WAR NEWS IN BRIEF

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 February 1942, Page 7

WAR NEWS IN BRIEF

GUNBOATS FOR CHINA. LONDON, February 8. , Three British river gunboats which were left in China on the outbreak ol hostilities with Japan, H.M.S. Falcon. H.M.S. Gannet, and H.M.S. Sandpiper, have been presented to the Chinese Government as a token of admiration for the indomitable courage with which the .Chinese Government and people have continued to defend their independence. GERMANS IN AFGHANISTAN. TEHERAN. February 9. When challenged, Brandt and Orderfer opened lire with tommy-guns. Orderfer died later from wounds which he received in the light. A cablegram published yesterday stateci that, disguised as tribesmen, the world-famous German entomologist, Colonel Brandt, and a German botanist, Orderfer, had been captured on the India-Afghanistan frontier. They had been stirring up trouble among the Iran tribesmen, also actively agitating among Indian and Afghan tribesmen. JUGOSLAV GUERRILLAS LONDON, Feb. 8. The Moscow radio says that Jugoslav guerrillas near Kraljevo wiped out a German expedition which had been sent to capture them, killing 16U Germans and capturing their equipment. BRITAIN’S ’SOAP RATION LONDON. Feb. 8. Soap rationing is to be introduced in Britain from to-morrow. Each person is to be allowed four coupons in four weeks. Each coupon will entitle anyone to receive one cake of lard soap of 4oz for ordinary household purposes or one cake of 3oz for toilet use. (’ AN ADI AN-BUILT S HIP £ ~~RUGBY. Feb. 8. The first ship to be built in Canada for the British Government, Fort Duville Marie, arrived at a British port with a cargo ol munitions, grain, and apples. She is a 7000-ton vessel and was launched last October, being completed well 'ahead ol schedule. Three more ships for Britain have since been launched in Canada and three more are on the stocks. The Fort Duville Marie, with a crew of 47 crossed the Atlantic in convoy. GERM AN A M BASS ADO R BUENOS AIRES. Feb. 9. The German Ambassador. von Thermanii, is to travel to Berlin aboard the Spanish steamer Monte Gorbea, on February 20. Argentine and Chile arc the only remaining American Republics who have not severed relations with the Axis, but von Thermann has been recalled, to report to the German Government. NEW ZEALANDERS WELCOMED (Rec. 11.15) LONDON. Feb. 9. Mr. Jordan welcomed a large draft of men from New Zealand for the Royal Navy and the Fleet Air Arm, on their arrival in London, to-day. EGYPTIAN MINISTER. (Rec. 11.15) CAIRO, Feb. 9. Sir Amin Osman Pasha has been appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. This is a newly-created post, equivalent to liaison officer to the British Embassy and the Egyptian Government, and is designed to facilitate closer co-operation between the treaty signatories.