FLEET AIR ARM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23759, 12 September 1940, Page 10

FLEET AIR ARM

BLOWS ON ENEMY NORWEGIAN OPERATIONS MANY SUCCESSES SCORED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British Wireless LONDON, Sept. 10 Further successes by the Fleet Air Arm against enemy supply ships off the Norwegian coast are disclosed in an Admiralty communique, which states: "Aircraft again carried out an offensive reconnaissance over the Norwegian coast yesterday. This sortie confirmed that two of three tanks of the oil depot at Dolvic, attacked by Skuas on August 8, are completely destroyed and a third tank and pipe-line severely damaged.

"Yesterday Skuas attacked an enemy supply ship of about 2500 tons in Haugesund, scoring hits. "Enemy huts south of the Bergen area were also attacked with bombs and hits obtained. Three of the huts were completely destroyed and others wore damaged. •

"Our aircraft encountered intense opposition from anti-aircraft batteries and one machine is missing." An earlier Admiralty announcement stated: "Skuas and Swordfish on Sunday left two enemy supply ships sinking and abandoned by thoir crews. All our aircraft returned safely. On August S, Skuas set fire to oil tanks in the Bergen area and to a motor patrol vessel, and also scored direct hits on a 2000-ton supply ship. All of our aircraft returned safely.

"Skuas, on August 19, attacked two 3000-ton transports, obtaining direct hits on one of them. They also attacked oil tanks north of Haugesund. All of our aircraft returned safely.

"On August 1, Skuas successfully bombed a wireless station and a 4000ton supply ship, leaving the latter in a sinking condition and abandoned by its crew. All of our aircraft returned safely. "Many offensive operations were carried out prior to this. These repeated attacks are adding considerably to the enemy's difficulties in an area where sea transport an'd oil supplies are vital."

ATLANTIC DEFENCE AGREEMENT WELCOMED TRINIDAD SHOWS APPROVAL British Wireless LONDON, Sept. 10 Trinidad's public welcome of the agreement between ■ Britain and the United States regarding the lease of bases has been formally expressed by civic and commercial leaders. Captain Cipriani, senior elected member of the Legislative Council, Mayor of Port of Spain and a Labour leader, characterises it as a "very great step forward."

Mr. T. M. Kelshall, nominated member of the Legislature and ex-Mayor of San Fernando, said the agreement commanded the wholehearted approval of every sensible person in the community, and of the entire freedom-loving world. The president of the Trinidad Chamber of Commerce speaks of it as one of the greatest events in history. The implicit trust of one nation in another, he added, was in glaring contrast to Nazi "protective" occupation. GERMAN AGENTS AMERICAN COURT CASE (Received September 11, 5.5 p.m.) LOS ANGELES. Sept. 10 The Federal Court has dismissed charges against Herbert Hoehne, an alleged German agent. The prosecutor said the arrest of Emil Wolfe, who was sentenced at Balboa on August 19 for acting as an unregistered foreign agent, had accomplished the desired objective. BROADCAST TO EMPIRE MR. CHURCHILL TO SPEAK LONDON, Sept. 11 The Prime Minister, Mr. "Churchill, will broadcast to-day to the nation and the British Empire. Electrical transcriptions of his speech will bo given at 10.15 p.m. and midnight to-day, and to-morrow (Thursday) at 4 a.m., 6.45 a.m. and 1.30 p.m., all Greenwich mean time. CROSS FOR BRAVERY AUSTRALIAN AIRMAN LONDON, Sept. 30 Pilot-Officer Alexander Herbert Gould has been awarded tho Distinguished Flying Cross. The citation states that he piloted an aeroplane detailed to carry out the lowest altitude night attack on warships at Wilhelmshaven harbour in July, in the face of a terrific barrage from anti-nircraft guns.

On many previous occasions PilotOfficer Gonkl had shown conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, and always pressed home his attacks in the same fearless manner.

His father lives at Kiama, a coastal town in New South Wales south of Sydney.

JAPANESE ADMIRAL SERVICE IN LAST WAR (Received September 11. 8.10 p.m.) TOKIO, Sept. 10 The death has occurred of Admiral Tanin* Yamaya, aged 74. He was commander of the combined fleet which occupied German islands in the Pacific in 1914. DEFEATIST TALK MANY ARRESTS IN ITALY LONDON, Sept. 10 A message from Rome says it is reliably stated that scores of Italians were arrested recently for defeatist and unpatriotic talk. MAYOR OF WARSAW SHOT LONDON, Sept. 1,1 The Lord Mayor of Warsaw, who put up a brave resistance against the Germans last year, is reported to have been shot by a firing squad on the anniversary of the German invasion of Poland.