Force pilots were masters of the air. The Russians then counter-attacked, throwing back the Germans and Austrians 10 miles. The Royal Air Force's advent in the operations has been kept secret by the Germans. They have not dared to publish the facts tor fear of damaging Finnish and German morale. R.A.F. WING IN RUSSIA ACCOUNT GIVEN OF FORMATION (8.0. W.) RUGBY, September 25. The story of the formation of the Royal Air Force 'wing in Russia has been told by the Air Ministry News Sendee. The commanding officer of a north of England station received a message a few weeks ago stating briefly that a new wing was being formed there and would proceed overseas at short notice. Though nobody at the station knew it at the time, that marked the birth of the wing which has gone to Russia and - has already claimed seven Nazi fighters. The first of the new wing to arrive was a squadron leader, an original member of the City of Glasgow Auxiliary Squadron. He was followed by a stream of others. They came by bus and train from all parts of the country, some from squadrons which are already famous and some from operational training units or depots. None of them knew where I'iey were going or what was in store for them. The first inkling came when the equipment officers were ordered to issue to every man in the wing—ground crews and administrative officers alike —the warm battle dress that is normally issued to flying personnel only. Then one August morning Wing Commander H. N. G. RamsbottomIsherwood, the New Zealand leader of the v.'ing. gave orders to entrain. The journey to Russia had begun, though none of the rank and file, and few of the officers knew it. Besides the leader from New Zealand there are Canadian. Australian, Scottish. Irish, and. of course. English pilots in the wing. One of the intelligence officers comes from Jamaica. Many of the pilots have been in combat with the Luftwaffe in sweeps over occupied territories. The entire personnel of the wing arrived safely in Russia. BRITISH TANKS FOR SOVIET SUPPLY PLANNED FOR NEXT TWO YEARS LARGE CONTRIBUTION OF RAW MATERIALS (8.0. W.) RUGBY. September 25. This week's apportioning of the tank output to Russia is no mere flash in the pan effort. This was made clear in an authoritative statement to the effect that assistance will continue after this week and on an increased scale. “More to follow” will be the slogan for the future. The Government has already made plans for the delivery of tanks to Russia to increase over the next nine months and there are reserve plans for an extension of this programme for 18 months or two years. Before long, it is hoped, British tanks will be in active service on the Russian front. The sending of a British technical staff to Russia and of a reciprocal number of Russian experts is at present under discussion in order that ihg Russian military authorities may get used to handling the British types as quickly as possible. . . The type of tank which Britain is at present sending to Russia follows a request of the Russian military authorities. This type, which is of proved reliability, has been sufficiently long in production for spares to be available with delivery and to be easily handled by the Russians. Britain has already made a very substantial contribution to Russia in raw materials, and she is committed to a much heavier monthly programme ot munitions and material. At present there is being sent to Russia the maximum that can be got there by any system of transport now open. UNITS FOR CIVIL DEFENCE SERVICE AFTER WAR LIKELY (B 0.W.) RUGBY. September 25, The continuation of the civil defence organisation after the war was forecast to-dav bv Mr William Mabane, joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Home Security. “It is clear from the Atlantic Charter that at an} rate, until the world has reached a far greater degree of political stability than” we have known hitherto, those nations that desire peace must be in a position to preserve it," said Mr Mabane. “So after the war it docs appear to me we shall certainly not be able to abandon our civil defence organisation. although we shall be able to transform it once more into an army, not standing by. but trained and at call —a necessary and proper supplement to the armed forces.’’ WOMEN FOR WAR WORK WITHDRAWAL FROM CIVIL EMPLOYMENT (80. W.) RUGBY. September 25.All women aged 20 to 25 employed in anv retail trade other than the sale of food are to be withdrawn from their employment, according to an announcement bv the Ministry of Labour and National Service. The Minister (Mr Ernest Bevin) states that he would like to reiterate his appeal to women to -join the Auxiliary Territorial Force or take training which will fit them for engineering work in which some skill is necessary and which will then enable their capabilities to be used in the war effort