ON THE RUN AGAIN

Evening Star, Issue 23745, 28 November 1940, Page 9

ON THE RUN AGAIN

ITALIAN FLEET TRUE TO FORM QUICK SCURRY TO BASE NO STOMACH FOR FIGHT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November -27. (Received November 28, at 10.30 a.m.) An Admiralty communique states; Information has been received that . our naval forces in the Mediterranean made contact shortly before noon to-day with an Italian force reported to consist of two battleships, accompanied by a large force of cruisers and destroyers. Immediately on becoming aware of the approach of our forces the enemy altered course and retired at high speed towards their base. Our forces pursued them, and it is known that they engaged the enemy at extreme range. Full details are not yet available.

TURKEY PREPARES

VAST MILITARY MEASURES CLEAR WARNIHG TO AXIS POWERS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 27. The Istanbul correspondent of the * Daily Telegraph ’ reports that Turkey is pressing on with her preparations for any eventuality. The Ministry of Commerce will shortly become the Min. istry of Commerce and Victualling, equivalent to the British Ministry of Supply, with the task of accumulating stocks for military and civil consumption and distributing all konds of commodities. A permanent total blackout. the strictest ever imposed on Turkey, will be enforced from Sunday, after which there will be exhaustive tests of passive' defence. ’All shops, stores, official departments, and private offices are being closed at 4.30 p.m. General Artunkall, formerly com-mander-in-chief of the Turkish police, has been appointed general officer commanding of six zones in European Turkey, in which a state of siege has been proclaimed. He arrived at Istanbul on November 26, where he is directing emergency measures imposed under martial law. The vast scale of Turkey’s military measures, with the drastic preparations in zones near Bulgaria and Greece added to these, constitute the clearest warning to the Axis Powers and their satellites that the slightest move to imperil Turkey’s security and independence will be repelled by arms.

TURKEY AND RUSSIA TWO IMPORTANT ELEMENTS MADRID, November 2V. (Received November 28, at 9.5 a.m.) The Spanish New's Agency’s Berlin correspondent says Yugoslavia is not signing the Tripartite Pact at present. Bulgaria’s abstention is due to Turkey’s confusing attitude. The Soviet is playing its cards with the extraordinary prudence characterising all Russian movements since 1939. BULGARIAN DEFENCES EXPANSION OF PROGRAMME LONDON, November 27. Bulgaria launched an increased defence programme to-day, when a supplementary Budget was introduced in Parliament. The Minister of War, General Daskaloff, stated that, in view of tho tense situation in the Balkans, Bulgaria must look immediately to her defence. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES "TENSE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION" SOFIA, November 27. (Received November 28, at 9.5 a.m.) A Defence Bill providing a supplementary expenditure of £4,000,000 was introduced in the National Assembly because of the “ tense international situation and Bulgaria’s need to secure its own defence.”

AIR RAIDS ON BRITAIN

LESS ENEMY ACTIVITY BOMBS FALL IN LONDON AREA (British Official Wireless.) Frees Association —By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, November 27, (Received November 28, at 9.5 a.m.) There was little enemy activity over Britain for several hours after nightfall, followed by a long lull until shortly before daybreak. A communique states tjiat some bombs were dropped during the first raid period, mostly in London and the west country and in one point in the Homo Counties. The damage was slight and the casualties few. During the second period bombs fell in the London area, also in two points in eastern England. There was little damage and no casualties^ A raider dropped incendiaries on the outskirts of a north-west coastal town this morning. Workmen alighted from passing buses and extinguished a number of small fires and R.A.F. fighters chased off the raider.

ELEVEN RAIDERS DOWN DOG-FIGHTS OVER KENT (British Official Wireless.) RUGfIJY, November 27. (Received November 28, at 11 a.m.) British fighters shot down. 11 enemy aircraft in a series of engagements which took place over Kent this afternoon, states a communique. Two of our fighters were lost, but both pilots are safe. A bomb was dropped in a place in Kent, but there was little damage and no one was hurt. ELDERLY COUPLE KILLED LONDON, November 27. (Received November 28, at noon.) A bomb hit a house in the London urea last night, killing an elderly couple. Two soldiers, hearing another fall, dived into the front garden of a doctor’s house, which was directly hit. The soldiers rescued the doctor and his wife. No one was hurt. DOVER CHILDREN NO SCHOOLING FOR LONG PERIOD COMPULSORY EVACUATION URGED s LONDON, November 27. (Received November 28, at 8 a.m.) The ‘ Daily Express ’ raises one of the gravest problems arising from the blitzkrieg when it states that 600 to 800 children living in Hellfire Corner have not been to school for 178 days. The Dover Council has decided to ask the Regional Commissioner, Sir Auckland Geddes. to order the compulsory evacuation of all school children in the municipality, as the mothers of children still living in Dover flatly refuse to evacuate their children.