FRENCH RECONNAISSANCE

Evening Star, Issue 23560, 26 April 1940, Page 3

FRENCH RECONNAISSANCE

FLIGHT OVER PRAGUE AREA PATROL ENCOUNTERS ON LAND (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 24. This evening’s French communique states:— " Two patrol encounters to the east of the Moselle were turned to our advantage. During the night, April 2223, our aircraft made many long-dis-tance reconnaissances, penetrating to many hundreds of kilometres over enemy territory. They flew over the Prague region. Towards the evening of April 23 an enemy reconnaissance aircraft was broughi down within out territory.” NAVAL BATTLE FILMED SECOND RAID ON NARVIK GRAPHIC RECORD OF ACTION LONDON, April 24. For the first time in history a film of a naval battle was nade while it was in progress. A naval cameraman, from the deck of a British ship, photographed the second battle at Narvik. The Warspite and other British vessels are seen going into attack at dawn, with all their guns in action, the German ships and shore batteries replying. A number of German destroyers and transports are seen on fire and others beached. Other sequences show the capture of the transport Alster, despite efforts to scuttle her, and the rescue of the Hardy’s wounded. The newsreel will be released in Britain to-morrow, and will offset the German film of the sinking of the Glowworm, at present being shown in Holland. FRENCH BUDGET HUGE WAR EXPENDITURE April 25. The Paris correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ states that the French expenditure for 1940 will be in the neighbourhood of £1,704,500,000. The total Allied Budgets for 1940 are £4,370,000,000. _________ FRUITLESS RAID NAZI PLANES DYER SCAPA FLDW BOMBS DROPPED IN DESOLATE . .. COUNTRY LONDON, April 25. Several German aircraft attempted to attack Scapa Flow late last night, but were driven off. No damage was done, although two bombs were dropped on desolate country. VALUE OF SEA POWER SIGNIFICANCE DF GERMAN ADVENTURE ILLUSION REGARDING AIR ATTACKS DISPELLED In a letter to ‘ The Times,’ Sir Archibald Hurd, the well-known naval authority, comments on the significance of the German adventure in Scandinavia as a gamble undertaken in tho belief that the short range use of air power could neutralise locally superior sea power, Germany’s gross misrepresentation of the sinking of British snips, he says, is intended to mislead neutral opinion for a sufficient time to enable Germany to reap the benefit of her bluff. Sir Archibald Hurd continues: “In particular it is hoped to convince Italy, which is interested in circumscribed areas in the Mediterranean, that a bombing aeroplane, supported by a relatively small fleet, can gain command of these waters. We may be assured from what , has already happened in Norwegian waters and on land, that ■ our superior sea power, with the aid of the enterprising Fleet Air Arm and the daring pilots of the R.A.F., will dispel such illusions. I suggest that, except for an of the power of active .navies and armies, the aeroplane, is merely an instrument of terror and destruction, and cannot achieve decisive results in adequately defended countries.” NORWEGIAN INVASION PLANNED YEARS ADD " DISPOSAL" OF KING HAAKON LONDON, April 25. The ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says that reliable information reaching London shows that Germany planned for over two years annexation of Norway and the “ disposal ” of King Haakon when the day arrived. CHARMED LIFE HARDY BRITISH SEAMAN LONDON, April 25. Able Seaman Charles Riley is a sailor the Germans cannot sink. He has escaped four times in seven months. He was a member of the crew of the Royal Oak, and he was then twice on ships attacked by planes. Ho was reported killed in action when the Glowworm was sunk. Riley has now reached home.