AIRGRAPH SERVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 May 1941, Page 8

AIRGRAPH SERVICE

GENERAL WAVELL’S LETTER. [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, May 18. An airgraph letter-service from troops in the Middle East to I'elations in Britain has been inaugurated by General Wavell, in a letter to General Dill in London. The soldier writes his message on a special size form, eleven inches by eight. This is photographed on to a very small film, the letter being reduced from the original size to a miniature. The film is then sent by ’plane to its destination. On arrival, an enlargement measuring five inches by four—about aquarter of the size of the original—is made and delivered in the usual way. The text of General Wavell’s letter to General Dill is as follows: “G.H.Q., Cairo, April 17:—My Dear Jack: I have been invited, in fact detailed, by my staff, to write one of the first three airgraph letters from the I Middle East home. You and ,1 have discussed so often, oil paper and verbally, since this war began, means of giving the troops out here a rea.sonably rapid service of mails, that I I know you will be glad to receive the first message of the new method, I which promises well. I hope it will be possible to keep up a regulai’ service. It means a lot to a great many people that there should be a quick exchange of news between us out here and families and friends at home. It helps to keep our tails where they are and always will be—well up. Yours ever. —Archie Wavell.” GREAT SAVING OF WEIGHT. RUGBY, May 19. Eighty-five thousand airgraph letters from the Middle East, received at the General Post Office, London, will be delivered throughout the country during the next few days. These 85,000 tiny photo-letters weighed twenty pounds. The weight of an equivalent number of ordinary letters would be nearly one and ahalf tons. The airgraph mail _ was flown all the way from' the Middle East, and only nine days elapsed since its despatch. The first batch of letters under the scheme was received last Tuesday, and numbered ,50,000 microfilms. Later, it is hoped to institute a similai' service from Britain to sailors, soldiers and airmen serv-

ing in the Middle East.