GUARDING CONVOYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23818, 20 November 1940, Page 9

GUARDING CONVOYS

NEW AIRCRAFT NEEDED LONG-RANGE FIGHTERS ATTACKS OFF IRISH COAST By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Nov. 18 Aviation experts read into the blockade that Germany is trying to establish on the west of the Irish coast an aerial threat to Britain's increasingly important sea communications with America, from whom she is beginning to draw enormous war supplies. Operating from bases on the French Atlantic coast, the Germans hope to nullify much of this American help by the energetic use of big bombers and a new type of long-range flying-boat. Aviation authorities contend that what Britain needs is a gre.it number of long-range fighters to serve the dual purpose of escorting daylight bombing attacks on Germany and of intercepting German bombers off Ireland. The type of aircraft urgently needed is fighters with a top speed of 400 miles an hour and a cruising range of at least 2000 miles. They must be heavily armed with cannon and machine-guns. ' ' • .. : A Los Angeles message says the first eight machines of a fleet of several hundred new Douglas bombers which are being built for Britain are ready to take off lor New York. The aeroplanes are known as DB7A. They have a speed of 400 miles an hour and have twin engines. HOUSING PLANS NEW GERMAN SCHEME SHELTERS TO . BE PROVIDED (Received November 19, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 18 Because of the necessity of filling gaps in the population caused by the war, it is reported from Berlin that Hitler is planning to build homes wit-h bomb-proof shelters to accommodate large families, in addition to 300,000 flats. . • A decree ..states that, the succpssful conclusion, of.-the war will confront the Reich with tasks-soluble only by an increasing .population. -Future housing developments must, be suitable for families .with many children. The leader of the German Labour Front,., Dr.- Ley, has been appointed Reich commissioner for the social housing scheme. Shelters will be large enough to accommodate all the occupants of a house. ITALIAN CLAIMS "LITTLE ACTIVITY" . BRITISH .WARSHIP HIT i LONDON, Nov. 18 An Italian communique reports little activity on the Greek Iront. It claims that the Italians destroyed an enemy crfvnlry formation in the .Konitza sector, and that the Italian air force in the Kalpaki and Konitza sectors destroyed bridges and bombed works and troops'. The claim is also made that,a cruiser of the Leander type was hit by a torpedo from an, Italian aeroplane in the harbour mouth at Alexandria. 1 ' Referring to the bombardment of Mogadishu, in Italian Somnliland, the claim is made that the coastal batteries hit an enemy cruiser. YUGOSLAV TOWNS ITALIANS DROP BOMBS (Received November 19, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. ID A message from Belgrade says foreign aeroplanes early yesterday morning flew over Ucinj, Cetinje and Danilovgrad. Two bombs were dropped in Danilovgrad, but caused no casualties. It is official ly stated that Italy has expressed regret for the "unintentional mistake" of Italian airmen in bombing Monastir on NovembeP 5. Six hundred Italians, with 130 tanks, are reported to have entered Yugoslavia and surrendered to the authorities. CASUALTIES AT SEA LONDON, Nov. 18 The Ministry of Shipping has issued. the names of 354 members of the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets presumed to, have lost their lijVes as their vessels are overdue* I