1941-05-12 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 12, 1941.

BIRMINGHAM IS BATTLED

BUT

UNDISMAYED

IT IS NO NEWS TO THE Nazis that Birming- ham is one of the greatest manufacturing centres in the world, and naturally so promising a target has not escaped bombing. But its very size has helped to save it. Sprawling in new suburbs over 80 square miles, the second city in England, with its 1,000,000 inhabitants, cannot be wiped out in a night, or many nights.

The Luftwaffe has inflicted a thousand scars, flattened a large number of houses and killed a good many harmless men, women and children.

With the worst will in]

the world it cannot crush NEW U.S.

Birmingham, lower its

courage or appreciably BOMBERS

slow up its busy life.

have

Though several streets suntered severely. especially in the savage attacks culminating in that of November 22, the destruc- tion in Birmingham is more scat- tered than in Coventry, Bristol or Southampton, and less spectacular,

Many shops have been badly kuneked about by high-explosives and fire: the Cathedral, built by Vanbrugh's pupil. Thumas Archer.] in 1711, lost its roof (the win clows designed by Brune-Jones and executed by Wilham Morris had been removed to safety); and the Art Gallery has been ding- ed by high-explosives,

Works of Art Saved Normally the Art Gallery houses an enormous collection Pre-Raphaelites

of the aries, including 1,000 drawings,

and contempor-

whose subjects may move moderns

IN ENGLAND

TROOPS WILL TRAIN AT THE PICTURES

The Army is to make the fullest use of films for training purposes at home and abroad.

It is announced that in consultation with the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Assocía- tion and the Govern- ment cinematograph adviser, Captain Poul Kimberley will advise on the establishment of the Army facilities necessary

for distri- buting and showing these films.

BRITISH PRISONER OF WAR KILLED

SEC. LT. EDWARD 1.. DEES,

Fourteen months after the prototype underwent its first test, the first of a batch of Consolidated DL. L. WAS RECENTLY SHOT four-engined bombers is FAT A GERMAN PRISON CAMP.

He was standing at a window ready for delivery to Eng-to sketch when a sentry, thinking land

that br from the United

was disobeying rules by leaning out, red twice after States, writes the Air Cor-shouting. He was killed instantly. respondent of the "Man-¦

Before the war See. Lt. Dees was a well-known member of chester Guardian.” This North Durham Rugby Club and is the Consolidated Liber-the Ravensworth Golf Club. ator, a huge machine According to ellers received which when fully loaded from the camp, he was buried in a cemetery outside the camp, weighs 41,000lb.

wreaths being Inid by Brig. Nicholson on behalf of the camp

01 behalf

of the re-

to laughter but at least recall a The Liberator is made of metal and by Col. Bramwell and LA. happier #ge-"King Mark and La throughout and is of full cantilever Lightfoot Belle Iseult," by Birmingham's monoplane design. The engines giment and his room companions. OWIL Burne-Jones: "Two Gentle. †are 1,200-h.p. Pratt and Witney men of Verona," by Holman Wasps, and at a cruising speed of Hunt; "Beita Beatrix," by Ros- 230 m.p.h. the range is approxi- setti; and "Little Red Riding-mately 3,000 miles. hout," by Watts.

It has a re- tractable tricycle under-carriage. These, with a fine collection of and gun turrets are built into the The normal water-culours by David Cox and nose and the tail. works by Gainsborough

crew is from six to nine, accordi Richard Wilson. have

mission. and it en all been ing to the saved.

carry a bomb load of four tons

and

Better Than Nazi Type

In other districts of Birming- ham the real savagery of the attacks comes home to you. toured miles of streets

This great where

American bomber. proeatc brick houses,

which has a maximum small

speed of shops and parish churches were

over 300 miles an hour, is in the the only objectives. Some had

same class as the enemy's Focke- been blotted out by direct hits:

Wulf F. W. 200K., the four-engined | other made uninhabitable, with

land 'plane which is being used in blasted roofs

and

OVAT the Atlantic. gaping raids

The windows.

dimensions are about the same. the Liberator having a span of 110 feet; and the Foke-Wulf a span of 108 feel; the former's length is 63 feet and the latter's 78 feet. The German machine, however, cannot carry such Birmingham has much to be heavy load, nor has it got such a thankful for, much to be proud good range. It is believed also of. The hospital arrangement, that its maximum speed is some have proved more than adequate; | 50 miles an hour less than that focal shelters have been satis of the Consolidated aircraft.

I heard no grumbling. A rail way fireman with a limp told me philosophically that he had buried his mother in the morning and bad had an incendiary through his roof that evening.

factory; and bunks are being in-

atolled as fast as possible.

It would be un'rue, however, to say that there has been

no dis- satisfaction, Underground shel- ters in clay soil have proved so. damp and unhealthy

a

The Liberator, from its in- ception to its maiden flight, was just nine months in the building,

a record for an aeroplane of such great size and an indication swiftness with which American aircraft constructors can evolve and produca machines.

of the that people

are advised to stay at home; and complaints have been made of bad san1tution. delays in tidying bombed stree's, and cumbersome procedure.

It is said

that six of the 26 Liberator bombers which are to be

The truth is that Birmingham, delivered to Britain may be used with its million inhabitants, is the biggest municipality in the as transports for the ferry pilots

country and has outgrown its government machinery." one critic. overdue."

now delivering machines across the Atlantic to Britain. sold "Decentralisation is

Fire Service Criticised

find ten where everything is left to "the authorities.”

The fire service, too, came in

The fireman already quoted for strong criticism. A Home complained that after five weeks Office expert came from London the Council had done nothing to to advise, arid certain changes stop the rain and snow coming were made. The fact is that no through the hole in his roof and fire-fighting organisation could spoiling his carpets, though it did cope with the number of fires not forget to call for the rent. started in Birmingham,

at "Instead of organising a first- Coventry, Bristol and Southamp-old-to-houses team, capable of ton, before the watching system patching roofs and windows with was properly organised..

bits of tin, board or linoleum: in The solution apart from better an hour or two, he and his neigh- watching, would seem to be cem bours go on watching the rain tral reserves of fire-engines, food, pour in and nursing their blankets and the other essentials, grievance luxuriously, while small in which Birmingham and damage grows big. Coventry were caught short.

Multiply this street by thousands

Another crying. - need is self- all over the country, and it is easy ald-For-every-instance of "to see that the taxpayers' bill för thoroughgoing, self-reflant strest Lunnecessary compensation is going organisation. by residents yo@lto:run' into millions.:

GONE

ARE THE HORSE

AND CARRIAGE

And Gone with them are the waxing the 'carriage.

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