DARING EXPLOIT

Evening Star, Issue 23915, 19 June 1941, Page 9

DARING EXPLOIT

BRITISH PARACHUTISTS. LAND IN PRICE NAZI AERODROME DESTROYED AND PILOTS CAPTURED Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright (Pice. 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 13. Landing in occupied Francs during an intense R.A.F. night raid, British parachutists destroyed 30 grounded planes and the control tower at a German aerodrome, and then escaped in torpedo boats with 40 Germans as prisoners. This daring exploit is reported in an Overseas News Agency message from Zurich. The parachutists landed at Bercksurmer, Calais, and made contact with British agents and French sympathisers. The guards at the aerodrome were overwhelmed by the parachutists, who captured the German pilots, destroyed the planes and the control tower with hand grenades, then rushed to the coast with their prisoners to waiting torpedo boats.

ANOTHER LEAK BLOCKED AMERICA REFUSES VISAS TO REFUGEES (Rec. 12.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Juno IS. The State Department has instructed American representatives throughout the world to refuse visas to refugees with close relatives in Germany or Ger-man-controlled territories. This departure from traditional policy of providing a refuge -for the oppressed is in consequence of the Nazi custom of forcing refugees to become spies through threats or a'etual torture of close relatives. The State Department realises that the decision debars many otherwise eligible immigrants, but sas’s it is necessary in view of the evidence that such Nazi terrorism often worked to Germany’s advantage.

HO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY FOOD POSITION IN CYPRUS (British Official Wireless.) (Roc. 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, June 18. Asked whether adequate stops had been taken to ensure the provision of essential foodstuffs for the population of Cyprus “as war in the Mediterranean develops,” the Colonial Undersecretary, Mr George Hall, stated that tho food position in the island gave no cause for anxiety. He added that although tho exports from Cyprus to Britain of citrus fruit and other produce had practically ceased because of war conditions every endeavour was being made to dispose of them in markets nearer tho colony. ITALIAN PRISONERS MANY THOUSANDS IH BRITISH HANDS (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY, June 18. Tho War Minister, Captain Margesson, stated in a Parliamentary reply to-day that according to the latest information the number of Italian officers and other ranks now in our hands_ is 177,938, in addition to 60,010 native troops.