SOVIET CHARGED DIRECTLY

Southland Times, Issue 23990, 4 December 1939, Page 7

SOVIET CHARGED DIRECTLY

RESULT OF MORAL ARMS EMBARGO CLEARANCES ALREADY REFUSED .- — - ACTION BY ARMY AND NAVY (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 3, 7.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 2. The Washington correspondent of The New York Times says that Mr Roosevelt’s moral embargo on the exports of aeroplanes to States which bomb civilians is expected, to prevent the Russian purchase of aeroplanes and armaments. Additional emphasis is given to the statement because it was not strictly necessary, inasmuch as the statement issued about Japan in 1938 covers RussiL The fact that it was issued means that Mr Roosevelt wished to charge the Soviet directly. The White House Secretary, Mr Stephen Early, said that the embargo was applicable to any country bombing civilians but there was “some, distinction about' who was the aggressor, whether the aggressor bombed first and whether the aeroplanes were useable for purposes of defence." American aeroplanes may be sold to Finland. , Although it has not been announced formally, the War and Navy _ Departments already have decided to refuse clearances of military aeroplanes destined for Russia, thus blocking current efforts of the Soviet to place large orders. In Moscow the communist official newspaper Pravda, commenting on American Press reactions to the invasion of Finland, declares that . the advantages of peaceful RussianJapanese relations are too clear to allow Japan to listen to American Press hyenas. It hints at a combined British and American fleet for the defence of the Pacific, based at Singapore. BRITISH SHOOT DOWN GERMAN DORNIER ENGAGEMENT LASTS 13 MINUTES (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, December 1. The engagement between patrols of the Coastal Command of the Royal Air Force, reported on November 30, in which eight German Dornier bombers were encountered and one was shot down, the others retiring, it is now learnt in London, lasted 13 minutes. Three other aircraft of the Coastal Command were in separate combats with the remaining seven Dorniers. In every instance the enemy was driven off. When a pilot of the northern coastal aircraft intercepted two Dorniers flying together he selected one as his immediate objective and carried out four dive attacks. The enemy’s rear gunner was hit and. was seen to be dragged from the cockpit by another member of the crew, who took his place. The enemy pilot, however, made off into the clouds. The British machine then turned to deal with the other German, who followed his companion after receiving a few well-aimed bursts.

An hour later, another British aircraft of the same squadron also sighted a Dornier. It, too, disappeared in a cloud bank when a number of rounds had been fired at it. ■

The final engagement was between a British flying-boat and a Dornier. The British aircraft twice encountered the Dornier and on each occasion the Dorner was driven off by gunfire.