CARGO CARRIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24346, 7 August 1942, Page 3

CARGO CARRIERS

AMERICAN INQUIRY AIRCRAFT AND SUBMARINES (Rccd. 7.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Aug. 5 The War Production Board Committee concluded an investigation into the cargo planes problem and submitted three major recommendations as follows :—The output of cargo planes should at least be doubled through an increase in the present procurement and conversion of certain bombers to cargo planes ; a further impetus to the development of long-range land and sea planes; a large increase in the manufacture of transportation gasoline for the coming greatly expanded cargo movement by air. Lieutenant-General H. H. Arnold, Chief of the Army Air Force, testifying before the Senate Military Sub-Commit-tee, said the output of cargo-carrying planes was being stepped-up in an allout programme. The ratio of engine allotments to transport planes for the second half of 1942 would be 21 per cent of all multiengined bombers and 30 per cent of all bombing planes with comparable range. In the second half of 1943 it would be stepped up to 22 per cent. Bombers for Cargo General Arnold said the Army was now using some of its long-range i bombers for cargo transport and a certain percentage of bomber construction would be diverted to long-range cargo • planes. He explained that that was why he was not as worried as some people. "We can always use bombers for cargo, but we can't use cargo planes for | bombers," General Arnold said. | Replying to the chairman, Sonator l J. Lee, the general said he would wel- ! come a proposal for mass construction !of aerial freighters, using the rolling | assembly lines and shipyards, provided j materials now going into liberty ships .could bo-utilised. He said the Army [ favoured any programme not interfering with the present plans for a bal- ! anced air fleet. He would not welcome any plan which would deplete the supply of critical materials for plane construction. He revealed that existing air transport would soon be carrying 2,500,0001b. of freight weekly, compared with the pre-war 174,0001b. Building Recommendations Mr. Lee, after hearing evidence in camera of naval and military experts, said the committee had drawn several conclusions from the evidence. These were: —(1) The Army has made a fair balance between cargo and combat planes. (2) The increased sinking of ships threw a heavier burden on cargo planes, which had been met by the use of bombers. (3) Henry Kaiser, west coast shipbuilder, should bo authorised to build 70-ton Mars flying-boats in shipyards. (4) Higgins, New Orleans, should be completed and devoted to the construction of cargo submarines. Mr. Lee, stressing the importance of planes, also said that some American bombers were now grounded in Australia and Africa because of lack of spare parts. This showed the need for cargo planes with a view to speeding up transport of materials to the front. JAPANESE SETBACK REINFORCEMENTS ATTACKED CHINESE SINK THREE SHIPS (Rccd. 0.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING, .Aug. 6 A communique says that three Japanese launches which were landing reinforcements from the Kwangsin IJiver were sunk by Chinese gunfire. There were heavy casualties. The Japanese had intended reinforcing the areas under Chinese attack between Yukan and ! Yukiang, south-east of Lake Poyang, in Northern Kiangsi. The Chinese disrupted enemy communications on the river. American bombers attacked Hankow, |in Hupeh Province, hitting wharves, | warehouses and shipping, states a despatch. Two Japanese planes in a | group that was attacking Kweilin, in | Kwangsi Province, were shot down by American planes and another was destroyed I) 3' anti-aircraft fire. CHINA'S WAR EFFORT LONDON, Aug. 5 Dr. George Yeh, Director of the Chinese Ministry of Information, opened an exhibition of China's war effort in London yesterday. The exhibition shows many similarities of life and suffering in wartime China and wartime Britain. Dr. Yeh said: "It presents China in terms of an ally whose problems are as human and understandable as your own." SECOND FRONT FEARS WARNING TO FRENCH PEOPLE (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Auk. 5 A Paris message says de Brinon, Vichy envoy to Paris, told journalists to warn the French against aiding a second front. The Laval Government was ready if action was necessary through "a lack of understanding and incredible hostility from certain Frenchmen. The people should realise their responsibility to France, and also understand that propaganda from Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin is mainly responsible for the horrors they are enduring." Workers in Norway who have been conscripted by the Germans to work on their anti-invasion defences are receiving pamphlets urging them to strike. They are produced by the free trade unions movement in Norway, and are distributed to the workers through secret channels. One of the pamphlets reads: "The Germans are aiming to make our country an impregnable fortress, hut, as they cannot obtain sufficient manpower by voluntary measures, they have resorted to compulsory conscription. Are we to take part in our own enslavement? No, and again, no. If necessary, men must disappear from their homes without thinking of their domestic responsibilities. The movement will see that their families do not starve." By a broadcast from Brussels, the Germans havp issued a warning that Belgians attempting to escape to the Allied forces will be severely punished if caught, and if they succeed reprisals will bo taken against their families.

COURAGE AT SEA

COMMAND OF LIFEBOATS (Special Correspondent)

(Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 5 Lieutenant-Commander R. E. Washbourn. D.5.0., R.N., of Nelson, and Betty-Officer R. G. W. Lawrence have both been recommended to tho Admiralty for excellent conduct when commanding two lifeboats after the cargo ship in which they were travelling to England from New Zealand had been torpedoed. The attack took place off the Atlantic coast of America. The first torpedo damaged the steering gear and as a result the ship circled. It was realised that a second torpedo would follow and all the lifeboats were prepared for abandoning the ship. The second torpedo hit tho ship a little later and she sank quickly. There were some casualties. Lieutenant-Commander Washbourn and Petty-Officer Lawrence did much to maintain the cheerfulness and courage of the survivors during tho four and a-half days during which they were subsequently adrift. Their skill and seamanship contributed in a large measure to the lifeboats' reaching safety.