NO DAMAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23708, 15 July 1940, Page 8

NO DAMAGE

ITALIAN AIR RAIDS BRITISH NAVAL UNITS FANTASTIC CLAIMS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 14, 6.50 p.m.) LONDON, July 13 It is learned that about eight bombing attacks were carried out in the course of Thursday on British naval forces in the eastern Mediterranean, says a British official wireless message. One Italian fighter was shot down and one British fighter was unserviceable after landing on the aircraft-carrier.

The latter is the full extent of the British "casualties" and highlycoloured Italian reports which would appear to refer to these raids are completely without foundation. It is again emphasised that Italian claims to have damaged the battle-cruiser Hood and the aircraft-carrier Ark Royal are untrue.

The latest Italian communique states: "Italian aviators continued to bomb the British naval formations which they bombed on Thursday. At least two enemy cruisers and one battleship were repeatedly hit by heavy bombs. One Italian destroyer was sunk following an enemy bombardment, but the crew was saved."

A message from Alexandria says anti-nircraft guns drove enemy raiders off to sea.

ITALIANS BOMB ADEN (Received July 14, 7.-10 p.m.) ADEN, July 14 Aid raiders bombed Aden to-day, killing two natives and slightly wounding three, and also slightly wounding a British corporal. PRIORITY OF NEWS QUESTIONS FOR MINISTER PROPOSED CONTROL OF PRESS (Received July 14. 6.50 p.m.) LONDON, July 13 A number of questions concerning priority given to the 8.8.C. over the newspapers in the dissemination of communiques will bo asked in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Sir Archibald South by (Conservative —Epsom, Surrey) will ask Mr. Duff Cooper, Minister of Information, whether this priority is an established policy, and why the censor prevented Dominion and American correspondents from cabling news of the Duke of Windsor's appointment, and also of the naval action at Oran, until after the news was broadcast by the 8.8.C. on short-wave.

Sir Percy Hurd (Conservative — Devizes) will ask Mr. Duff Cooper whether, in view of the suggestions for Government control of the press, tho Government will indicate its appreciation of the restraint and regard for national security with which the great body of British press reports have discussed war questions. Sir Percy suggests that the profession should follow the precedents set bv the legal, medical and other professions and create its own representative council for advico and discipline, with statutory powers. Increased anxiety has been caused in newspaper circles by Mr. Duff Cooper's disclosure that the compulsory censorship scheme has not been abandoned. Mr. Duff Cooper stated that the matter is still under consideration. It was thought he had dropped the scheme following vigorous press opposition.

SOVIET MODEL THE BALTIC STATES SPREAD OF COMMUNISM LONDON, July 12 The Stockholm correspondent of the Times says Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are rapidly aligning with the Soviet system. Parliamentary elections this week-end offer only Communist and semi-Comnuinist candidates. Numerous arrests continue, including ox-Ministers and high officials. M. Werkys, ex-Premier of Lithuania, was arrested at an aerodrome when ho was about to leave for Sweden. Lithuania has banned religious instruction in schools and dismissed religious teachers. Latvia is establishing collective farms, while Estonia has condemned, in his absence, the former Foreign Minister, M. Seltel, who was summoned from Geneva but has not returned.

HATRED OF NAZIS UNREST IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA -ZURICH, July 12 Receht reports of unrest and sabotage in Czecho-Slovakia are confirmed by an official German communique, reporting many arrests after a inquiry into organisations believed to be working against the State. Those arrested include the chief administrator of Prague, Dr. Klapka.