-
THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 4, 1940.
EPIC CONFLICT OVER ENGLISH CHANNEL POWERFUL
THE AIR ABOVE the Channel has become "no man's land." Here daily great battles are fought, more daring and spectacular than any battles his- tory has ever seen, writes a London correspondent.
The south-east coast has become England's first line of defence; as the waves of German bombers approach the shining cliffs they are met by a shat- tering barrage of anti-aircraft fire, and then by the swift, angry whine of the fighter squadrons.
Many of these battles are full swing between the warnings, fcught out over the sea. When and the music blared out gaily
NAZI PUSH
TURKEY
A large-scale propa- ganda offensive is being launched by the Germans in Turkey to coincide with the efforts of the German Ambassador, Herr von Papen, to wean the Tur- kish Government away
you lie on a cliff in the sunshine along the sea front, just as it from its pro-British posi-
and watch the twisting, turning does in peace time.
'planes, you have a strange feeling In this town a red flag flutters tion.
of unreality. It seems almost on top of a cliff when the warn-
publica-
incredible 'that you are witnessing sounds. You see the shop A flood of colourful ing the combats on which civilisa-owners Bolting their doors, thetions includes one entitled "Ger- tion, depends; and that in spite housewives hurrying to take cover, many's World Air Power." of modern" armies counted in and the air raid wardens taking Profusely illustrated with pho- terms of millions, the sea has their positions along the streets-tographs, it immobilised their strength, and the same scene that many of us showing
includes a map to-day the issue is being decid- have seen so often, slightly in-over England, and oddly declares: bombing distances ed above your head by a relative credible this time because it is "The German Air Force throws handful of men.
England. Then the faraway noise its greedy shadow over England." of engines increasing until the drone is a mighty roar like the thunder of a waterfall, and to
Stoic Trawlermen From the cliff you try plece the drama "together like a jigsaw puzzle, . In almost the whole range of the sky there is action.
battle is on.
"Tough" Fighters
the
Often whon the German
German trade periodicals are being poured into Turkey. One Ankara newsagent is displaying. forty-two different German publications, but not one Bri-. tish. This is because of the -non-arrival, of the mails.
'planes come down the gunners Turkey's own newspapers and on the cliffs cheer. No one has periodicals, however, continue to more respect for the R.A.F.ive the fairest showing to Bri- fighter pilots than they. One tish News-Reuter....
of them said to me proudly,
"You have to see them to be lieve how tough they are."
To the right you can see # 'plane falling like a bullet into the sea leaving a long black line of smoke against the sky; to the left one of the great silver balloons in flames; directly above; a fighter diving down on one of the bombers and suddenly a And that reminded me of a tiny fluttering parachute as one story, for only last week I. visit- of the pilots bales out, and alled one of the fighter stations the time the cracking noise of which is now operating daily on the anti-aircraft gunfire and the these attacks. I talked to many .white bursts of smoke against of the pilots, good-looking boys
the sky.
in their early twenties, filled with high spirits, all slightly bored because it was a slack day.
During one of these battles. I looked through a pair of field
glasses at a small trawler anchor- ed in the harbour below. The crew had evidently accepted the fierce encounters above themn as part of their daily routine, for no one was paying much atten- tion. One of the men was lying on the deck. fast asleep; another was doing his washing, and third was reading a paper.
a
A few hours later the little trawler hoisted up its flag, got up steam, and went paddling nonchalantly down the Channel. It had an arrogant air about it as though it were thinking, Lei the Germans say what they wish, the Channel still belongs to the English.
Rival Rescuers Meet
These aerial battles take place on an average two or three times
a day. Often German bombers which are "winged" turn back in an attempt to reach their
I was completely taken aback when one of the pilots, a boy who had shot down ten German 'planes, said to should visit one squadrons
here
one
me: "But you of our bomber day." And his toné grew into
· of awe: "Now those boys are really" tough." ~ For once I couldn't think of any comment to make.
one
SCREEN OF
SHELLS AT VARYING HEIGHTS
The German marauders
bases in France and come down had a great shock when, in the sea. 'Observers with po- for the fifth time in suc- werful telescopes follow their
movements, and frequently when cession, they spent the with the naked eye you cannot whole night raining any sign of a 'plane, you bombs indiscriminately
see
know that one is down because
of the motor-boat that dashes on the London area.
out to the rescue,
A naval officer told me that On previous occasions their of- ∙onco,
when a German plane ficial communiques had referred came down directly in the gleefully to the small amount of This time the middle of the Channel a. Ger- anti-aircraft fire. man and an English rescue boat aircraft were met by a terrific met each other at the spot. barrage from hundreds of guns of They circled about for a few all calibres, which fired at them minutes not quite sure what from all angles. Because many to do, when suddenly an air of them had not fired before, the battle developed over their enemy presumed that they did not heads, and they were both exist. Now they know better. forced to turn back and leave the pilot to his fato.. Contrary to the German claim that there is nothing left to be bombed on the south-east coast," the towns that I went through had been little damaged. In fact, you had to search to find a bomb hole. Although most of these towns are half-deserted; another.
The gune operated on ก barrage cystein, the shella ex ploding in vast screens. at different heights. It had the`- effect of sending the invaders up to affitudes from which they could, not take proper aim, and of driving them hurriedly from. one, area to
the atmosphere is not a sombre. A number of the German bomb-
one.
Skating And Music
ers were also hit and several brought crashnig to earth. Many others obviously thought discre- tion the better part of valour, and In spite of the long sweep of although the number of aircraft empty beaches, with wire barri- employed was as large as on pre- cades to keep the people toffvious nights, a proportion turned -the streets are crowded with back. Those which elected to re- soldiers, sailors, balloon barrage main found that the guns gavo and ARP workers. In the them few opportunities of ton- -town in which I was staying the centrating their bombing on any Toller skating pavilion was going desired district.
Page
STOP IN AT OUR SHOWROOM NOW AND TAKE OUT A
STUDEBAKER CHAMPION
FOR A REVEALING, CONVINCING 10-MILE TRIAL DRIVE.
HONG KONG HOTEL GARAGE
Stubbs Road
FOR
MODERN
Phone 27778×9
PHOTOGRAPHY
WEDDING GROUPS SPECIALITY.
AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE USE
KING'S STUDIO.
TEL: 28753
U.B.Beer
LIGHT OR DARK
BREWERY
UB
IMITED
Sole Agents: WR LOXLEY & CO. (China), LTD.