War Brevities

Northern Advocate, 24 February 1940, Page 7

War Brevities

R.A.F. Far Afield.—A message from London says the Air Ministry announces that Royal Air Force machines carried out successful reconnaissance flights over Austria .and Bohemia during last night. The previous occasion when such flights were reported was January 13. Springboks.—A message from Capetown says the South African Government estimates that expenditure in IS4C-41 will total £45,505,203, an increase of £1,063,189. compared with last year. Defence absorbs £2,250,000, an increase of £12,380. Books. A message from London says more than 500,000 books and periodicals so far have been sent to British forces at home, at sea. and in France and the Near East, through the service of libraries and book funds. Labour-.—A message from Paris says the Minister of Labour, M. Charles Pomaret, says there are no unemployed in France. Workers will be brought from the colonies as in the last war, when 233,000 natives were conveyed to France. Sweden.—The Swedish Parliament approved the Government's policy toward the Russo-Finnish war. The Prime Minister, M. Hansson, said he believed Swedes fully understood their Government’s desire to aid Finland by all means short of military intervention. Norway’s Trade. stated in Oslo that agreement was reached in the war trade negotiations between Germany and Norway and Eritain and Norway. The “Aftenposten” believes that facilities will be afforded Norwegian ships to avoid risks resulting from calling at contraband control ports. Objectors.—The Minister of Labour (Mr Ernest Brown) said that the handling of the problem of conscientious objectors was immeasurably better than in the last war. He added that the Hardship Committee had considered 13,052 cases for postponement of service, and had granted 7666 and refused 5386. Jerusalem. —Four hundred Australians on their first day’s leave, invaded Jerusalem today, says the correspondent of the British United Press. They evoked enthusiastic demonstrations from Arabs and Jews, who nicknamed them “millionaire soldiers" because they spent freely. Mexico. A message from Mexico City says the Mexican Government is investigating the activities of three Germans, believed to be members of the secret service, who have been arrested for entering the country with forged passports. One is described as a naval officer. Burned. A message from Sydney says an elderly couple, Mr Alec Woodman and his wife, were found burned to death in their bush home near Eairnsdale, North Gippslnnd.