WAR ITEMS

Grey River Argus, 6 December 1940, Page 5

WAR ITEMS

BRITISH POLICY RUGBY, December 4. Mr Butler, in the Commons, replied to a question concerning information received by Lord Halifax regarding the transference of Japanese troops from Central China to French Indo-China, the creation of further air and naval bases in the latter country, and peace overtures by Japanese agents to Kai-Shek. He said that Britain was keeping in touch with the United States Government on ail questions of mutual interest in the Far East. He emphasised that Britain, which had repeatedly made known her attitude in the matter, continued to recognise the National Government at Chungking as the Government of China. MALAYA’S POSITION SINGAPORE, December 4. In an interview, Sir H. Brooke Popham, referring to Anglo-Japanese relations, said: “There is no reason whatever for war, but I cannot guarantee peace. There is no need for panic, but what has happened in Europe can also happen in Asia. It would not be. quite correct to say that Malaya can repel any attack, whatever the strength of the invading force, •but Malaya is in a much better position to repel an attack than many people try to make out.” U.S.A. PLANES PRAISED. RUGBY December 5. The R.A.F. are enthusiastic about the performance of the United,Slates aircraft which they are now 1 using. They have fought their way successfully through many operations, particularly in the Middle East in American aircraft, which were responsible for taking the Taranto photographs. The responsibility of - the Ameriacn planes is no surprise to the R.A.F., wtho have learned to regard with I real affection th e Lockheed Hudsons, I

which are proving such a valuable aid in Britain’s raids from Norway to the Bay of Biscay. With regard to United States lighter- types, which have been in station, the R.A.F. are greatly impressed with the line work done by the Curtiss Hawke planes in France against the German Messerschmitt. In fact, the success of the French Air Force in shooting down twice as mand. German aircraft as they themselves lost was largely due to the Curtiss Hawkes, which were responsible for the destruction of one in every three German aircraft brought down.