MYSTERIOUS GUNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 15

MYSTERIOUS GUNS

MENACE TO GIBRALTAR STATEMENT MADE BY PEER GOVERNMENT SEEKS DETAILS ALLEGED GERMAN ORIGIN By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April S, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 8 The mystery of the guns which arc alleged to menace Gibraltar was deepened in the House of Lords when Lord Faringdon detailed the calibres and number of emplacements, adding that some of the guns were of German origin.

Lord Strathcona, Under-Secretary for War, admitted that some of Lord Faringdon's details were not in accord with the Government's information, and asked Lord Faringdon to supply particulars, which Lord Fafingdon agreed to do.

The Secretary of State for War, Mr. L. Hore-Belisha, was asked in the House of Commons on November 10 last by Mr. Noel Baker (Labour —Derby) how many 12in. howitzers had been placed on the northern shores of Gibraltar by foreign Powers; what was the country of origin of these howitzers; and how many of them were so placed that they could bombard the fortress or harbour of Gibraltar.

Mr. Hore-Belisha replied that according to information, there were four howitzers, of which two had been withdrawn. They were originally emplaced by the Spanish Nationalist authorities, presumably for the protection of the territory under their control. They were not so sited as to be able to bombard the fortress or the harbour of Gibraltar. As to their origin, he preferred not to commit himself to an authoritative statement.

In answer to another question, Mr. Hore-Belisha said that so far as lie was aware no guns of German origin had recently been mounted in positions commanding the fortress or Strait of Gibraltar.

NORTH SEA FORTRESS STRONG GERMAN BASE THREAT TO GREAT BRITAIN k REPORT FROM DENMARK LONDON, April 7 Although it is most difficult to secure authentic information, it is frequently reported that for two years Germany has been constructing a secret fortress on the island of Sylt, in the North Sea, off the coast of Schleswig, only 400 miles from Britain. A special despatch from Denmark, published in the Daily Mirror, asserts that Sylt has become the strongest fortress in the world, gravely menacing Britain. The island contains giant aeroplane hangars, camouflaged by gardens and flanked with gun emplacements disguised as farmhouses. Ships are ceaselessly unloading guns and munitions from Germany. AMERICAN AEROPLANES

PURCHASE BY BRITAIN TENTATIVE INQUIRIES MADE (Received April 8, 5.5 p.m.) • LONDON, April 8 It has become known that the United States Government is prepared, if requested, to supply large numbers of military aeroplanes for the rapidlyexpanding Royal Air ]'orce, says the Daily Telegraph. Britain hitherto has been anxious to carry out her rearmament programme exclusively with British machines, but is now tentatively inquiring as to the possibilities and implications of ordering American machines.