PEACEFUL BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 6, 2 October 1941, Page 8

PEACEFUL BRITAIN

Little Bombing Since War In Russia Started "Britain is very peaceful at present; since the Russian campaign started there has been practically no bombing, and it is hard to realize that we are at war,” writes Sub-Lieutenant J. G. Morrison, formerly of Wellington, from a Royal Naval air station in Scotland to a friend in Wellington in a letter dated August 25. "It is autumn now and Scotland is simply beautiful,” he says. Speaking of his period of training in Trinidad, Sub-Lieutenant Morrison said the main trouble was the constant heat, day and night, which made hard work a great strain, but that, nevertheless, it had been a marvellous experience to live in the tropics for five mon lbs. "From Rothesay Bay up to Glasgow,” he writes of his return to Britain, "we passed the big shipbuilding jards lining either bank, and were in terested. to find that there was no evidence of bomb damage anywhere, and the yards were all working at fu.i pressure. . . . London is almost back to peacetime conditions—a very different story from when 1 saw it last.” Sub-Lieutenant .Morrison, who is an observer in the Fleet Air Arm, said lie was delighted to find about 20 New Zealanders at tlie station to which be was sent. He was training with a first line T.S.R. (torpedo-spot terreeonnaissaiiee) squadron, and said Ire would be joining one of the latest aircraft carriers.

"We’ve been practising torpedo attacks a great deal and, believe me, there is plenty of excitement,” he says. "We cruise along at 10,900 feet, then peel off one after another into a terrific dive, pulling out only 50 feet above water with an 80 degree bank. Then follows a short even run to within 600 yards of the ship, tire torpedo drops with a huge splash, another sharp turnaway bank, "and it’s all over.”