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THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 31, 1940.
BRILLIANT AIR VICTORY One Squadron Bags 37 German Planes
New Defiants
Show
Their Mettle
London, To-day.
'AN AMAZING AIR VICTORY, one of the greatest
in history, is revealed by the Air Ministry.
Out of a total of 62 German 'planes shot down or seriously damaged on Wednesday, 37 were "bagged" by one squadron of the new twin- engined "Defiant" fighters without the loss of a single 'plane!
One gunner who thought his 'plane had been seriously disabled bailed out in his parachute over Belgium,
all machines returned safely.
but
Of the 37, 17 were fighters and the rest were bombers.
Cannon Shells
During the past three days this ticular squadron has destroyed enemy aircraft.
JALAN MAY
Altogether, 57 enemy 'planes were shot down during the day, of which 25 were bombers. A further 17 were seriously damaged.
Ten of our fighters are missing, but one pilot, although wounded, has re- turned safely.
Meanwhile, heavy bombers- were active during Wednesday/Thursday
par-night supporting Allied troops.
50
Naval Planes In Action On their after-lunch patrol on Wednesday over Dunkirk the Defiants
Naval 'planes attacked an enemy first sighted seven Messerschmidt aeroplane base on the Dutch coast, 109's. They immediately attacked damaging hangars and wrecking and one of the Messerschmidts was several seaplanes. shot down.
on
Other naval 'planes shot down an enemy bomber over the North Sea and disabled another.
A fighter pilot who shot down three enemy fighters and a bomber came down into the sea. He was picked up and landed at a South-East coast port during the night-Reuter and British Wireless,
Hardly had this fight finished when the British Deflants were surprised by four more Nazi fighters diving
а Airing them out of the sun and stream of cannon shells. One of the Defiants was then hit but was able to reach home safely. It was frol this fighter that the gunner jumped.
After a dog fight between the re- maining Defiants and other Messersch- dis- midts, the Nazi fighters finally appeared..
Then the British squadron saw two formations of nine Heinkel III bom- bers that were attempting to bomb Dunkirk but all their bombs fell into the sea. They were attacked by Bri- tish Hurricanes so the deflants looked for other quarry.
"
Another Dog-Fight Circling above them ready to dive and attack were a 'number of Messerschmidt 110 twin-engined fight- There was another dog fight in which 16 of the Nazi fighters were destroyed.
ers.
Mixed up in this engagement were 30 to 40 JU87 dive bombers that were also attempting to bomb Dunkirk. One of these aircraft was also de- stroyed by the Deflants.
the
NEW AMERICAN DEFENCE PROGRAMME
SAYS MANY
BRITONS ARE
HOPING FOR
AIR RAIDS
"Many Britons are actually hoping for air raids, because they think the opening of aerial warfare will bring victory sooner. for the Allies,” said Judge C. G. Greenshields, on his return to Montreal, from a visit to Britain.
The British people, he said, reasoned that war cannot be waged without casualties.
He added: "They believe the R.A.F. would give more to the German civilians than the Bri- tish people, would have to take.”.
TO REPLACE SIR WM. SEEDS
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL”)
LONDON, TO-DAY.
QUARTERS
RUTHLESS DESTRUCTION OF AMIENS
(SPECIAL TO "OHIŅA MAIL") Paris, To-day.
The destruction of Amiens by Nazi bombers on May 18 was related by eye-witnesses arriving in Paris yesterday.
At 5 a.m. about 30 German planes. appeared over the town circling at a low altitude. They dropped at least 100 bombs on the railway station and aerodrome, despite anti-aircraft fire.
Four hours later 20, planes at- tacked the station a second time, also dropping bombs at the barracks nearby, causing some casualties.“ Next day the town was completely destroyed when German bombers pro-'. ceeded to bomb the city methodically, district after district-Havas.
NATIONAL LOAN BILL PASSED
London, To-day.
WELL-INFORMED ASSERT THAT SIR STAFFORD The House of Lords yesterday adopt- CRIPPS WILL PROBABLY BE AP-ed all stages of the National Loan Bill, POINTED "SPECIAL AMBASSA- which passed through all stages in the DOR" TO MOSCOW, AND IT IS Commons on Wednesday. HOPED THE PRESENT DIFFICUL- The Government spokesman, ex- TIES WILL BE SOLVED IN THE plaining the Bill, said that when Ger- NEAR FUTURE ENABLING SIR many invades any country, the in- STAFFORD TO LEAVE FOR. MOS- | vasion is accompanied by seizure of COW AND DISCUSS THE ANGLO- everything which might add to her RUSSIAN TRADE AGREEMENT.
It is understood that upon the Krem- lin's request, Sir Stafford's status will be somewhat similar to that of Sir Samuel Hoare, who has just been ap- pointed. "Ambassador on mission to Spain."
Well-informed circles reveal that at the moment the Soviet asked for full diplomatic status to be given Sir Washington, To-day. Stafford Cripps, the British Govern- The White House
ment was about to ask the Soviet to accept a new Ambassador to replace. nounces a new defence pro-Sir William Seeds, who for five months gramme totalling $1,000,- has been in London "on sick leave."— 000,000.
an-
It is stated President Roosevelt hopes to send a message to Congress to-day recommending expenditure to that amount for the purchase of tanks, guns, planes and reserve material.
The President is also requesting the legislatura' to permit the ex- panded training of men, both for combatant and non-combatant purposes.
The message will ask for the quick- est possible action by Congress. Reu- all ter.
The British fighters continued action until they had exhausted their ammunition, and then made for home.
On their second patrol the Defiants again encountered large numbers of dive bombers. They shot down 18 JUBT's for certain and a possible another two as well.
am-
The Defiants had still some munition left and resumed their patrol. They then. met a JU88 flying on its own. Having shot it down they again set off for home.
D.F.C.S FOR FAR EAST PILOTS
London, To-day. The latest list of R.A.F. awards include D.F.C.'s to Flight-Lieut. R. P. R. Powell, born in Penang in 1916, and Pilot-Officer T. D. H. Davy, born in Shanghal, and aged 20.-Reuter.
SATURDAY NIGHT
SPECIAL DINNER DANCE
AT
CHANTECLER
Extension till 2 a.m.
No Cover Charge:
Tel. 50021.
176, Nathan Road, Kowloon.
Havas.
GERMANS TO PARADE “GALLANT ARMY” (SPECIAL TO “CHIŅA MAIL") Berlin, To-day.
resources.
British Government bearer bonds would be valuable booty since there is no means of checking any change of ownership overnight.
2
The Bill was designed to prevent such bonds having value if they fall into the hands of the enemy. -- Reuter.
NINE BURNED TO
DEATH
NINE WERE BURNED TO DEATH AND 11 INJURED IN THE DISAS- TROUS FIRE IN PERCIVAL STREET, WANCHAI, EARLY THIS MORNING. The first three floors of No. 34 and 36 were completely gutted in the blaze, and firmen later found the bo- dies of four women and five children
L
Belgian troops which laid down their among the debris. arms will parade through Brussels "as] Four adults and seven children are a demonstration of the home-coming❘ now in Queen Mary Hospital suffer- of a gallant army," it is announced in ing from burns and injuries. Berlin-Havas..
SIR JOSEPH LEECH PASSES
London, To-day.
AMERICANS TAKEN PRISONER
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Paris, To-day.
The death occurred yesterday of Sir The four American ambulance Joseph Leech, MP, for Newcastle-workers reported missing have been on-Tyne and a distinguished surgeon, taken prisoner by the Germans, says
Berlin radio announcement-Havas Reuter.
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