EQUAL PARTNER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25050, 14 November 1944, Page 5

EQUAL PARTNER

STATUS OF FEANCE CORDIALITY TO BRITAIN DISCUSSION OF PROBLEMS (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 13 The announcement that France had been admitted to full membership in the European Advisory Commission before the opening of the British-French talks is regarded in Paris as a master stroke, .ensuring an atmosphere in which no question is insoluble, says Reuter's Paris correspondent. The talks yesterday represented a thorough examination of the European scene and an exchange of views on strictly BritishFrench problems. The Paris newspapers hail Franco's entry into the European Advisory Commission with most cordial references to Britain.* The Socialist newspaper Populaire says: "The British and French alliance was never broken. The calm courage of the British saved the world."

The conservative paper Figaro says Britain and France have again found each other. The London Times, in a leader, says France's entry to the Advisory Commission signifies in effect the admission of France to equal partnership with the three major Allies, and to that extent will still more firmly establish her international standing. The diplomatic of the Observer says the invitation to join the Commission will be rightly interpreted by the French as proof of the confidence felt by France's Allies in her capacity to recover in due course her cherished status as a Great Power. The Sunday Dispatch sees in Mr Churchill's visit the symbol _of old friendship, wartime co-operation and post-war collaboration. BURMA CAMPAIGN FORCES REORGANISED TRAINING OF AMERICANS (Becd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 12 British troops of the 36th Division gained a mile in Railway Corridor, Northern Burma, yesterday, say§ a South-east Asia communique. More determined Japanese resistance was met. Giving his first press conference at Myitkyina, Northern Burma, as commander of the Burma-India theatre, Lieutenant-General Daniel Sultan said that five Chinese divisions were now operating in Burma under his command, that considerable American forces were being trained for employment in Burma, and that tanks would soon be operating against the Japanese in Northern Burma.

! The mission of the Allied forces m : Northern Burma had not been changed by the split in the former command, said General Sultan. It was to beat the Japanese in Northern Burma, build roads into China, and support China in the war against Japan. General Sultan further cleared up the position by stating that he had been placed in sole command of the Chinese troops, who comprised the new First Army and the new Sixth Army. General Sultan said that his aim was to get the maximum aid to China across the "hump" by road when that was completed. The road was well up to schedule and the supply position very g°°d. „ In Northern Burma, added General Sultan, they had reached terrain where tanks could be used,_ and these would be brought into action as soon as possible. DOMINION AIRMEN TOWING OF GLIDERS SUPPLYING ARNHEM MEN (Special Correspondent) (Reed. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 13 Towing gliders and dropping paratroopers during the D Day and Arnhem operations, together with supplying materials to resistance movements Belgium and Holland, have provided plenty of interest for many New Zealanders serving with Royal Air Force squadrons. They are flying Stirline; bombers. One crew, consisting of Flying-Officer N. W. Sutherland (Tokomaru Bay) who was pilot, Flying-Officer C. G. Rouse (Christchurch) who was navigator, Pilot-Officer R. Vincent (New Plymouth) who was air-gunner, has carried out 25 operations. "It was a difficult job supplying the airborne division at Arnhem," said Fly-ing-Officer Rouse, "firstly because the Strilings had to fly low and slowly to make sure of dropping supplies in the correct spot, and, secondly, because the Germans pumped up every bit of metal at us that they could. Once we returned with our aircraft punctured with 60 holes Caused by small arms fire and 16 caused by bigger calibre stuff. We also had half our tail shot away." Focke Wulfs also _ added to the hazards, and once Flying-Officer C. L. Seigert (Fairlie) whose wireless operator was Warrant-Officer W. J. Thomson (Hamilton), was chased by four of these aircraft. Warrant-Officer Thomson was wounded in the leg by a cannon shell, but he recovered in hospital with the aid of penicillin. BALTIC CLASH POSSIBLE WARNING TO SWEDISH SHIPS LONDON, Nov. 12 Sweden yesterday rejected a German declaration that the Baltic Sea was a war zone in which all ships run the risk of being fired on immediately, says Reuter's Stockholm correspondent. A Swedish Note handed to the German Legation stated that Sweden contests most decidedly the German warning. The Swedish War Insurance Board on the previous night warned Swedish ships to keep inside territorial waters in the Baltic and the Gulf of Bothnia. It is believed the warning was issued owing to the possibility of a Russian and German naval clash around lands which 6ome Swedish circles say the Germans are preparing to seize. FUTURE SECURITY PUNISHING INDUSTRIALISTS (Reed. 6.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Nov. 13 Referring to the effects of monopolies and cartels on American security the military sub-committee of the Senate says the Germans are already spreading their economic reserves throughout the world. The report suggests that the punishment of 10:000 of tho leading im-perialist-minded German industrialists ■would be more effective than punishing Nazi underlings.;