WAR NEWS IN BRIEF

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1941, Page 6

WAR NEWS IN BRIEF

_ FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY (Rec. 9.50 a.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 12 The “Herald-Tribune” has learned that the American Government has begun building a huge relief stock of foodstuffs, which can be rUshed after the war to Europe, China and other distressed areas, with surpluses of grain and fats, which at present, are being accumulated in Australia, Capada and Argentina, in addition to the United States. SPANISH PRISONERS. MADRID, August 12. General Franco has decreed tne release of 1400 political prisoners. CANADIAN NAVY. ' RUGBY, August 12. Mr. Angus MacDonald (Minister of Naval Defence), Rear-Admiral P. W. Nelles (Chief of the Canadian Naval Staff), and Captain Houghton, R.C.N., who arrived in London recently to confer with British officials, on matters connected with the Dominion Navy, visited the . Admiralty. They will shortly leave London, to inspect Canadian naval personnel serving in the United Kingdom, also to make a tour of inspection of British shipbuilding yards.—B.O.W. CIVILIAN HELMETS. RUGBY, August 12. One person in three in Britain has a steel helmet, following the addition of 2,700,000 of a new type to the 14,000,000 already distributed to the fighting forces, police, civil defence, fire watchers, and industrial workers. NORWEGIANHOSPITAL. RUGBY, August 11. , The Crown Prince Olaf of Norway to-day visited a hospital which was opened by the Norwegian Government about a year ago. It is staffed by Norwegian doctors and nurses ana the nospital contains 45 beds, of which 41 are occupied. Most of the patients are from the Norwegian merchant navy, but there are some men who were wotinded in the Lofoten raid. ~ , ™ . All nine nurses of the staff have made their escape from Norway since the German occupation. Two of them had especially thrilling adventures as the fishing boat in which they sailed had to put back into port for repairs. While these were being effected a close watch was kept for Nazis, but the boat was able to set forth again and it arrived in the Shetlands after a rough passage of about 30 hours. One of the doctors escaped to England dressed as a fisherman, about three months ago.

PORTSMOUTH’S TRIBUTE. RUGBY, August 11. The honorary Freedom of Portsmouth is to be conferred on _ Mr. Churchill and Mr. Harry Hopkins—on the Prime Minister in recognition of his eminent service to the nation, and the great interest taken by him in the welfare of Portsmouth and its citizens, and on Mr. Hopkins in recognition of his eminent services to the nation and the British Empire as the personal representative in England of the President of the United States for the administration of the provisions of the Lease-Lend Act. PERU AND~ECUADOR WASHINGTON, August 12. Mr. Cordell Hull said it was a matter for regret that Peru and Ecuador had resumed hostilities in their long standing border dispute. Both had agreed to mediation by Argentina, Brazil and the United States. “ONE JOURNEY” SHIPS (Recd. 11.45 a.m.) J k NEW YORK, August 12. Mass-produced “one journey” steel cargo ships will be used to convoy war supplies to Britain, according to the columnists Drew Pearson and Robert Allen. The ships will be flatbottomed, powered with moior-car engines, and will carry a crew of only six. Making only a one-way trip, the ships will be broken up for scrap and the engines used for other purposes when they reach England. The British Admiralty has ordered in Britain Ferro-concrete barges with ends shaped like a ship. Each will carry 200 tons of cargo.—U.P.A. TANKER 'TORPEDOED (Rec. 12.10 p.m.) ROME, Aug. .12. Two submarines simultaneously torpedoed the Norwegian tanker Knudsen, off the Canary Islands. The Knudsen was laden with petroleum. Sne sank in a few minutes. A Portuguese' trawler picked up 14 members of the crew.—U.P.A.