FRENCH AID?

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21218, 14 September 1940, Page 8

FRENCH AID?

WARSHIPS MOVE PASS INTO ATLANTIC ALLOWED PAST GIBRALTAR (UnlU4 PreM Ain.—Elec. Til. Copyright) (Received Sept. 14, 3.15 p.m.) GIBRALTAR, Sept. 13 The British naval authorities confirm that the French cruisers Gloire, Montcalm, and Georges Leygues, and the destroyers Laudacieux, Le Mail and Le Fantasque have passed into the Atlantic from the East. Their destination has not been disclosed, but it is believed they are rallying to the aid of General de Gaulle.

LIE REFUTED

ALLEGATIONS FROM ROME [ TROUBLE IN' NEW ZEALAND TROOPS STOPPED FROM SAILING (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. copyright) (Received Sept. 14. 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 13 On Thursday morning the Rome radio stated that New Zealand was experiencing open rebellion and that troops had been stopped from leaving the country to put down the uprisings. On behalf of the New Zealand and Australian departments of information a special shortwave broadcast throughout the world last night stated that the allegation was typical of the Rome radio lies. At 4.55 a m., Australian time, on Thursday the Rome radio included in its foreign news service the following item “at Wellington, New Zealand, owing to an outbreak of a rebellion in the Dominion, troops for Britain had been stopped from leaving the country.” A transcription of the broadcast was taken by the Department of Information, which cabled immediately to the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser. He cabled back an emphatic denial which was embodied in last night’s special broadcast in all foreign languages.

NO FLINCHING

FIRE SERVICES SINGLED OUT FOR TRIBUTE (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 14. 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 13 The Home Secretary, Sir John Anderson, sent the following message to the fire authorities of England and Wales:— ‘All sections of the civil defence services have responded so magnificently to the calls made upon them that it may seem invidious to draw distinctions, but I am sure no one would begrudge a word of special commendation that I feel moved to send to the members of fire services, regular and auxiliary. Their work is fraught with great danger in itself and has been often rendered hazardous in the extreme by sustained repeated enemy attack by bomb and machine-gun.

“Nowhere has there been any flinching. Again and again with dauntless courage and at the price of many casualties a fire that might well have engulfed a whole district has been brought under control.

“Further and greater trials may be ahead, but I am confident that in meeting them the fire services will only add lustre to their already brilliant achievements.”

IMMEDIATE RESPONSE

LONDON MAYOR S APPEAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 14, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 13 An immediate response has been received to the Lord Mayor of London’s appeal to relieve distress caused by the bombing of London. The Bank of England sent £IO,OOO. the American Ambassador (Mr J. Kennedy), each of the five great banks, Imperial Chemical Industries, Lever Brothers and Unilever, Limited, each sent £SOOO.

The Lord Mayor of Brisbane has sent a cable expressing the horror of the people of Queensland, who have opened a fund with £IO,OOO from the Queensland Patriotic Fund. The Central British War Fund of Shanghai has cabled £25,000.

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS

LAND, SEA AND AIR

MR CHURCHILL’S TRIBUTE GO ON TO VICTORY (United Pre-s Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 12 The Prime Minister. Mr Churchill, acknowledging a war anniversary message from the Prime Minister of Mr R. G. Menzies, says: “ The thrilling exploits of your sailors in the Mediterranean and of your airmen around these shores give a foretaste of «(hat the enemy may expect when all arms of the Australian forces get the chance wnich they are eagerly awaiting. With the aid of such men. we shall go on unflinchingly until the final victory is won."