LEGLESS PILOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24083, 30 September 1941, Page 7

LEGLESS PILOT

BID FOR FREEDOM ESCAPE FROM HOSPITAL (Reed. 6.20 p.m.) ROME, Sept. 28 The legless British pilot, WingCommander D. R. S. Bader, attempted to escape immediately the Royal Air Force delivered a new leg by parachute on August 19. He slipped away from a party in celebration of its arrival. The Germans have since taken away one leg each night, returning it in the morning. Bader is now in a regular prison camp. Soon after the Royal Air Force had dropped, in France, a new artificial leg to replace the one which was damaged when Bader landed by parachute after his machine had been shot down, he escaped from a German hospital, but was recaptured four days later. 100 miles from the hospital, heading for the French coast. He escaped by climbing out of the window and using a blanket to reach the ground.

HITLER'S FAILURE BRITISH UNITY INTACT COURAGE OF THE PEOPLE (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28 Speaking at Manchester the Lord Privy Seal, Major C. P. Attlee, said: "The first failure of Hitler was his failure to create disunity in this country—that same disunity which in France and other countries paralysed a strong resistance. Yet, when things looked very dark, no one of us despaired. "We are facing to-day a most acute piece of long-planned conspiracy designed to enslave mankind and destroy the entire foundation of civilised society. That plan was conspired and carried out by a very evil man, but also by a very able man, by a man of strong will and by a man of utter ruthlessness. "If the nations of Europe had stuck together this evil thing could have been strangled at its birth. Opportunity after opportunity was lost during those years when a halt could have been called to this fatal slipping down into the abyss of war. Disunity prevailed, and the world is now paying the price. "It is tragic to look back and see how the mighty forces of the world have been dissipated by disunity. But Hitler has failed to disrupt this country. He has failed to destroy our Air Force. He failed in those attacks last year 011 Britain and he has failed ever since through the courage and strength of the ordinary man and woman of this country." '

MAY SIDE WITH LABOUR AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT COMPULSORY LOAN ISSUE SYDNEY, Sept. 29 The Independent member, Mr. A. Wilson, whose vote will save or wreck the Federal Government under Mr. A. W. Fadden as Prime Minister, gave an interview to the press tvhich indicates that he may range himself with Labour against compulsory loans when the Budget is under discussion in the coming week. Ho openly stated that the Budget will place burdens on the people heavier than they will be able to bear, and will probably result in mass inability to meet fixed commitments entered into for homes, land and businesses. Compulsory loans, he claimed, are doubtful finance. He saw no prospect of paying money after the war which could not be found to-day.