AIR BATTLE

Grey River Argus, 23 May 1941, Page 5

AIR BATTLE

OVER NORTH FRANCE British Carry Raid Through [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received May 23, 12.30 a.m ). LONDON, May 22. On Wednesday afternoon a force of British Bomber Command planes, wit(h a large escort of fighters, attacked a power station and on refineries near Bethune. Enemy fighters intercepted the British planes shortly after the force crossed the coast. A number of combats occurred, but jjhe enemy were unable to prevent the success of th e attack. Direct hits were observed on both objectives. The British fighters shot down four of the enemy fighters, and British bombers downed one. Six of the British fighter planes and one- bomber are missing. HELIGOLAND RAIDED., (Received May 23, 12.50 a.m.). i LONDON, May 22. A small force of British Bomber Command planes successfully made a surprise attack on Heligoland naval base on Wednesday afternoon. One bomber is missing. RAIDS ON GERMANY. GOEBBLES’ TRIBUTE TO A.R.P. (Received May 22, 9.0 p.m.). BERLIN, May 22. Doctor Goebbels, addressing A.R.P. workers, attacked thos e critics who, before the war, had laughed at the A.R.P organisation. He remarked: “To-day the A.R.P. is not a joking matter, but one of bloody seriousness. Many of you bear scars which you have received in raids. Some of the outer districts have, thus far, been spared, or have suffered only slightly. Others have suffered heavily. We had, formerly, differentiated between the front and the Homeland. To-day, Kiel, Bremen, and Hamburg are in the very midst of the front line.” Britain’s Raidless Night (Received May 23, 12.30 a.m.). LONDON, May 22 . The Air Ministry in a communique says: There was no enemv air activity over Britain on Wednesday night.

joined the Free French forces which have entered the country, according to the independent French agen'cy. A number of French pilots managed to escape and join the Free French. The regiment which has joined the Free French formed the rearguard of a force which the French High Commissioner in Syria, General Dentz, is moving into Lebanon against possible invasion of Syria from Palestine. The Syrian authorities are even meeting hostility among French troops who have reached Lebanon. Free French in Syria REGIMENT REPORTED TO HAVE JOINED THEM. (Received May 22, 11.10 p.m.). NEW YORK, May 22. The Brazzaville radio, in French Equatorial Africa, has reported that Free French troops have invaded Syria, and that a regiment of General Dentz’s defence forces is believed to have joined the Free French. French Forces MOVE TO CHECK INVASION OF SYRIA. LONDON, May 21. General Dentz, High Commissioner of Syria, has apparently moved large French forces into Lebanon in order to forestall a possible invasion of Syria from Palestine.

No German Occupation FRENCH POLICY IN SYRIA. (Received Mav 23, 1.36 a.m.) LONDON, May 22. The British United Press correspondent at Beirut Gays: General Dentz, French High Commander, said at a press conference: “France has no aggressive intentions against Britain, but France will be compelled to oppose force with force. Germany has a provisional right to use the Syrian aerodromes under Article Twelve of the Franco-German Armistice. I assure the Syrians that no German interference, nor occupation will take place in Syria.’’ Soviet and Nazis AGREEMENT AT TURKEY’S EXPENSE? (Received May 22, 9.50 p.m.'. LONDON, May 22. The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times’’ says: Russo-German conversations are proceeding It is believed that they include an agreement at the expense of Turkey or of Iran, or of both. Soviet’s Intervention TURKEY’S APPREHENSION LONDON, May 22. “The Times” correspondent m Ankara says: The Turks would like to see more action in Iraq, , but are fairly confident that the British will b e able to prevent the German conquest either of Iraq or of Syria, provided that there is not unexpected intervention by a third party. This refers to Russia. The possibility is being mentioned that Russia may give to German troops a passage through Batum and Iran to Iraq. ' The negotiations between Germany and Russia provide a lever for the nutting of pressure upon Turkey. The Germans at present are not demanding anything from Turkey,. except the largest possible extension of the mutual trade of their two countries. The correspondent adds: Sixteen Axis merchant ships passed westward through the Bosphorus after the defeat of Greece Their cargoes were suspect, but the Turks had no rights of control over them