BATTLE FOR BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21244, 15 October 1940, Page 6

BATTLE FOR BRITAIN

HITLER MEETS MAJOR DEFEAT OPINION OF AMERICAN AIR EXPERT CLEAR-CUT VICTORY FOR BRITISH FORCES (Official Wireless) (Received Oct. 15, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, October 14 The importance of the “Battle for Britain” as a setback for German plans is emphasised by Major George Fielding-Eliot, United States air expert, broadcasting from Philadelphia, when he said:— the immediate attempt is now centred on confused events in the Balkan Peninsula, the very fact that Germany is now proceeding in th> scene of South-east Europe raises the question whether the Battle for Britain is being abandoned by Germany—whether the issue is not a clear-cut victory for the British, and particularly for the Royal Air Force. “ The evidence seems to many minds quite clear that in this battle for Britain Hitler has at last met a major defeat, for the first time he has had to turn back from a venture upon which he had set forth with every prospect of success. for the first time he has made boasts and announced intentions which he has been unable to make good. " Naturally every effort will be made by the Germans to distract the attention of the world and the American people from this tremendous fact. The failure of the Germans to achieve air superiority over Britain has made the invasion of that island a hopeless project. The Axis is now compelled to recast its whole plan of war, and no man would now be bold enough to say what the result will be. A long war has been precisely the sort of war that neither Germany nor Italy was prepared to fight. As far as the war in the air is concerned the German mass production plan has failed.”

BRITISH DEPART CONDITIONS IN RUMANIA MORE GERMANS ARRIVE NO RUSSIAN MOVEMENT (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. copyright) (■Received Oct. 15. 3.15 p.m.) BUCHAREST. Oct 14 The British military and naval attaches and the staffs have departed for Constanza, en route to Istanbul, accompanied by thirty members of the British colony. It is expected that the only Britishers left in Rumania by the week-end will be twenty Legation officials. About 3000 more German troops, mostly anti-aircraft crews, have arrived at Galatz. Colonel Ratay, United States military attache, declared that there is nothing to justify reports of vast Russian troop movements, of which none has occurred in the past few weeks. STRENGTH OF AUSTRALIA PRODUCTION OF ARMS UNITY WITH BRITAIN I ADDRESS TO BUSINESS MEN (United Pres* Assn.—Eire. Tel. Copyright) (Received Oct. 15, 3.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 15 The Federal Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, addressing 400 Sydney business men, said Australia is not at war with Japan and he prayed that human intelligence was such that she never would be, but he hoped nobody would imagine that Australia could be divided from Britain. While Britain fought no Australian would lie down. If Australia for a few months more continued to progress with the production of arms at the same rate as at present, he did not believe that any Power on earth would attempt to invade her. NATIONAL SAVINGS CALL TO THE COUNTRY TARGET OF £500,000,000 /United Pres* A»»n.—El/*c. Tel. Copjrisrht.' . LONDON. Oct. 13 A call to the country by Sir Robert Kindersley. president of the National War Savings Committee, to raise at least £12,000,000 weekly between now and November 21 was described as “ a modest request ” by Mr Arthur Greenwood, Minister Without Portfolio, in a broadcast. “ I believe,” Mr Greenwood said, “ that it underestimates what can be subscribed if people put their backs into it.” The first year of the war savings campaign closes on November 21 r.ext. and the call is for a further £80.000.000 to make the year’s total of £475.000.000 from subscribers to savings certificates and defence bonds and deposits in the Post Office and trustee savings banks. “ I think.” Mr Greenwood said, “we ought to aim at a target of £500,000,000. Let me ask you to visualise the power and strength of the* 160,000 savings groups up and down the country. They embrace 10.000,000 members, so that if each member saves Is a week it would add £500,000 to the weekly total. The savings movement must grow into an ever-broadening stream, if. during these critical times, we are to make ends meet.”

PASSIVE RESISTANCE

FIGHTING IN AFRICA ENCOUNTERS WITH ITALIANS HEAVY CASUALTIES INFLICTED NO CHANGE IN EGYPT (Omclal Wireless) \Received Ort. 15. 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, October 14 A Cairo communique issued on Monday states: There is no change in the situation in Egypt. In the Sudan on October 13 our mechanised patrols encountered and inflicted heavy casualties on 120 enemy astride the river Gash, twenty miles south-east of Kassala. The same day our forward positions in the Gallabat area were bombed, with no damage or casualties. On the other fronts there is nothing to report. A Royal Air Force communique issued on Monday states: Raids on Tobruk were carried out on the night of October 12 by bombing aircraft. Bombs fell on the target, but it was not possible to ascertain the full extent of the damage. In Eritrea a series of attacks was made on Gura on the nights of Saturday and Sunday. An aerodrome was subjected to a heavy bombardment and considerable damage was caused. An enemy bomber attempted to raid Aden yesterday, but there was no damage and there were no casualties. •- '*Mi| One of our fighters on patrol intercepted the enemy and as a result of the attack the central engine of the Italian bomber was seen to be on fire. One of our aircraft, operating from Malta on a reconnaissance, was attacked by an Italian bomber, which, however, was quickly out-man-oeuvred and damaged during the engagement. Our aircraft was later attacked by another Italian bomber, the rear gunner of which was probably killed and the enemy aircraft severely damaged. Two successful attacks were made on the Lavello aerodrome in Abyssinia by South African Air Force squadrons during the night of October 12. and heavy and incendiary bombs fell among the hangars and aerodrome buildings. A machinegun post was quickly silenced. Other South African aircraft carried out numerous reconnaissances over enemy territory. From all these operations our aircraft returned safely.

CAMPAIGN IN INDIA CONTROL BY GANDHI <Lnlf*»(l prps-s Assn.—Elpc. Tpl Copyright) (Received Oct. 15. 3.15 p.m.) DELHI. Oct. 14 Vonod Bhave is a humble member of Mahatma Gandhi’s seminary, who daily squats on the floor spinning cotton. 9 It is thought that Pandit Nehru and Vonod Bhave will be billed to address a mammoth meeting in such a manner that the Government will have no alternative but to arrest them. Gandhi has apparently decided to remain out of prison in order to control the resistance movement and ensure its strict limitation. It was stated yesterday that Vonod Bhave and Pandit Nehru would open the campaign of passive resistance-