THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 10, 1940.
AANDALSNES AIR BATTLE Fighter Squadron's Fifteen-Hour Strafe One Machine In Service At End Of Day
LONDON, TO-DAY. FURTHER DETAILS OF THE ONE-SIDED AIR COM- BAT IN NORWAY BETWEEN A SQUADRON OF GLOSTER GLADIATOR 'PLANES FROM AN AIR- CRAFT CARRIER AND A HUGE NUMBER OF GERMAN''PLANES HAVE NOW BEEN REVEAL-
ED.
Just before night, the squadron landed on a frozen lake south-east of Aandalsnes. That night, they saw two 'planes with Norwegian mark- ings, but they must have been flown by Ger- mans for at 3 a.m. Ge rman bombers arrived.
CALL FOR REAL NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
London, To-day..
A meeting of about thirty of the Government supporters who vot- ed against Mr. Chamberlain In the debate on Norway was held In the House of Commons yester- day afternoon.
The meeting unanimously de- cided that the next 'Government must be a real National Govern- ment. Reuter.
JAPANESE ARMS FOR RUMANIA
Bucharest, To-day.
It is understood the Japanese Gov- ernment has offered to deliver to the Rumanian Government certain arma- ments, especially anti-tank and anti- aircraft guns.
It
appears these weapons proved their worth during the Sino-Japanese
war,
A Heinkel was shot down, and the base was kept "busy" with air raids from 7.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. All this time, the British pilots were in the open. Except for the runways, there was melting snow everywhere, several feet deep. The pilots had to crawl about on their hands and knees, their clothes wet and freezing.
Despite all this, and the frequent raids, they carried out 40 sorties and 37 of the enemy were engaged.
ONLY ONE LEFT
Of the 18 Gladiators landed, only five were serviceable by night. They had taken toll of the enemy, how- ever, shooting down six for certain and probably eight'more on the surround- ing mountains. ....
one
was
The next day, they carried out further reconnaissances and attacks on the enemy. By evening, only 'plane remained useful. When southern Norway evacuated, there was no time to repair the planes. The ship on which the pilots embarked was bombed for six hours without interruption--and with- out success.-Reuter.
One By One
As the fighter pilots came down. from their combats with the enemy they refuelled, replenished their am- munition and tried to start up again.
As, one by one, the aircraft were destroyed on the ground, the pilots, some badly burned, helped one an- remaining aircraft other to get the into the air, all the time being ma- ofchinegunned...
Gov-
It is believed the offer will be ac- cepted but the contract is awaiting clarification by the Japanese ernment regarding the payment.-Reuter.
method
STOCKHOLM COMMENT
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Stockholm, To-day.
When they could no longer fly they fought back from the ground with machineguns.
Towards the end of the day the am- munition was exhausted and the pilots made attacks which were feints with-
of returning out
any chance
enemy's fire.
the
One with no ammunition and prac- tically no petrol was attacked by three Mr. of the most modern and heavily arm The Commons debate showed Chamberlain's extremely difficult 'posi-ed German fighters; he saved his air- tion but also showed that even in war- time the Democracies have preserved freedom of public expression unknown to the totalitarian states, says the Swedish press:
craft from being shot down by re- .collide until peatedly attempting to the enemy swerved away,
Their cannon fire struck the air- craft again and after he had success- fully made a forced landing it was set
Most papers forecast a reshuffle of the British Cabinet with the partici-on fire as he left it. pation of Labour representatives in the Government.
The papers also point out that the Germans are constantly reinforcing their troops in Norway and that ener- getic action is necessary before it is too late.-Haves.
M. MOLOTOV-RECEIVES RUMANIAN^MISSION_ (SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Moscow, To-day. M. Molotov, Foreign Commissar, has received the Rumanian commercial delegation. Their talk lasted for three hours.
132 Craters
The landing ground was bombed and machinegunned by between eighty and ninety German bombers and 132 craters were counted:
By the end of the day only Ave of 18 Gladiators were serviceable. But six enemy aircraft for certain, and probably eight more, were brought down on the surrounding mountains.
At the end of the next day the re- maining R.A.F. aircraft, having carried on an unequal combat with consider- able success, only one aircraft was serviceable. Owing to the evacuation An accord is said to have been of southern Norway it was not pos- reached, but the conversations will | síble to repair these damaged aircraft:
British Wireles continue for several days-Ha
STOP PRESS TEL. 20022 or 33993
A Cabinet
London, To-dya. meeting was held this morning lasting 35 minutes after which the Ministers left for their various headquarters.— Reuter.
London, To-day.
The Ministry of Home Security has warned all civil defence or- ganisations and A.R.P. bodies to be on the alert following the Nazi invasion of the Low Countries.- Reuter.
Washington, To-day.
The United States will probably consult other American Republics to determine whether any steps be taken to guarantee the status of Dutch possessions in the West- ern Hemisphere.-Reuter.
New York, To-day. The Dutch Minister in à broad- cast announcement stated that the German parachute landings have been rendered ineffective.
"Our air force and army have made contact with the enemy and several German planes have been brought down."-Reuter.
Paris, To-day. The Jemulle railway station (Luxemburg) has been destroyed by enemy planes.-Reuter.
Brussels, To-day.
It is officially announced that British and French troops are moving in response to the Bel- gian appeal.Reuter.
Paris, To-day.
The air raid alarm sounded in the Lyon district at 4,25 a.m. to- day, Bombs were dropped on the Bron aerodrome which is just outside the town. One enemy plane. was brought down. The all clear signal was not given until 6.45 a.m.-Reuter.
Brussels, To-day.
A state of siege has been de- clared throughout Belgium in the face of the Germani Jaggression which commenced
to-day.-Reuter,
át 4.30 a.m.
London, To-day. It is announced the carrying of gas masks is again necessary and the public is urged to acquaint themselves with the positions of shelters and first aid posts. They are also recommended to overhaul their domestic preparations against air attack.-Reuter,
London, To-day.
It is learned officially that the. Belgian and Dutch envoys called on Lord Halifax early this morn- ing and told him, their countries had been invaded: Lord Halifax informed them we would render assistance to the fullest extent of our power.
The necessary measures for ren-
·dering assistance would be at once
Reuter. put into operation,
The Consulate-General for the. Netherlands in Hong Kong has received a telegram from Dr. E. N. van Kleffens, Minister for "For- eign Affairs at The Hague, dos- patched on 10th May at 7.15 a.m., stating that "A state of war exists The com- in the Netherlands. mencement of the war is without precedent. There has been no ül- timatum, not even a warning. The frontier has been passed by Ger man troops. The airports have been bombed."
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