CHRISTMAS AND FIGHTING

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20996, 26 December 1939, Page 5

CHRISTMAS AND FIGHTING

QUIET DAY ON WESTERN FRONT RAIN OF SHELLS OVER FINLAND RESIDENTS SPEND MOST OF DAY UNDERGROUND (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 26, 1 p.m.) HELSINKI, Dee. 25 The howling of air raid sirens drowned the Christmas hells. Residents spent most of the daylight hours underground, as one alarm after another drove them to cover. No bombs appeared to fall inside the city, but distant detonations indicated that the suburbs were probably hit. BERLIN, Dec. 25 A war communique states that there was a quiet day on the Western Front. German aircraft suspended activity on December 24, hut British aeroplanes flew over Heligoland Bay.

PARIS, Dec. 25 A war communique states: “On Christmas morning there is nothing to report.”

HUGE AREA MINED

ACTION BY BRITISH NAVY STATEMENT BY ADMIRALTY (tailed Press *3sn.—Elec. Tel. CopyriffUt) LONDON, Dec. 24 The Admiralty announces that the Navy is mining an area 500 miles long closing the approaches to the English and Scottish coasts between latitude 558 degrees 20 minutes north, longitude one degree east, and latitude 51 degrees 43 minutes north, longitude 2 degrees 32 minutes east, inside which narrow control channels are prescribed.

The area covered by the minefield will be roughly from the Moray Firth to the Kentish Knock lightship off the Thames Estuary, extending almost to the middle of the North Sea, at the northern end, and to within about 30 miles of the Belgian coast at the southern end.

BLOW FOR BLOW

CONFIDENCE OF FRANCE FIGHTING AGAINST WAR DESOLATION AND MISERY lUnlted Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. copynrhl) PARIS, Dec. 24 The French Prime Minister, M. Daladier, broadcasting a Christmas message, said: “We shall not take the initiative in inflicting new sufferings, but will return each blow. Germany has fought her wars on other people’s territory for a century, and this time we will keep an exact account of all her crimes. We are fighting not against other peoples but against war itself. “ Think what this night must mean for the victims of the man against whom we are fighting. Think of the people of Prague, who anxiously sit in their homes while the mocking laughter of the victors sounds througn the city. “ Think of the desolation and misery m Warsaw, where typhus is raging and bombs, and shells have destroyed the people’s freedom. “ May all peoples understand they cannot prevent aggression by trembling before the aggressor, but by putting up a barrage of courage and determination.”

HAS HE RESIGNED?

AUSTRALIAN AIR CHIEF NO COMMENT FROM AUSTRALIA (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, Dec. 25 Reports persist in Sydney that Air Vice-Marshal S. J. Goble, Chief of the Australian Air Staff, has tendered his resignation to the Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, who refuses to confirm or deny the report.

HIGH TREASON

EXECUTIONS IN GERMANY BEHEADINGS TOTAL 41 (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. CopyrlrdU (Received Dec. 23, 1 p.m.) BERLIN, Dec. 22 Two men were executed for high treason. One allegedly sought to incite Germans against the Nazi Government through spiteful posters. The year’s beheadings total 41.

DUTCH LOAN

TREASURY TAKES PART THREAT FOR “ NEXT TIME ” (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel Copyright) (Received Dee. 23, 1 p.m.) THE HAGUE, Dec. 22 The Treasury is taking up £8,750,000 which was left unsubscribed of the State loan of £18,750,000. The Ministry of Finance hinted that a forced or semi-lorced loan is likely next time.

BATTLE IN AIR

PATROL OF PACIFIC

FLEET FOR EIRE

RAID ON VVILHELMSHAVEN NEW ZEALAND PILOTS (Unlled Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright; LONDON, Dec. 24 Details of the air battle over Wilhelmshaven on December 18 are still being sorted out and a clear picture lot tne action is beginning to take | form. New Zealand airmen took Dart in the battle. „ 11 seems probable that the German Command was very dissatisfied witn the results of the operations off Heli goland on December 3, in which a formation of Wellington bombers attacked warships ana hit two cruisers. The ease with whicn this effective attack was carried out without an\ loss to the bombing formation prob ’ ably thoroughly alarmed the German I Command. Accordingly, in the hope ; of preventing a repetition of such attacks, they ordered up as reinforcements a number of crack squadrons probably from the Western From. These units had been latterlv equipped with Mesrerschmitt 110*. very fast twin-engined fighters of th« latest type. Fighting Became Intense As the British formations entered the Heliogland Bight on December 8 they v/ere almost immediately met by enemy fighters. The fighting quickly became intense as the crack German fighter squadrons strained every nerve to find means to break down the close and tightly-packed British sections. As the action developed, casualities on both sides began to mount up. At last the British air gunners, excited and tired, had the satisfaction of seeing the last remaining fighters disappearing toward their own shore. [ In the opinion of experts, the laurels in the battle undoubtedly go jto the Wellington bombers, which resisted a most desperate, and, it is conceded, a meet courageous an J dashing effort to break them up and destroy them. Greatest in History The leader of a formation summed up the great battle as follows:—“This was in fact the biggest aerial battle ever fought. At hazard, I should think there were about 80 to 100 aircraft engaged. We were greatly outnum bered and out-manoeuvred because «'f the higher speed of the fighters. “The crews fired shot for shot and gave better than they got. Most of our crews were under fire for the first time, and they have returned confident that. on the next occasion the enemy will suffer a far heavier blow. All the crews were surprised at the performance of the German aircraft., and their c etermination to press home the attack. We felt they were worthy opponents.”

ACTION BY UNITED STATER FLEET OF FLYING-BOATS OVER 50 AIRCRAFT ORDERED (United Tres* An§n.—Elec. Tel. Copyright; WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 The United States Navy Department has ordered a fleet of longrange four-engined flying-boats for the patrol of the Pacific “line of observation,” to reinforce the Administration’s hemisphere defence policies. It is authoritatively stated that over 50 aircraft of a type having a range of over 5000 miles are involved in the order, which totals 20,000,000 dollars, and is the largest single aircraft contract in the history of the United States Navy. The new machines will augment the 15 aircraft of a similar type ordered last year.

ARMED PATROL CRAFT CONTRACT LET IN ENGLAND (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel Ogpyngtit) LONDON, Dec. 24 A Southampton firm has contracted to build a small, swift fleet for the territorial waters of Eire at a cost of £250,000. The fleet will consist of motor tor-pedo-boats and other armed patrol craft.