ABYSSINIA TO ABERDEEN—3d

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 10 September 1941, Page 3

ABYSSINIA TO ABERDEEN—3d

| BRITAIN’S AIRGRAPH WONDER J In April Britain’s Postmaster-Gene- ; ral inaugurated the Airgraph service • from the fighting forces in the Middle Fast to England. It was the first postal service of its kind in the world. By mid-June more than 250.000 letters had been transmitted by Airgraph, and the average time of transmission was nine days only. Letters are written on special forms taking from 150 to 200 words. They are photographed in miniature, enlarged on arrival, and sent through the ordinary post. . Before this service was introduced these letters from soldiers, airmen and , sailors in the Middle East were taking | three or more months to get home. In j a few weeks, when the tons of essential I machinery have been shipped and de- I livered in the Middle East, mothers, wives and sweethearts of the fighting forces will be enabled to transmit letters to their men in the field with the | same astonishing rapidity. As surprising as this technical j achievement by a natic.i engaged in a j war on many fronts is the fact that the ; cost of the service compares favourably with ordinary postal charges. It costs 2.'.d to send a letter from one side of Londii-i to the other; it costs only 3d to send an Airgraph letter from the heart of the African e'esert to Aberdeen.