Limit Axis Post-War Merchant Fleets

Northern Advocate, 25 September 1943, Page 5

Limit Axis Post-War Merchant Fleets

(Rec. 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 24. The chairman of the Maritime Commission (Rear-Admiral Land) told the Press that lie favours limiting the size ci' Axis post-war merchant fleets. “I am expressing my own views, but if I had my way they would be left with very little,” he said. He added that by the end of 1944, Am • erican shipyards will have delivered approximately 50,000.000 deadweight tons of merchant shipping since 1938. The construction programme has now reached a levelling-off’ stage and the September production rate will be sufficient to meet 1943-1944 goals.

N.Z. Airmen In The News (Special. 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24. The Air Ministry news service states that a 20-year-old Dunedin airman, Squadron-Leader Bruce Ingram, D.F.C., is commanding officer of the Hyderabad Squadron, operating from an advanced base in Italy. The squadron is foiling enemy attacks against Allied shipping which is taking men and supplies to the Italian mainland. It recently met a formation of five Focke-Wulf 190 s attempting to attack shipping, but when, the Spitfires dived, the Germans immediately fled inland without releasing their bombs.

Squadron-Leader Ingram attacked the leading Focke-Wulf and saw it crash into a hill. That brought the Dunedin boy’s total of Germans destroyed to nine. The others were got over the Western Desert and Malta. He has now commanded the squadron for six weeks.

While operating from Sicily prior to going to the Italian mainland, the, 1 squadron had a “day out,” shooting down 10 Junkers and 52 Messerschmitt 109 s in one sortie. It received a telegram of congratulations from the exNizam of Hyderabad. The squadron’s score is nclw 107.

The 75th (New Zealand) Stirling squadron took part in the latest raids on Hanover and Mannheim. “They are wizard prangs," said one of the crew. Flight-Sergeant R. Hill (Christchurch) was the observer on the Stirling which shot down a German nightfighter. New Zealand Spitfire Typhoon squadrons took part in yesterday’s all day offensive over northern France.