SHIP'S SAFETY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23970, 21 May 1941, Page 10

SHIP'S SAFETY

CONFLICTING REPORTS AMERICANS ON BOARD AMBULANCE UNITS (Herd. p.m.) CAIRO, May 20 The United States vice-consul afc Alexandria stated that the Egyptian steamer Zanizam, previously stated to have been sunk by enemy action in the South Atlantic, is reported to be safe. It was earlier reported from NewYork that a total of 323 people in the vessel, including -3 Canadians and 60 Americans, were believed to have been drowned. It was understood that the passengers included American ambulance drivers and ; ■>() American ( atholic missiouers bound I for Central Africa. The cargo included ; trucks, automobiles and machinery | marked with the Hags of non-belligerent ! . countries and Egypt, the message I added ' It is known that the BritishAmerican ambulance corps aboard the Xamzam is destined for the Free French forces in the Middle East, says a British official wireless message. The equipment includes over 20 vehicles, together with a field kitchen, and an X-ray trailer. The vehicles are manned by 21 Americans all of them either doctors or male nurse drivers. All ispeak French. I The Zanizam left New York on March | 20 and had not been heard of since she i called at a Brazilian port. I The fate of the Zanizam is given I great prominence in newspapers in the | !'uited States this morning. While | news is scarce, it is believed that the j Zanizam has been either sunk or captured by German or Italian naval forces. The New York Times states that the vessel showed her markings clearly, and ; took a course awav from the war zone. I ' :

i PILOT'S PLUCKY FEAT BRAVED HAIL OF BULLETS ATTACK CARRIED THROUGH LONDON, May 19 Splendid pluck and endurance were shown hv a pilot-officer engaged in an attack on the aerodrome of Gazala in Libya. Diving very low with a total disregard of heavy ground fire, he sprayed with bullets two large enemy aircraft on the ground until they were destroyed Then he swooped on a concentration of mechanised transport, braving a hail of machine-gun bullets. Ele received wounds in the head and shoulders and was losing blood rapidly when he turned his aircraft toward the Egyptian frontier 200 miles away. Lacking sufficient strength to reach his squadron's base, he made a successful landing within the British lines, where he fainted as he was helped from the cockpit BEAVERBROOK'S POST "MINISTER FOR TANKS" LONDON. May 17 Lord Beaverbrook's own newspaper, the Daily Express, reveals that his new post, although termed Minister of State. is actually "Minister for Tanks The appointment confirms unofficial reports, which have been current fot weeks, that the Government is launching an intense drive to speed up mechanisation The promotion of lank officers to high commands also has been announced It is most significant that Lord Beaverbrook lias been given overriding power to determine priorities for the manufacture of war supplies. This is interpreted as carte blanche from the Prime Minister to control the production side of the war. TRIBUTE TO AUSTRALIANS LONDON, May "20 A tribute to the Australian forces in Malaya was paid by the outgoing officer co mman di ng Malaya Li e 111 en a n t-G eneral Bond, on the eve of his departure. It would always lie a matter of pleasure and pride, he said, to have had Australians tinder his command