THE WAR NEWS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4230, 12 January 1940, Page 5

THE WAR NEWS

A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION. BRITISH AIRMEN ACTIVE. Radio and cable news indicates that about fifty machines were engaged in an air battle following a raid byBritish machines on an air base on the island of Sylt, a little north east of Heligoland and quite close to the Danish border. The objective was apparently the causeway by which supplied are taken from the mainland to the air base. The extent of the damage is nr?, yet known, but it is believed that *»- e causeway was very extensively damaged. So fierce was the combat that exploding shells shattered hundreds of windows and cut off the electric power supply on a Danish island a little distance away. Reports from America indicate that Britain proposes to buy ten thousand more American aeroplanes in the next eighteen months. Already 5000 machines are on order.

It appears now that Italy has entered into an agreement to render military aid to Hungary in the event of Hungary being menaced by Russia.

During the week there has been renewed activity by German airmen in attacking British and neutral shipping, unarmed and unconvoyed, in the North ‘Sea. Vessels have been attacked with bombs and machine gun fire. In some cases sailors were fired on while escaping in boats from their vessels.

The Union Castle' liner, Dunbar Castle, bound from England to South Africa with about fifty passengers, struck a mine near the south coast of England and sank within half an hour, with the loss of the captain and two members of the crew.

An unconfirmed report from South America states that the British ship Avila Star, of 14,400 tons, was attacked by three submarines when off the Canary Islands, and that escorting ships in’ the convoy sank one of the submarines.

A communique from Helsinki stated that the Russians were exhausted after a succession of defeats in the north, which had caused much disorganisation. The Finnish command believed, however, that another thrust against the country’s narrow waist was to be expected; or perhaps a renewal of the southern offensive against the Mannerheim Line. This cautious attitude contrasted with the opinion expressed in London that the Russian threat in the centre “has now completely collapsed.” What is more, the wisdom of caution is borne out by late radio news that heavy fighting has broken out near Salla, where the Reds are using picked troops. In appeal for outside assistance against the invaders. President Kallio has stated that 4000 bombs have been dropped on Finnish towns and territory. It is reported that Berlin no longer denies the holding up (at Russia’s urgent request) of Italian aeroplanes and guns en route to Finland. Acording to the Belgrade correspondent of the New York Times Italian aeroplanes and pilots are being sent to Hungary. This is regarded as a sequel to the recent talks between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, which, it is believed, resulted in Italy guaranteeing Hungary’s present frontiers.

It is announced that the permanent council of the Balkans Entente (Turkey, Rumania, Greece and Yugoslavia) will meet early next month. The message published on Wednesday, which described the change of Royal Air Force control in France as a triumph for the Army chiefs in spite of opposition from the R.A.F. command, seemingly was misleading. It appears now that a new and separate command has been formed in order to unify the control of all R.A.F. operations in France. The commander in chief of this command will be responsible directly to the Air Chief but will co-operate closely with both the Army and the French Air Force. In uncommonly vigorous words Mr Chamberlain has expressed Britain’s determination to see the struggle through. He laid special emphasis on the strength of Allied co-operation, and referred to the value of the Anglo-Turkish relations. The Prime Minister’s speech, which was in the nature of a general survey of the situation, has been warmly welcomed and praised in the United States and France. In Italy it is regarded as “yet another proof of the complete identity of the views of the British and French Governments.” Hitler is reported to be back in Berlin after his Christmas holiday in Bavaria. He is said to be working for a reconciliation of Germany's relations with Italy and Russia. In the recent past the Royal Air Force has been divided into three commands —the Fighter Command, the Bomber Command and the Coastal Command—each with its chief and the whole under the head of the Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Cyril Newall, whose title is Chief of the Air Staff. Now a fourth important command has been created by the grouping of all R.A.F. units in France under one man. The commanders of the four divisions of the Force are: Fighter Command: Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding

Bomber Command: Air Marshal Sir Edward Ludlow-Hewitt. Coastal Command: Air Marshal Sir Frederick Bowhill. /' British Air Forces in France: Air Vice Marshal A. S. Barratt.

The official announcement of the new appointment emphasised that dual control would not be avoided. In other words, bombers and fighters operating in France, instead of remaining under their respective commands, will be commanded henceforth by Air Vice Marshal Barratt, who will be responsible directly to the Air Chief Marshal.