WAR NEWS IN BRIEF

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 March 1941, Page 8

WAR NEWS IN BRIEF

BRITISH THRIFT [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT ] \ RUGBY, March 27. A total of over two million pounds has been raised by five English towns whose final War Weapons Week figures are published. In every instance the sum raised is over double the amount aimed at, and in one cas e—East Dereham, in Norfolk—is over ninefold. Bury, in Lancashire, heads the list. Aiming at half a million, the town raised £1,110,161. KING’S “BREN” RIDE. RUGBY, March 27. The King and Queen, on Thursday visited Canadian troops training, and the King rode for the first time m a Bren gun carrier, making a half-mile journey over rough heath. BUDGET DEBATE RUGBY, March 27. It was announced in the House of Commons that the Budget debate will be opened on the first sitting day after April 6.

RAILINGS UTILISED.

RUGBY, March 28.

Symbolic of Britain’s determination to throw all her resources into the struggle, is the call from the Ministry of Supply for a census of all unessential railings and ironwork, in fifteen provincial towns. This is expected to disclose a reserve of hundreds of thousands of tons of scrap metal. In London, 35 tons of railings have been turned into war material at a mill, which can handle 500 tons of scrap iron weekly, and which recently dealt with 200 tons of twisted girders, proceeds of the London blitz. Parliament Square yielded 15 tons of railings.

FRENCH GIFT-SPITFIRES

RUGBY, March 27

As evidence of admiration for and gratefulness to the Royal Air Force, European and native populations in the French Cameroons have just offered a Spitfire to the British Government as they did last Christmas. The Governor of the French Cameroons has sent the Governor of Nigeria four gold bars, representing the cost of this second Spitfire. The first was also paid for in gold bars, and, in addition, the presentation of a mascot, an ivory elephant, was made for the pilot. A new subscription is already started for a third Spitfire, which will be offered to General de Gaulle for the French Free Forces.