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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 June 1943, Page 6

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GREAT NAVAL FORCE LONDON, June 24. —The greatest British naval force to enter the Mediterranean during the year is assembling at Gibraltar, according to Axis radios. Quoting a report from Algeciras the Berlin radio say® the force consists of six battleships, including the King George V., Howo, Rodney, Nelson, two Queen Elizabeth class, two aircraft-carriers, 20 destroyers, many E-boats, and 70 merchantmen. The end of the lull is approaching, says the radio. German troops are standing shoulder to shoulder with Italian troops. Rome radio mixed the threat of what may happen to British and American gangster invaders with admissions of grave conditions in southern Italy. If a British and American invasion army reaches Italy it will be annihilated because the Italian armies will have roads and railways to the rear of them.—A. U.S. MILITARY SERVICE WASHINGTON, June 24.—President Roosevelt announced that he intend* to ask Congress to raise the age for non-combatant military service under the Selective Service Act to 65 years, as a means of meeting any future threat to the interruption of work in plants, mines and establishments owned or operated by the Government. President Roosevelt said that before the United Mineworkers’ Association leaders ordered miners back to work the Government had taken steps to install machinery for the induction into the armed service of ail. miners subject to the Selective Service Act who have absented themselves without just cause from work in mines under Government operation. U.S. MINISTER IN N.Z. WELLINGTON, This Day.—The nomination by President Roosevelt of Mr William Carter Burdett, as Envoy Extrordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States in New Zealand was announced by the Prime Minister, Mjr Fraser, to-day. Mr Burdett has had a long and distinguished career in the United States’ foreign, service. He was born in 1884, and has served in the United Stages Army.