FLYING FORTRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24243, 8 April 1942, Page 5

FLYING FORTRESS

BACKBONE OF OFFENSIVE SUCCESS AGAINST JAPANESE (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 6 American newspapers to-day—the 25th anniversary of America's entry into the last war—emphasise the great advances which the United States has already made in expanding its forces and increasing war production. The army representative, Colonel Griffith, in an Army Day message at Seattle, announced that the production of four-engined Flying Fortress bombers at the Boeing aircraft plant had been doubled since December 7. He said that Boeing planes, which have been particularly successful against the Japanese, have been consistently on or ahead of schedule and are now ahead. Colonel Griffith declared that the Boeing Flying Fortresses were credited with the majority of the 62 enemy ships sunk or damaged and the 50 Japanese fighters destroyed in the air by the United States Bomber Command in the Far East before March 1.

General H. H. Arnold, Chief of the Air Force, sent this message to the Boeing Company: "The big Boeing Bl7's are proving to be the backbone of our world-wide air offensive. They take the fight to the enemy from New Guinea to Libya." The Herald-Tribune points out that 33 divisions, more complete than the forces of 1918, are now actually ready for service, while the Christian Science Monitor estimates that the Uriited States Army, before the end of the year, will total 4,000,000 men, and eventually 8,000,000 men. The United States Pacific Fleet is now stronger in ships, aircraft and men than before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on December 7. This statement was made on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Knox, by his special assistant, Mr. E. Hayes. LEADERS RESIGN PROTEST AGAINST ATTACK (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, April & A- message from Denver, Colorado, says that six United Mine Workers' officials have resigned as regional directors of the Congress of Industrial Organisations in eight States because "of unfair and unwarranted attacks" on the United Mine Workers' president, Mr. John Lewis. They submitted their resignations to the president of the Congress of Industrial Organisations, Mr. Philip Murray, in a resolution condemning the attacks on Mr. Lewis, t?rho, they said, "proved beyond doubt to be the greatest champion of labour's rights within the trade union movement of all times." They added that various officials have attacked the United Mine Workers itself to the detriment of organised labour and necessary unity within Labour for a proper and successful prosecution of tne war.

ANNOYING GERMANY BROADCASTS INTERRUPTED . LONDON. April 7 The German radio was interrupted by a "ghost" voice this morning. When the announcer read out news about the sinking of American ships the voice replied: "Rubbish, lies, more lies." The news about the fighting in Burma was interrupted by the words, "Down with the Japanese murderers." During a talk on the of American production the voice interrupted with: "Hitler has lost the war, Hitler is finished."

RAID ON NARVIK REPORT FROM STOCKHOLM (Eecd. 6.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 6 There is no confirmation from European sources of the New York Times report from Stockholm describing a commando raid on Narvik on Sunday. The Daily Telegraph's naval correspondent says nothing is known in official London circles about the raid. A Stockholm message, however, stating that British commandos are reported to have landed south of Narvik on Sunday, says British aeroplanes were seen from the Swedish frontier and explosions were heard in the direction of Narvik and farther south. The Germans are said to have been collecting large stores in the Narvik area in preparation for the spring offensive against North Russia. The Columbia radio, New York, stated that cqmmandos, who raided Narvik, overwhelmed the German garrison.