AID FOR RUSSIA

Evening Star, Issue 24003, 30 September 1941, Page 7

AID FOR RUSSIA

GREATER EFFORT URGED MUST GIV£ ALL HELP POSSIBLE LONDON, September 28. British military writers continue to urge more aid for Russia. -Mr John Gordon, iu the ‘ Sunday Express,’ says: “ Britain should send Russia as many bombers as she can fly there. Surely the place for our bombers is where they can kill most Germans, create the grcaUA chaos, and cause tho most devastation. That place is now the Russian front. Why we keep bombers here, sinking an odd ship in the Channel, making holes in French airfields which can he refilled in a few hours, and taking pot-shots at empty bathing huts on Channel beaches is beyond me.” Mr J. L. Garvin, writing in the ‘ Observer,’ says: “The depth and weight of the Nazi mechanised invasion in the Ukraine now constitute the worst danger to tho life and soul of the Russian people. The British and American peoples must expect an even more formidable struggle. Let them put their backs into it and quit mooning about an ‘ automatic victory some fine time in the remote future.’ Before victory can be won they must earn it, they must sweat for it, just as Russia is shedding blood for it. They must grapple as never before with the magnitude of their industrial task—the giant job of out-producing Hitler in this machinepower war.” The chief subject for discussion and comment in the Sunday Press, as it has been recently in the daily newspapers, is the question of British help for our Russian ally. A distinguished writer in the ‘ Sunday Times ’ defines the extent and categories of such aid. “ What we can do wo are doing to prevent Russia from being conquered—to enable her to hold out and turn defeat into ultimate victory. Besides blockading her enemies by sea and bombing them from the air, and, apart from some R.A.F. co-opera-tion on Russian soil, this involves three main things: First, keeping the sea open so that supplies, equipment, and other necessities may reach her; secondly, ourselves manufacturing for her part’ of what she needs; and, thirdly, guarding or opening up by military action or engineering, or both, avenues along which supplies may reach her. The first means that tho gigantic task of our Navy is shared in now by our Air Force. The second means that, whereas we had strained every nerve to make aircraft and tanks for our own forces, we now have to make them in vast numbers for Russia as well, a tax on our strength which we cannot dream of refusing, but which, nevertheless, inevitably must strain us to the limit. The third may be illustrated by what we have done and shall do in Iran and Iraq—military steps which we have taken and engineering steps which we are going to take —to open up an avenue of supply to Russia from the Persian Gulf. Over and above these direct aids to Russia come our direct blows against Russia’s enemy. These take two main forms—blockade by sea and a bombing offensive by air. The blockade is, of course, complemented by Russia’s land blockade on the east.”

Meanwhile British and United States missions have arrived in Moscow with plans for increasing assistance in every form to the Soviet Union.

SUCCESSES AT SEA GERMAN TRANSPORTS SUNK LONDON, Sept. 29. A Moscow communique says: “The northern fleet sank two enemy transports of 8,000 and 5,000 tons respectively. The Baltic Fleet ships and coastal batteries sank one cruiser and one destroyer, and heavily damaged two destroyers, Wc sank a 6,Q00-ton tanker in the Black Sea.” RUSSIAN PARACHUTISTS MORE LANDED IN BULGARIA LONDON, September 29. A Rome message says the Stefani Agency reports from Sofia that more Russian parachutists lauded in Bulgaria and nine fully-armed men eluded capture. A widespread hunt began ib the Sliven area. JAPAN AND AMERICA DEADLOCK IN PEACE TALKS FURTHER CONFERENCES TO BE HELD (Hoc. 12.5 jj.in'.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 29. Informed circles believe that the exploratory peace talks between the United States and Japan are not progressing because of Japan’s failure to give guarantees regarding future actions, says the United Press. Diplomats have not yet abandoned hope of finding a solution. Nevertheless, they are somewhat discouraged. It is understood that there will he additional conferences between Mr Cordell Hull and Admiral Nomura this week. SUCCESSFUL TEST AUSTRALIAN SUB-MACHINE GUN MAY GO INTO IMMEDIATE PRODUCTION SYDNEY, Sept. 29. An Australian-invented sub-machine gun came through a successful test in the presence of the Army Minister, Air I’. C. Spender, and other high army officials at a suburban rifle range to-day. Invented by a plasterer, a former member of the Australian forces, Evelyn Owen, the gun was subjected to gruelling tests and eclipsed two other types. It possesses only one moving part, compared with several in the case of the other types. Its main achievement was the amazing accuracy after its immersion in water and slush and burial in sand, comparable with the worst war conditions.

Owen’s gun costs between £5 and £lO, compared with £6O for a tommygun. The Minister for the Army stated after the tests that if the experts’ reports were satisfactory Owen's gun would go into production immediately.