1939-10-20 — Page 9

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THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 20, 1939

EYE-WITNESS STORY

BATTLE IN NORTH SEA

Olso, Oct. 12... A vivid account of a battle at sea between five British warships and some 150 Ger- man warplanes was given to- day by eye-witnesses of the impressive confliet. They were members of the crew of a

little Norwegian fishing-boat which was caught for a while in the maelstrom of shells and bombs.

off Viking

crew was

BRITAIN MUST BE READY TO FACE SAVAGE AIR RAIDS: OFFICIAL ATTITUDE

FRENCH AIR ister of Home Security (in charge of A.R.P.) re- FORCE VERY

London, To-day.

SIR JOHN ANDRESON, Home Secretary and Min-

plied in the House of Commons yesterday to cri- tics of the civil defence organisations, and said that in the light of experience the organisations would be modified.

Our preparations, Sir John declared, were based on the assumption that we would have to meet an enemy attempt to deliver a knock-out blow from the air.

The battle took place Bank last Monday, the

This had not, yet happened but there quoted in the newspaper "Sunnmoers-bilisation of civil defence personal.

was no question of wholesale demo- posten Aalesund." A spokesman for

the Norwegian fishermen, who hails would be launched in earnest. from Heroey, County Oere, gave a narrative of the encounter:

No-one could say when an attack

"The Kvaloey,

our boat,

was off Viking Bank and

we were fishing when a great number of planes sud- denly appeared from the west, twist- ing and turning above five British warships. The raiders dropped smoke

bombs and explosives, while the ships used their anti-aircraft guns in a rapid-fire attack on the Germans,

"The Kvaloey soon was caught in the centre of the battle, with bombs dropping all round. There seemed to be about 150 planes taking part in the encounter, which lasted 90 minutes, with the British vessels maintaining a terrific speed and zig-zagging all the time.

NO APPARENT RESULTS

"Finally, the warships disappeared in the west, while the planes turned tall and went eastward. As far as we could see," the spokesman con- tinued," neither the warships nor the air raiders were hit.

་

"During the clash, when we were in the middle of it with bombs drop-. ping all round, we made ready to get into our small lifeboat if necessary. We cut our fishing-lines and tried to draw away to the west, but ships and planes moved westward, too, and we had to change on course several times not to be rammed by the warships or hit by the planes.

"When the din of battle died away, we found our fishing-lines again. No ships or planes were to be seen.

Referring to the Auxiliary Fire Service, Sir John said it was pro- posed to maintain first line, units,

which In

the men would give their full time, and second line units, where it would be a part time job and men would be called on as required.

The first line would be about half

A.R.P. IN BRITAIN CRITICISED

London, To-day.

In the Commons yester- its present strength, but in the major day, the Minister for Home

of personnel.--Reuter.

HEJAZ

ACTIVE

Paris, Oct. 14. On an average, eight re- connaissance flights were carried out daily over Ger- *

Force during the five weeks many by the French Air

between the outbreak of the war, September 3, and Octo- ber 7, it was announced to. day.

In all, there were 200 day recon- naissance flights, and 60 night flights. In these, the Franch craft were met with anti-aircraft fire and by enemy pursuit planes, but nevertheless brought back a great number of valuable photographs of the Siegfried Line and other German fortified position.

centres there would be no reduction Security, in a statement on was characterized, it was stressed, by The activity of the French planes civil defence personnel, said intensive reconnoitering and an absen- that the critics should

ce of bombing. re- member the anticipated air German craft also failed to bomb attacks might still

but take France,

their reconnaissance flights were far less successful · than place, and the Government the French for in most instances was under a duty to provide their planes were hardly able to leave

PILGRIMAGE

PROGRAMME an adequate defence service.pelled to land or flee from

their bases before they were com-

London, To-day.

French

On both sides, it was declared,

Civil defence was quite a new part planes. Some misunderstanding has been of national security and it was formed caused by an announcement made in without any experience of the needs. India on 11th September of the post- Local authorities, and his. Depart-pursuit planes were most active and ponement, until further notice, of ment, were now in a position to re- German craft often attacking a French sailings from Indian ports to Jedda view the schemes in the light of ex-

observation planes, which carried out in connection with the Hejaz Pilgri-perience and although there was no

many long-distance flights deep into Germany. mage.

question of wholesale demobilisation This announcement was one of the of the wholetime civil personnel, the regrettable but inevitable consequen-whole position was being considered. ces of the outbreak of war.

It was proposed to form a first line defence, consisting mainly of whole- time personnel, and a second line consisting mainly of part-time volun- teers. British Wireless

It was issued as a

precautionary

measure, only certain sailings being cancelled, and these only for a tem porary period.

Both His Majesty's and the Gov- ernment of India are alive to the great importance of providing adeTM quate facilities for the safe transport of Muslims wishing to undertake the pilgrimage,

The Government of India are nego- tiating with the shipping companies with a view to settling the details.

"Shortly after, however, we heard a violent explosion and saw flames lighting up the sky to the west. Later a great red plane zoomed out of the west, circled over the site of the bat- An announcement has already been tle in our vicinity, and then disappear- made to the Press in India that ar- ed," the fishermen's spokesman con- rangements are being made for the cluded, according to the "Sun-resumption of sailings to Hejaz. nmoersposten Aalesund." Havas. British Wireless.

Nat Army tight-rope walkers

, ment acróda a hastily constructed

Ak Mall),

The men are taught to carry equip

Irder', bridge, (Copyright. By

U.S. SHIPS

MAY TRADE

on!

VALUABLE RESULTS ACHIEVED

The results achieved on these in- formative missions gave the French Headquarters German troop concentrations,

valuable reports

munication and transport facilities and their use and other similar mat- ters of military interest.

com-

A number of aerlat Alights were staged and French airmen displayed 24 both skill and courage to down enemy craft while they lost only eight of their own.

1

The showing of the French Air of this initial period Force during warfare was held by military quar-

satisfying."

ters here to be "most

Washington, To-day. Democratic Senators have agreed to their amendments to the Bill by which they Havas. hope American ships can trade with certain ports.

They have listed ports beyond the war zone, with which American ships may trade, though the President may. close the ports to American shipping if he thinks it necessary.

ger,

CAUGHT WITH A

DAGGER

·was

this

Charged with possession of a đag-

30, Tang Sang, All European ports are excluded. Meanwhile the Secretary of State, morning sentenced to six months' Mr. Cordell Hull, has announced that hard labour by 'Mr. E. Himsworth. the President's" ban on submarines Tang was seen acting suspiciously only applied to the three-mile limit. [in Kowloon City." The dagger, wrOP- The question of armed merchantmen |ped in a paper parcel, was found was still being considered.--Reuter." concealed in' his girdle,

TO-NIGHT'S DINNER

1. Vegetable Soup

2. Rolled Fish O' lorly

8. Ragout of Veal & Rios Croquette

4. Pigeon & Ham Plo

5. TiDAY Coke

8. Tda or Coffee

Price 93 eta.

ST. FRANCIS HOTEL

QUEEN'S ROAD, GENTRAL