DONALD DUCK
TA-TA
TA
TA-TA-TA-3
BRR-R-R---
Tuesday,
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
World Richts Reserve,
January 14, 1941.
By Walt Disney
| MAGAZINE PAGE
British Air Strength:
Why Men and Machines
Are
Day by day, the air war
Britain
over
provides
proof that British aero- planes are superior in design and construction to those of Germany.
Indeed, the proof is so conclusive.
as to make
Britain's pre-war claims appear far too modest. In numbers only has the enemy now a measure of superiority, and this will be soon offset by the gigantic effort being made in Britain and in the Em- pire generally.
To appreciate the achieve. ment of the British aircraft industry, it is well to note that, because of Britain's ges- ture of disarmament, the Air Force ranked fifth among those of the nationa in 1932. The British Government hest- tated long in the hope that an arms race could be avoided. Eventually, the need of ex- panding the R.A.F. could not be denied, and in May 1995 a programme for completion by March 1937: Developments in Germany revealed that this step was not enough, and a second and larger scheme-was-announced- for completion by March 1939.
WAS
announced
Just before the war, the rate of production was four times that of the preceding day figures year, Present cannot be revealed, of course, but it may with Justification be believed that Britain is equalling Germany's output. at least, and her losses have been much smaller.
It was fortunate. Indeed, that quality in British airmen and material served to make up leeway in quantity. It is this quality which has decided many an issue when weight of numbers appeared to be over- whelming against British air-
men,
When the tremendous RC- celoration of aircraft building was deelded on, the response
GERMAN AIRMAN IN SAME WARD
AS VICTIMS
FEELING was aroused in a midland town because a German airman was placed in the same hospital as a number of civilians who were injured when he jetti- soned his bombs after his plane was hit.
The airman was put in the same
ward as some of his victims.
Relatives of the injured civilians suggest that more tact might have been shown by placing the airman In another hospital.
The aleman, also, does not feel too comfortable,
Superior
of aircraft industry was spon- taneous and full blood. For example, the famous Rolls Royce company almost com- pletely discarded its motor car netivities, with the excep- tion of a skeleton staff to en- sure post-war efficiency in the motor trade, the entire re- sources of Rolls Royce were concentrated on production of engines.
So it was throughout the in- dustry, and a truly staggering revelation will be made when the actual facts and figures of this change-over are eventual- ly published.
With the reorganisation of the plants, research and development continued, and were increased, to enhance the superiority of British machines generally.
☆ ☆ ☆
A notable step-it may be disclosed now-was the Rotol constant speed airscrew de- signed for the single engined. fighters. The Spitfire, already the fastest aircraft in service in any air force, was made still faster by the introduction of this airscrew, and the Hurricane's performance was correspondingly improved. The Spitfire became capable of more than 400 m.p.h., and to add to the striking power of this formidable pair came the Defiant with its power-operat- ed gun turret amidships.
Among Britain's bombers, the Wellington is one of the most successful heavy types ever built, this twin-engined midwing monoplane has a range with a full bomb, load of 3,200 miles, which means that it could fly non-stop from Londen to New York and still have a substantial mileage in
reserve,
Next on the bomber list come the Hampden and the Whitley, both twin-engined midwing types. The range of each is about 2,000 miles, which would enable them to ly non-stop with a full load, from Sydney to Perth.
The Hampden has a top speed to that of the Welling- ton. The Whitley's maximum is, about 20 m.p.h. less. Both carrying big bomb londs and heavy defensive armament. Like the Wellington, the Whit- ley is equipped with power- operated gun turrets in nasc and tail. These turrets have been used by the R.A.F. for some time, but it is interest- ing to note that the Germans discovered only just recently, the principles on which they work.
The Blenheim is the best known of Britain's multi-pur- pose "Jobs". It has a top speed of 295 m.p.h. and a ser- vice ceiling of about 30,000 fect.
+
The Beaufort is the most Looked Scared
versatile twin-engined aircraft When he reached the hospital ho in the world. It is used for asked if his bombs had caused any bombing, torpedo bombing, re- harm. When told that some of his connaissance and general pur- victims were in the same ward as pose duties. Much of its per In English, he said he was sorry formance is still "hush hush", for the injuries he bad caused, and but ita top speed is consider- said he believed his bomba hifd fallen ably greater than the Blen- in a field.
heim's 295 m.p.b.
himself he looked scared,
h
It was likely that à petition will be made for the removal of the German) to another hospital. [
There are other types, too
all of which incorporate the
principles of British thorough- ness and honesty" in con- struction. Development is continuous, for Britain does not stand still, content with what she has. She realises that research must go ón un- endingly, and that improve- ment is a constant first essen- tial of war
A
✩
So it is that the British pilot has the best of materin! to handle, and without a doubt: his training is the best in the world.
The most advanced
and fastest training plane ever built is the Miles Master, which has been in full pro- duction for the R.A.F. for some time,
It is claimed that the design of no type of plane hus ad- vanced more quickly in the last ten years than that of this trainer, which may well be one of the main reasons for the superiority British pilots are demonstrating day after day.
ROOF MAY FALL The roof of the Capitol, Washington, is in danger of collapsing, and architects are seen above-
examining the structure for projected repair work.
HITLER NEEDS
REAL RUBBER
Rubber is a military necessity to-day. Hitler's armies do little marching; they roll along at 29, even 40 miles an hour rubber-tyred motor-cycles, rubber-tyred motor
in
on
mass. It was not rubber, but it had many of the properties of rubber.
The possibilities of buta diene changed the whole trend of research. Rubber itself was examined critically. It was found that rubber was un-
perties.
Chemists decided
that something better than natural rubber was wanted.
trucks, or fly as parachu-necessarily versatile in its pro- tists in aeroplanes with rubber-tyred undercarri- ages. A blitzkrieg with- out rubber is unthinkable.
Rubber does not grow many degrees above or below the Equator. So it happens that not only Germany and Italy, but also economically self- contained countries like the United States and Soviet Russia must import huge quantities from the rubber-. producing lands-mostly in the Far East. The monopoly of rubber production by Bri- tish and Dutch interests has certainly complicated military and industrial problems In those countries lacking this essential commodity.
For more than a generation there has been a quest for In the first synthetic rubber. instance it was necessary to pull apart chemically the natural product to find out how It was put together.. It was found that raw rubber, after being heated in a retort, dripped a liquid which was named "Isoprene," Chemienlly analysed, isoprene turned out to be a hydrocarbon-meaning a combination of carbon and hydrogen.
Arising from these experi- ments with isoprene another hydrocarbon was discovered, butadione. If this butadiono were allowed to stand long enough, or if it were heated in the presence of sodium, it would turn into a gummy-
By Arthur Reynolds
In Germany a rubber sub- stitute has been evolved which
It is is known as "Buna." made from butadiene by a rapid process of polymerisa- tion. At the outbreak of war about one-third of Germany's rubber requirements were met Undoubtedly by using Buna.
its use must be considerably greater now, and captured Ger- man aeroplanes show its ex- tended use. Buna is not only a substitute, but as far as results are concerned, a very effective substitute.
Cost is still a barrier in the manufacture of synthetic'rub- ber which averages not less, than double the price of natural rubber. In certain directions, however, manufac
the turera profer higher- priced synthetic rubber, more satisfactory because of its resistance, to heat, acids, oil and some strong chemicals.
Let there be no. illusion, however, about the production of artificial rubber in Ger- many. Her requirements are. tremendous probably about 250,000 tons a year, Plants to meet these requirements would have to be on a vast
scale, equipped with special machinery and large bodies of skilled workers employed. It plant is considered that capable of producing 250,000 tons of synthetic rubber (Bùna) annually would cost about £2,000,000. Further large sums would be involved to cover the increased cost of Buna over natural rubber.
There is little chance that natural rubber will disappear from the market. Not even the most hopeful chemist visualises this. The big rubber companies have been bringing their production costs down'so that a market price of 4d. a
is pound
still profitable. Synthetic substitutes compete on
must
a utility basis, which means that they must do what natural rubber can never do.
SPARROW
KILLS A V. C.
OUT in France four British soldiers were shot dead while trying to cross 400 yards of "no- man's land" to bring reinforce- ments to one section of the line. Then Alfred Wilkinson volunteered to go.
By extraordinary skill ho got arross the country exposed to enemy fire, and delivered his message.
For doing so he was awarded the V.C.
That toas in 1917,
A few days ago Wilkinson (now 48 and doing his bit in this war an a special constable) was found dead -gassed-in the laboratory at Ble- kershaw Colllery, Leigh, Lancashire, where he was a tester.
He had been killed by a sparrow which had lodged in a furnace pipe and caused carbon monoxkle to ac- cumulate in the laboratory.
This was revealed at the inquest, when verdict of death by mis adventure was returned.
PROPERTS POLO
SHOE CREAM
IN
TAN, MAHOGANY, BLACK & WHITE
75c.
per jar
LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.
STOCK-TAKING
SALE
Ladies' Fur Collar Coats
Ladies' Tweed Suits
Ladies' Corsets
.from $10.00 each
.$10,00
from $4.00 each
Woollen dress Materials 36′′ wide .. ..$2.95 yd.
Beautiful French Lame
Ladies' silk stockings.
Imitation Jewellery at half price.
$5.00 yd.
from $2.50 pr.
Children's silk & wool vests
$1.50 each
[Infants' wrapper vests, pure wool
Infants' Matinee Coats
$1.50 each
.from $2.50 each
Boys' Jumper Suit (pure wool) from $4.00 each 3 piece woollen Breechette Suits from $6.00 each
Monster Gardinia Talcum Powder ....70 cts. tin
Ladies handbags less than half price.
Many other bargains will be displayed on the
Ground floor
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