THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 12, 1940
NAZI MESSERSCHMIDT PILOTS FIGHT SHY
THRILLING CHASE OF
NAZI PLANE
London, To-day.
East Coast patrols sighted
a German monoplane yester-
AIR GUNNER'S STORY OF NORTH SEA COMBAT
London, To-day.
ARTILLERY
ACTIVE AT THE FRONT
Paris, To-day.
Last night's French war com-
day and the British aircraft THE NAZI MESSERSCHMIDT fighters, though munique said there was increas
immediately pursued and overhauled and when close enough opened fire with the front gun.
The German manoeuvred as if try- ing to escape but received more pun- ishment as the British pilot pressed home the attack from below.
During the second encounter
German bomber's
rear gun was
the si-
lenced and her retractible undercar- riage, which was drawn up in flying
armed with cannon as well as machineguns, ap- peared anxious to keep out of the British gun- ners' range in Wednesday's big air battle over the North Sea, further details of which are now available.
"I thought there were only two of them," said one British air gunner. "They attacked alternately and then we saw others waiting above.
"Soon things became busy, and we
position, seen to be dropping down. came down from 5,000 feet almost to The impact of the bullets had appar-sea level so that they were unable to ently smashed the release mechanism. get beneath us.
While the front gunner of the Bri- tish aircraft was reloading, the Ger- nan dived almost to the surface of the sea and the British pilot dropped two heavy bombs, which exploded be- hind the enemy tail.
The German climbed sharply to 400 feet as if to evade repetition of this kind of attack.
As he passed the British aircraft its side guns fired continuously.
It appeared that one of its guns jam- med and the hydraulic mechanism of the turret was so deranged by accur- ate fire that it was impossible to train the only other serviceable gun.
Realising his hopeless position the German pilot avoided further com- bat and vanished into the clouds. British Wireless.
HEROISM OF MERCANTILE MARINE
"The fighters attacked in a shallow dive, firing their cannon and machine- of 600 yards, guns from a distance but seldom closing nearer than 200 yards.
"They seemed to be anxious to get out of range of our guns, and usually turned when we opened fire.
"As they climbed they showed us their bellies, and our tracers seemed to be going straight into them. Some of the enemy planes hezvier must have
gone home than when they set out. "Some of our chaps red 500 rounds during the action, and they didn't all miss.
"The engagement. continued Bome 25 minutes, each Nazi fighter making eight to 10 attacks.' Reuter.
LATEST TYPE PLANEB
London, To-day.
RHODESIA'S OFFER TO BRITAIN
A
ed artillery activity on either side, and also a fair amount of activity on the part of both forces.
An enemy reconnoltring plans was brought down within the French lines.-Router.
GERMAN PLANES OVER BELGIUM
BRUSSELS, TO-DAY.
IT 18 ANNOUNCED THAT GER- MAN AEROPLANES FLEW OVER BELGIUM YESTERDAY AT MANY POINTS.
chase Belgian patrols gave
and anti-aircraft
guns came into action at Ghent, Brussels, Hasselt, Liege and elsewhere.
LONDON, TO-DAY. CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN MR. ANTHONY EDEN, SECRETARY FOR DOMINIONS, AND MR. R. C. TREDGOLD, RHODESIAN MINIS- TER OF DEFENCE, WHO ARRIVED IN LONDON ON WEDNESDAY, HAVE BEGUN AT THE DOMINIONS in a woek.
OFFICE.
It is understood that they are working out details of the destina- tions of Rhodesla's volunteers.
ap-
The official German news agency Well-informed circles greatly admits that the German fighter ma-
preciate South Rhodesia's war effort, chines which took part in the thrill-particularly the offer providing the ing air battle over the
North
Sea
personnel for three Air Force squad- were the latest type, the ME-110, or rons on any war front. "Destroyer 'Planes."
Semi-official circles in London
-It is understood-that-Britain--has point out that the fact that the Bri-accepted the offer.-Reuter. tish bombers got the better of them tells its own story of the pluck and The "Yorkshire Post and skill of the R.A.F. pilots.--Reuter.
London, To-day.
Leeds Mercury" pays an edi-
torial tribute to the heroism ALLIED
of our merchant seamen,
"These men of the Merchant Fleet follow a tradition as courageous and enduring as that of the fighting Ser- vices.
"It is a tradition upon which we depend for our very lives in war- time and we know we shall never depend upon it vainly.
"It shines bravely in the calm dis- cipline with which the crew of the
HELP FOR FINLAND
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Paris, To-day.
Dunbar Castle on Tuesday ensured French diplomatic circles that their passengers reached safety have replied to Nazi propa- before they gave a thought to their ganda allegations that the "It flowed in the surging response Allies are endeavouring to made by fishermen to the call for extend the field of hostilities.
own lives.
volunteers for the hazardous task of fighting magnetic mines.
"It reveals itself movingly in the rescue work carried out day by day by life-boatman.” British Wireless.
DUG UP A DEAD PIG
A fine of $100 or two months' hard labour was imposed on Li Ping, 26, Lam Siu, 27, and Chen Cheung, 54, by Mr. E. Himsworth this morning for possession of an unwholesome pig.
Sanitary Inspector Foster the pig as one which the Department buried on
loon City.
They point out that Allled help for Finland is strictly in accordance with the League Covenant.
As regards the Nazi allegation that the Allles want to extend the war to the Near and Middle East, the same quarters merely point out the constant solidarity and pacific policy of the four signatories of the Saad Abad Pact, namely, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey. — Havar,
SNATCH-AND-RUN ON SPORTS FIELD
An odd job coolle, Chiu Chung, 17, was fined $20 by Mr. R. Edwards this morning, for the theft of a jacket Itary] belonging to W. Sproul, of the Royal
Signals.
Apparently one of accused saw the burial and got the others to help him dig it out.
Defendant took the jacket from goal post in Happy Valley and ed running. He was caught after long chase.
EATING DOG
Mr. R. Edwards this morning im- posed a fine of $30 on Au Siu-leung, 30, who was charged with keeping an unlicenced eating house at Wing Kut Street.
The Belgian Government has de- cided to protest to Germany.
- Reu- ter.
****This Is Belgian's second protest
H.M.S. AJAX IN RIO
RIO DE JANEIRO, TO-DAY,
THRONGED CHEERED
A LARGE CROWD THE RIO DOCKS AND
| WARMLY-WHEN THE...BRITISH.
CRUISER
THE AJAX, FLYING FLAG OF REAR-ADMIRAL SIR HENRY HARWOOD, VICTOR OVER THE ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE, EN- YESTER- TERED THE HARBOUR
DAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE BATTLE OF THE SOUTH AT- LANTIC.
Nazi
Mobbed by newspapermen, Ad- miral Harwood gave a vivid descrip- tion of the fight against the "Five persons were found eating pocket-battleship. dogs' flesh when the premises were visited.
Kwong Sun charged with a simi- lar offence, was similarly fined.
for
A Ball was given last night the crew by the British colony.-Reu-
ter.