CEASELESS VIGIL

Evening Star, Issue 23950, 30 July 1941, Page 8

CEASELESS VIGIL

BRITISH NAVY EQUAL TO OCCASION , , long spells at sea (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, July 29. How British warships are standing up to the strain of ceaseless vigil over the oceans and successful encounters with elusive enemies after long chases was described in London,, by a senior naval engineering officer. Many cruisers and destroyers, he said, had steamed over 100,(MX). miles since the war began. This means ships staying at sea for about 300 days in "a year, with rare opportunities for overhaul and refit. Immediately before the decisive defeat inflicted on the Italians on March 23 at Cape Matapan the fleet had steamed at high speed for 31 hours in order to catch up with the enemy. During the chase of the Bismarck the engines of the battleship Rodney, though over 13 years old, put up a performance'which exceeded anything previously attained. “ Without going into too much detail,” said- the officer, “ you can take it that the elusive aircraft carrier Ark Royal has seen a bit of the world since the war started.”

NEW PROBLEM FOR NAVY

BULGARIAN AND RUMANIAN SHIPS CARRYING ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES FOR AXIS . LONDON, July 29. The Istanbul correspondent of the ‘ Daily Mail ’ says that Germany has mobilised the Rumanian merchant fleet to circumvent the British blockade from the mouth of the Dardanelles to Corinth Canal, thence to Italy. Recent sinkings of Italian ships on this route have been heavy, for which reason it was decided to use Rumanian merchantmen which have been idle in Istanbul Harbour since June 20. Two 6,000-ton vessels are loading for Italy in spite of a lack of enthusiasm among the Rumanian crews. This action sets a problem for the British Navy for dealing with Bulgarian and Rumanian ships carrying essentials for the Axis, but flying neutral flags.

SHIPBUILDING PLANS CONSTRUCTION IN AUSTRALIA (Rec. 8 a.m.) SYDNEY. July 29. The Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies, laid the keel of the first 9,000-ton freighter under the Australian merchant shipbuilding programme to-day. _ He said the objective was 60 ships in five years, employing more than 15,000 men. The naval construction programme would continue as at present. This covered 50 ships, which are being launched at the rate of four or five a month. ' Mr Menzies paid, a tribute to the zest with which the newly-appointed shipbuilding board was going about its task, and praised the work of the men in the various shipyards. AUSTRALIAN MILITIA OVERSEAS SERVICE FAVOURED (Rec. 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 29. A pronounced swing to the A.I.F. is expected from the new militia training plan. Largo numbers in age groups liable for compulsory training for home service are known to favour enlistment in the Australian overseas forces in preference to full-time service in Australia. CANADIAN AIR STRENGTH TWELVE NSW SQUADRONS (Rec. 8 a.m.) OTTAWA, Julv 29. The Air Minister, Mr C. G. Power, who has returned from Britain, said that Canada was increasing her Air Force strength overseas by the formation of 12 new operational squadrons and the organisation of a second army co-operation squadron for service with the Canadian Corps, making a total of 25 squadrons in Britain. He said it had been arranged to have Canadians fill an increasing number of the higher commands in Britain and fight together more as a unit. A personnel officer will be appointed to watch the special inof Canadian airmen in Britain. He said that an increased l quota of commissions would be made available to wireless operators and air gunners. MR FRASER IN GLASGOW AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME LONDON, July 29. Mr Peter Fraser yesterday morning toured the docks and shipbuilding yards of Glasgow, where he was enthusiastically welcomed. He was greeted by a boyhood friend, Mr Brewster, now' a leading engineer. A member of the House of Commons, Mr D. Kirkwood, in the afternoon escorted Mr Fraser through the blitzed areas. Mr Fraser, at Greenock, met two New Zealand officers and eight New Zealand men attached to the Navy. Later, at a civic reception in Paisley, Mr Fraser presented the provost with a photograph taken in Egypt of an ambulance presented by Paisley citizens to the Now Zealand forces. Mr Fraser thanked the Paisley people for the gift and added that New Zealanders were proud of the gift and as proud to fight against Hitler. Afterwards Mr Fraser visited the headquarters of the Scottish Co-opera-tives, where he was presented with costume and suit lengths and a casket containing souvenirs. Mr Fraser was the guest of Sir Steven Bilsland, District Commissioner for the Western District of Scotland under the Civil Defence Organisation. Later the Lord Provost of Glasgow (Sir Patrick Dollan) and commanders and officers of the local defence forces tendered a reception to Mr Fraser, where he told the epic story of the New Zealanders’ part in the Battle of Crete.