CABINET POSTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23780, 7 October 1940, Page 8

CABINET POSTS

BRITISH CHANGES WELCOMED BY PRESS MR. MORRISON'S NEW TASK By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright British "Wireless LONDON, Oct. 4 The press generally approves the changes in the British Cabinet. The Daily Telegraph says Mr. Churchill clearly had in mind the necessity of watchful adjustment to the changing needs of war and the value of reinforcing the Government by fresh minds. The changes arc also valued as a further example of the advantages that democracy enjoys in the conduct of war, in being able to make such changes of personnel in the Government as conditions require, without the danger of discrediting the Government as a whole. The Daily Herald (Labour) points out that public confidence in the main structure of the Government is unshaken. Sincerity Recognised Mr. Chamberlain's retirement is the occasion for a tribute to his long services to the State. The Daily Telegraph says that, no lure of ambition and no self-seeking ever sullied his actions. The entire press unites in recognition of his sincerity. The Times, dealing with past controversies over Mr. Chamberlain's foreign policy, says that there is a strong, irrefutable defence for the actions he took in a situation not of his making, but inherited from a decade of international failure. The Manchester Guardian (Liberal) says: "Whatever we may think about Mr. Chamberlain in the past, and his tragic miscalculations of policy, there is no man who desired more passionately that we should win this war."

New Appointments Mr. Ernest Bevin's promotion to the War Cabinet is welcomed on all sides. Another appointment particularly welcomed is that of Viscount Cranborne to the Dominions Office and Mr. Herbert Morrison's translation to the Home Office and the Ministry of Home Security is felt to inspire confidence that the problems of bombed civilians and their homes will be energetically tackled. The appointment of Mr. Morrison finds favour in Wis "home town." Mr. Morrison is a Cockney born and bred. His great organising abilities were revealed when hu was Labour leader of the London County Council, and the people of London trust him and think of him as one of themselves.

ITALIAN LOSSES DESTROYER TORPEDOED AFRICAN BASES BOMBED BRITISH AIR OFFENSIVE ("Received October 6, 7.10 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Oct. 5 It is officially stated that the British submarine Osiris torpedoed and sank an Italian dostroyer in the Adriatic on September 22. A communique issued on Saturday from British General Headquarters at Cairo says there is no change on all fronts. A Royal Air Force communique issued at Cairo states: "We successfully attacked shipping and warehouses at Benghazi. Fires broke out on a largo merchantman and also near the naval dockyard, while several hits were registered on small ships. "We attacked Tobruk harbour, where bombs fell on small ships moored at a jetty. * "We raided military stores and concentrations at Bardia and dropped incendiary bombs on the barracks." i An earlier communique states; "Four raids were made on Assab. Naval barracks, oil tanks, a jetty and neighbouring wharf buildings were bombed successfully, a direct hit being registered on the naval barracks."

An Italian communique reports enemy attacks against Bcrbera and several places in Italian Somaliland and Eritrea. It states that three persons were killed and five wounded. Slight damage was done. A later Rome communique states: "The British bombed Bardia and Tobruk, causing slight damage and no casualties. An air raid 011 Dertia resulted in three dead and 38 wounded, while a barge was sunk. The British carried out an air raid in the vicinity of Gallabat, where one person was killed and four wounded. Attacks on Mnefa, Hinda and Asmara caused slight damage, but there were no victims. One British aeroplane and one Italian were shot down."

GERMAN SHIPPING

ATTACKS OFF NORWAY FLEET AIR ARM STRIKES British Wireless LONDON, Oct. 4 An Admiralty communique states that further damage was inflicted 011 enemy shipping by aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm operating over the coast of Norway. Skuas attacked an enemy supply ship of .5000 tons, which was lying alongside a jetty at Haugesund. Hits were obtained with bombs, nnd the ship was left heavily 011 lire, both in the forward and after holds. In the Bjorne Fiord Skuas also attacked an enemy supply ship of 2000 tons. Bombs were seen to hit tho ship, which was considered sunk. The aircraft were subsequently attacked by u superior force of enemy fighters. One Skua is missing.

It is reported from Oslo that five British aeroplanes bombed a Norwegian steamer north of Stavanger. Sixteen men were injured.

CHILDREN BURIED

AIR RAID TRAGEDY HOME WRECKED BY BOMB LONDON, Oct. 4 Four children left by their mother in the basement of a house demolished in n daylight raid on London are believed to have been buried. The mother escaped. She was forced to run out for. shopping because of the length of the warning. A 12-year-old boy was released from wreckage in east London after being entombed for several hours. His mother was killed*