AIR BATTLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23619, 1 April 1940, Page 9

AIR BATTLE

WESTERN FRONT ENEMY REPULSED HEAVY ARTILLERY ACTIONS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received March 31, 7 p.m.) LONDON, March 30 An official communique issued in Paris says Royal Air Force fighter patrols yesterday engaged strong formations of enemy aeroplanes which had crossed the lines near Metz. They drove back the enemy machines to their own territory and shot down two Messerschmitts in flames. There was heavy artillery fire by both sides west of the Vosges, also west of the Saar.' The French successfully laid' an ambush in the region of the Saar. The enemy left several dead on the ground. A French night communique says: "There were local encounters in the region of the Nied. The enemy suffered some casualties and we took prisoners." There was heavy German artillery action yesterday between the Saar and the Vosges. The French batteries replied vigorously. A snowfall reduced air activity yesterday. A German Hornier reconnoitring over north-cast France crashed, the crew being killed. It is believed that the crash was due to engine trouble, or a storm. AIRCRAFT DESTROYED GERMANS CLAIM 85 BRITAIN'S SUCCESS GREATER (Received March 31, 7.50, p.m.) BERLIN, March 30 A German communique claims that 12 British and 10 French aeroplanes have been shot down since February 29, making the total Allied losses 85. It adds that most of the Allied losses were in air battles, but about 50 were destroyed in the aircraft-carrier Courageous. According to British figures the British alone have shot down 135 German aeroplanes on all fronts. ■„' - WARPLANES INTRUDE HOLLAND AND BELGIUM (Received March 31, 5.5 p.m.) THE HAGUE, March 30 ,The Netherlands Government has protested to Britain and Germany against continued violations of Dutch territory by belligerent warplanes. Belgian anti-aircraft gunners fired on two aeroplanes which were later identified as German. They were at a great height south of Brussels.

MAJOR OFFENSIVE MINISTER'S PREDICTION GERMANS' HARDSHIPS VICTORY EFFORT LIKELY British Wireless LONDON, March 20 The" Minister of Transport, Captain Euan Wallace, speaking, at Norwich, expressed gratified surprise, that an aerial attack on British towns had not yet materialised. Stating that it seemed curious that Hitler had not yet exploited the "flying start" winch was always to the advantage of the aggressor, the Minister said it would be a great mistake to assume that it was likely to be "all quiet on the Western Front." The hardships r.nd privation to which the German people had been subjected since the war began make it unlikely that they would submit to another winter without a determined effort to smash their way to victory. "There must be a serious possibility of a major German offensive on the Western Front in the near future," said Captain Wallace, "and 1 have no doubt that the British and French armies will be able to give a good account of themselves."

FLYING CROSS REWARD FOR GALLANTRY NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN LONDON, March 30 His Majesty has awarded to the New Zealand airman, Flying-Officer E. J. ("Cobber") Kain, the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry in operations against the enemy. , BRITISH CASUALTIES ARMY'S THIRD LIST (Received March 31. 5.5 p.m.) i . LONDON", March 30 The British Army's third casualty list contains 725 names, including those of 50 officers, and 12 women. Three died of wounds', one died, a prisoner, one was killed and six were wounded. The remainder died. METAL COMMANDEERED LATEST NAZI DECREE (Received March 31, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, March 30 A decree imposing the death sentence on hoarders of metal has been signed by Goering. It says the entire nation must hand over metal objects for use in "the struggle forced upon the Reich." AFRICAN FORCES NEW CONDITION OF SERVICE CAPETOWN, March 20 It is officially announced that all serving members of the forces have been invited to undertake to serve anywhere in Africa and not only in the Union for the duration of the war. No new recruits for either wholetime or part-time service will ho accepted unless they fulfil this requirement.-