ONLY ONE-THIRD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24085, 2 October 1941, Page 10

ONLY ONE-THIRD

LOSSES OF SHIPPING BEATING THE U-BOATS STERN FIGHT NOT ENDED GOOD CHEER DIVINED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Becd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON", Sept. 30 Losses by enemy action of British, Allied and neutral shipping during the quarter of July, August and September, apart from anything which might happen to-day, were only one-third of the losses during the previous quarter, said the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, in the course of his statement in the House of Commons to-day on the. progress of the war,- says the British official wireless. "During the same period our slaughter of enemy shipping, German and Italian, lias been increasing in leaps and bounds," he added. '"lt was, in fact, about one and a-ha!f times what it was in the previous three months." Hitler's Useful Hint It was, however, the Government's intention to continue the "salutary practice" of not publishing statements of shipping losses at regular monthly intervals. Stating that anything novel or pregnant said by Ministers would be effectively studied by the enemy, 3! r. Churchill reminded the House that ior seven months Hitler had said nothing publicly about his war plans. What Hitler blurted out in the early part of the year had been useful. Mr. Churchill cited Hitler as saying in his last speech—'"ln the spring our submarine warfare will begin in earnest, and our opponents will find the Germans have not been sleeping. The Luftwaffe and the Nazi German defence forces in this way and that will bring about an ultimate decision. In March or April naval warfare will start such as the enemy never expected." "Better Christmas Dinners" Britain was led to expect a crescendo of attacks, Mr. Churchill continued, and the Germans, in fact, used even larger forces of U-boats and long-range aircraft against shipping. Countermeasures undertaken in good time and on a larger scale proved sueccsstul. Few important munition ships had been lost, and food reserves stood higher than ever before. ■ An improvement in the basic ration for the whole country was now about to be made, and quantities and varieties of meals for heavy workers would "8e improved during the winter. "There will be better Christmas dinners this year than last," Mr. Churchill added. Although within measurable distance of the immense flow of new American building, which, together with _ British construction, would be provided in 1942, said Mr. Churchill, he deprecated premature rejoicing. He himself indulged in no sanguine predictions. A large number of U-boats, supported by even larger numbers of Focke-Wulf aeroplanes, must be expected, and the U-boats would only be beaten by corresponding intensification of countermeasures. Goal Distant But Plain The facts he had stated were "not entirely unsatisfactory," said Mr. Churchill. He added that, whether the devoted Russian battle lines or the majestic momentum of the United States were looked to, comfort and good cheer could be divined in the struggle, "which, nevertheless, even if fre were alone, we should carry on inflexibly, unwearyinglv and with 6teadily-increasing reserves." The Empire had climbed from a pit of peril on to a fairly broad plateau, he said. ''We feel around us the upsurge of the enslaved countries of Europe. We see how they defy Hitler's firing parties. Far away in the East -we see the faithful, patient, inexhaustible spirit of the Chinese race, who, too. are battling for home and freedom. We are marching in company with the vast majority of mankind, all forging forward toward the final goal, which, though distant, can already be plainly seen." FLOW OF AIRMEN RESPONSE IN AUSTRALIA CANADIAN TRAINING SCHEME SYDNEY, Oct, 1 Applications in Australia to join the Air Force since the outbreak of war have totalled 205.000, of which 80.000 have come from New South Wales. This announcement was made by the chairman of the Air Force recruiting drive. Sir Donald Cameron, who paid a tribute to the response from all parts of Australia. He said also that recruits had come at their own expense from the Pacific Islands. A message from Montreal says the British Commonwealth air training scheme will be extended until the present number of schools and aerodromes is almost doubled, according to the Canadian Minister of Air, Mr. Power. Before April, 1943, the original termifiation date for the plan, he said, the .Canadians will have invested 900,000,000 dollars in air training, and the Air Force will have grown from 4500 to 100.000 men and women, including Australians, New Zealanders, Britons and Americans. CZECH UNIT IN RUSSIA MILITARY AGREEMENT POLISH DIVISION READY LONDON'. Sept. 30 Russia and Czecho-Slovakia have concluded a military agreement on similar lines to that between Britain and Czecho-Slovakia. reports Reuters diplomatic correspondent. A Czech unit has been raised in Russia and will form part of the Czech armed forces under a Czech commander, who will be appointed with the approval of the Russian High Command. General Anders, of the Polish Army, stated in Moscow that the first Polish division in Russia was already fully armed and equipped. Russia was giving every assistance ii) ( bringing together and organising Polish soldiers scattered throughout Russia. "Germany is the common enemy of both nations," he said. "We are fighting for the liberation of the Fatherland. Our army includes Catholics, Jews and members of the Greek Orthodox Church, and their morale and discipline are excellent. An average of 1000 are joining daily. An officers' school and a tank school have been established."

PRAISE FOR R.A.F. ITALIAN WRITER'S TRIBUTE LONDON, Sept. .°,O Paying tribute to the Royal Air Force, the aviation editor of the Italian newspaper Stampa savs the ardour of British pilots is assuming gigantic proportions. Hie British anti-air defences and signalling system, he says, are almost perfect. Not a single German aeroplane can reach Britain without being identified immediately after taking off. German bombers and fighters always fight over Britain under conditions of inferiority, because the Luftwaffe is clearly at a disadvantage compared TP Jt ' * R \ K