DECISIVE VICTORY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 29, 3 January 1940, Page 8

DECISIVE VICTORY

RUNNING FIGHT IN AIR. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Jan. _l. In connection with tlie Air Ministry announcement regarding the shooting down of German aircraft l>v R.A.F. Coastal Command ’planes, issued on Monday afternoon, the Air Ministry announced this afternoon that Coastal Command pilots of the R.A.F. scored a. swift and decisive victory to-day in one of the first aerial combats of the New Year. During the afternoon 130 miles out to sea, off the cast coast of Scotland, three British aircraft encountered two twin-engined licinkel aircraft. They engaged the enemy at once, and a running fight lasting half an hour ensued. The enemy aircraft were flying abreast at IOOOIt. when they were sighted. One British aircraft singled out the right-hand Heinkcl, which before its pilot could manoeuvre out of the angle of fire was hit in the fuselage and wings many times. Shortly afterwards the port engine and both wings were a mass of flames, and the enemy aircraft was seen to dive into the sen out of control. As it neared the water one of its crew jumped, using a parachute. “Apparently the parachute was unsuccessful. He dropped to sea and disappeared,” reported the pilot of the third Coastal Command aircraft which had held a watching brief over the combat. The other Heinkcl, which was attacked by our other two aircraft, did not escape scot-free. As its companion crashed, it turned away and, having been exposed to the concentiated fire of the attackers, succeeded m its escape into the clouds. Nothing more was seen of the enemy, and the British pilots resumed their patrol. Denmark Uneasy. DEPRESSED OVER FUTURE. COPENHAGEN, Jan. 1. M. Stauning, the Foreign Minister, interviewed., said: “I am depressed about the future as ever 1 have been and have long ceased to believe in anything. Denmark is entering 19-JO with subdued hope. The character of her terrain has prevented the construction of a defence line such as other countries have built. Denmark is forced to remain passive and impartial regarding the conduct of the war. “It is not for me to say what was Russia’s object in attacking Finland, but nations could not be indifferent to Finland’s fate. The small, neutral countries will go under if the war has a continued effect on them, as thus far. They must hold together or go out together.” THREAT UcTsWEDEN. FOREIGN MINISTER’S COMMENT. STOCKHOLM, Jan. 1. Herr Guenther, the Foreign Minister, in a New Year message, said: “There is a threat of annihilation to our possessions and independence, but nobody will interfere with our right to self-determination. There is no room for fear.” ATTITUDE TO AVAR. AUSTRALIAN LABOUR. OPPOSITION TO NAZISM. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Dec. 31. The Leader of the Australian Opposition, Mr J. Curtin, broadcasting m Australia’s new world service to-day, stated the reason which moved the Australian Labour Party to support the cause of Great Britain and I ( ranee. “We hate and abhor war,” lie said. “Wo believe war does not bring any real gain, even to the conquerors. Me hold strongly that the first World War of 25 years ago proved that of itself war solves no problems that could not be solved without war. Our belief is that international disputes should be settled by negotiation and arbitration. If discussion fails, tlien of a certainty war, however it results, will also fail. “Put in the clearest way, the Australian Labour Party is opposed to the use of force, to the use of armed power in international disputes. That means that Australian Labour opposes what Germany did in Poland. Because the German Government employed armed force and invaded another country, the Australian Labour Party declares that Germanv plunged the peoples into war. We say resistance to force and armed aggression is inevitable, u attacks on other peoples and other countries are to bo avoided. “To extend a nation’s territories hy consent, to increase trade and prestige by association and collaboration, to have the mistakes of the past corrected and adjusted by the use ol reason and fair dealing is the one right way to do it And there is no other way, and there ought not to be any other way. “But Germany forcibly marched into Poland and set the world on fire. In these circumstances the Australian Labour Party and, indeed, the whole of the Australian nation, is not only against Germany, but is inflexibly and unequivocally on the side of Great Britain and France. We are at war be cause Germany went to war rather than allow either time or opportunity for discussion and negotiation, that is the sole reason. . I “I make it plain that Australian Labour and the Australian people neither desire nor seek to interfere with the people of Germany in thenform of Government. In Australia there is no division of purpose regarding the war. To end fear and the nightmare of aggression and armed interference with peoples in their own territory is, in our* view, the foundation upon which workers in all lands may build a truer, richer social order. TASK OF INDUSTRY. SATISFACTION IN BRITAIN. (Britisli Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Dec. 30. The Federation of British Industries in a New Year message says: “British industry can face 1940 with confidence. Jts response to the call of war has amply demonstrated its adaptability and resource. Immediately before the war trade reached a high level of activity, and, despite inevitable difficulties following on the transition from peace to wartime organisation, the export situation is improving. “The great task before us is twofold —first, supplying the needs of civil defence and the fighting forces, and secondly, maintenance as far as possible of our home and overseas trade. Exports have been described as Britain’s fourth arm, and industry is fully alert to their significance. We have every confidence that, with wise generalship, we shall in 1940 advance ii that field and thus make our contribution to the success of our cause.”