VITAL MONTHS AHEAD

Evening Star, Issue 23865, 21 April 1941, Page 3

VITAL MONTHS AHEAD

TOTAL MECHANICAL WARFARE BRITISH ASCENDANCY AFTER JULY (British Oflioial Wireless.) RUGBY. April 19. “ The vital moment of Britain’s history is from now until next July,” said the Minister of Labour, Mr Urnest Bevin, speaking at Birmingham. Last year saw air attacks, but now it was mechanical warfare in all its phases—tanks, mechanised divisions, guns, and more guns. Mr Bevin said; 11 We have got to hold the fort for the next four months, and then ascendancy month by month afterwards is ours.”

He gave a warning that the invasion danger was still present, suggesting that in the event of invasion the best plaee for workpeople was in the factories, where they would best submit to disciplinary control. Ho also urged that the personnel should he arranged to maintain seven-day production, but did not for one moment suggest that the personnel should be arranged to maintain a seven-day week with the loss of Sunday as a day of rest.

With regard to night bombers, Mr Bevin said: “Defence against air attack has not yet been fully developed, but it is on the way and growing every day. I venture to suggest that there is a reasonable chance that w r e shall have mastery of the night attack before next winter. I place it no higher.”

MONARCHISTS’ PLANS

SPANIARDS IN THE AMERICAS END OF FALAN.GE CONTROL WANTED WASHINGTON, April 20. Spaniards throughout the Americas are organising to restore a constitutional, monarchy in Spain, said Don Manuel Deagustin. the Marquess Aguiar, after registering as representative of the Spanish Monarchist Association. He said that the headquarters of the movement, which was seeking to end Falange control in Spain, had been established in Mexico under the control of the Marquess Castellon, who is opening brandies in all the Western Hemisphere republics. “ The present object is to show the people of the United States and Latin-America that we want our country to be a democracy and restore a constitutional monarchy on the lines of the British Royal House.” He said, with regard to Don Juan, that he was already King .if nan HI., although without a throne.

PANAMA CANAL

THIRD SET OF LOCKS ENLARGING THE PACIFIC SIDE OAKLAND (California), April 19. The Henry J. Kaiser Company announced to-day that its bid of 22,43(3,860dol for the enlargement of the Panama Canal had been accepted by the War Department. The project calls for the excavation of a third set of locks on the Pacific side of the canal, and this will be begun in 30 days. The accepted bid was almost 2,000,OOOdol below the next lowest.

JAPANESE LANDING

ATTEMPT TO OUT OFF SUPPLY ROUTES SHANGHAI, April 20. The Japanese army and navy jointly announced that major landing operations on the Chekiang coast this morning resulted in the occupation of Chinghai, Shihpu, Haimen, and Wenchow. .Japanese, informed circles expressed the opinion that this was the beginning of one of the most important Japanese operations since Hankow, with the purpose of dosing off the Chungking supply routes on account of much material being smuggled through the Chekiang coastal area.

STARTLING DISCLOSURES

NAZI SPY RING IN AMERICA RIVER HEAD (New York), April 19. Sheriff Dreyer said to-day that a prisoner held on a robbery charge had given him and Federal intelligence officers a page statement, admitting that he was a member of the German seoret police, and detailing a Nazi espionage and sabotage set-up in the United States. Sheriff Dreyer identified the prisoner as Bruno Johannes Valcnski, aged 31 years, a waiter, of Central Islip, Suffolk County. The sheriff said that during Valonski’s examination and finger-printing Mr George Foster, chief of the sheriff’s bureau, noticed a swastika branded on the prisoner’s arm. Under protracted questioning, Valenski made many startling disclosures. “ We cannot reveal the contents of Valenski’s statement,” the sheriff' said, “ but it is very enlightening to officials and has opened many avenues of investigation.”

It was stated, however, that German sources in Baltimore and New York had supplied Valenski with funds and instructed him to enlist German sympathisers for Gorman arms. Valenski was required by bis superiors to report the names of anti-Nazi persons in German communities here.

GULF OF PARIS

AKGLO-VENEZUELAH AGREEMENT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 20. The British ami Venezuelan Governments will shortly sign an agreement defining their respective interests as regards the submarine areas of the Gulf of Paris, which separates the island of Trinidad from the Venezuelan mainland. The agreement will also provide for cession' to Venezuela of Patos, a small island within three miles of the Venezuelan coast.