1941-05-23 — Page 23

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 23, 1941

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

FRANCE IN THE NOOSE

As soon as German troops crossed the Mediterranean to North Africa, it was all too ap- parent that the screws of the Nazi pressure machine would soon be tightened on France. Since the dis- *missal of M. Laval lasti December there had been a lull in the negotiations! for "collaboration" be- 'tween the victors and the vanquished. The French were left to stew in their misery while the wounds inflicted by the conqueror

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the partition of the country the separation of families. the economic bleeding, had time to fester and reduce resist - · zance. Meantime there has been no full in the propa- ganda for French adher- ence to the New Order, n70 let-up in the systematic drain on French PESOUF- ces, no pause in the activ- ities of the Gestapo, no lightening of the load of *fantastic occupation char-

ges.

was

معلم

HITLER OFFER

TO SOVIET

&

卐

JAPANESE GYMNASTICS

Behind British Aeroplanes

Spitbre

the Botish Fighting The view of young girls in up to £15 a week on a pic.c-work

flowered print apron operating basIN,

For a time, Vichy made to believe that the 'Nazi overlords would talk to no one but Laval. But now, as Hitler prepares to. strike in the Near East, Admiral Durlan has been recognised as an accept - i able negotiator. More, the new Quisling has obtain ed concessions Laval was never able to produce reduction by one-fourth of the occupation costs, n relaxation of the ban on communication between the occupied and unoccu- pied zones. Conversa- hundreds of machine tools, tions continue on wider, chatucal nary els which are the real story behind the story of problems that concern

the aircraft which they make puse not only the status of sible, are American. France and her internal¦ situation but her attitude | in a conflict that once

more

t'11

plates which are the great the of the Nazi bomber are beg made largely through the effort, of Brush wonth workers.

In a furtury streteling for miles, thousands of

and wonen work at low after row of machines of all sorts, shapes, and sizes whirling metal tithes, giant jugs, thing put and assembling latest huge presses and monster metal stretch ng devices.

More than a third of these many

50 per cent in certain blocs or

J

such sizzling. thundering metal! Despite long working hours the monsters struck me as the most work was obviously excellent gifcant sight 111 the entire among both ma and women lactory the biggest anvruit tac- workers. Seeing that a large tory in the world,

number of workers, particularly At present about 40 per cent of women, were wearing a pin in the the workers in this Spitfire lactory shape of a miniature Spitfire, are

But within a few questioned one, saying I supposed weeks or months at most it is ex-, it was a badge given to workers pected the proportion of women in the factory. "Oh, no,” she re- will be nearer 80 per cent.

plied, "it is just a pin we get for American methods of tutae-contributing to our factory's Spit- ture have made this possible. The fire fund." Brush Government have adapt

wonen.

The result is a factory remark - ably well suited to the production of such an intricate weapon as a

ed American mass-production! Another woman worker whom methods to this Spitfire production I questioned admitted she found

the work hard and fartory.

long hours diffeult, but said, "The work has and somebody's 891 to be done get to do it. so why shouldn't we? is worth it if it helps win; and we don't win, life wouldn't be worth while, so I guess that's all there is to it."

highspeed #ghter aeroplane which In fact, the proportion of Amer-must be at the same time delicate moves toward ic equipment including tools of mechanism and an extremely French territory as inex- and jigs of all sorts, is more than robust article, capable of being [ ́orably as it did this time

a year ago.

The

units of this particular factory

turned out in large numbers in a short space of time.

quid pro quo machines continue to arrive from her or his particular operatio: to One significant new develop-

exacted of the French

inside the factory itself. Many of the most Intricate processes and the most important machines now have their own shelter built round them.

and the proportion is constantly increasing as shipments of reisation so that each worker has There is a great deal of special-

The United States,

perform. It might be pulting rivets ment observed in the factory was is not reported, probably' these machines

A surprisingly large number of in a frame of a Spitfire wing or it the fact that the air raid shelters, are operated by might be a more complex opera-normally outside, are now to a because it would not; women, Although some machines tion such as sewing fabric on large extent being moved right make the nicest reading, be no

and mechanical devices appear to wing and tail control flaps.

mure formidable than a possibly because all the small electric sewing machine, others are towering masses of sordid details are not yet steel which hiss and roar and agreed upon. But Ger- thump alarmingly as they simmer A great deal of the riveting is

out metal parts to be used in the done by women. The plant man- Nevertheless, considerable time many does not give some- production of planes.

aver says that women often make is lost each week through air thing for nothing. Hit-1

much better riveters than men. raids and air raid warnings, es- Asked why, he said he didn't' pecially during night shifts. One ler's price is always high, ritory to attack his form-

know, except that they often method of beating the bomber that and for "equal partner-er ally. It goes without seemed to be able to use their is being used extensively is dis- Not only are factories ship" in the new Europe saying that the Germans hands more quickly and cleverly, persal.

and also pointed out that most widely scattered but a large num and the new Africa the have power to install their phrase now is "Eurafrica" own men in Vichy as they -undoubtedly he has de- have done in Paris. The wages paid to these women The parts they produce are then manded active French co- Everything now points to workers in the Spitfire plant vary operation against

£3 a week for beginners learning

of production British and undoubtedly between a Germany still a trade or for those doing the

secrat, after naturally remains Admiral Darlan is ready hesitant

draw

simplest type of the

work, Earnings secing every stage in the manu of experienced women workers

facture from the arrival of raw, 'to lick his boots. To gain noose to the limit and a average about £6 weekly and material to the test flight of "a

metal used was a relatively light ber of machines formerly concen- not heavy trated into this. particular factory. aluminium alloy and stcel,

have been removed and are now doing the same work elsewhere. brought to the factory for assem Although the rate

the an imminent showdown considerably. They may start at bling into a finished Spitfire.

to

his end, at last, become France still possessing a rise as high as £8 or more in a

few exceptional cases. Women, completed 'plane equipped with urgent, Hitler may have few last cards to play. like the men, work 11 hours a its cannon, it is possible to state with confidence, that Britain's to do without the moral Marshal Petain and Gen-day For Sunday work they are Spitfires are being produced in

paid double timě. prestige of Petain, com-eral Weygand face a de- The factory is operating, on a big enough quantities to give an mitted on the honour of cision as desperate as the 24-hour basis, although the night uncomfortably warm reception to shift isn't quite so long as the a much larger force of Heinkels a Marshal of France not choice they made when day. Wage rates, for men are or Messerschmidts than has so far to use the army, the fleet, their armies were routed slightly higher in most cases than attempted a daylight air attack

those for women, and skilled air on Britain, or any part of French ter- and the Republic fell, craft, workmen may easily earn

MALLORY BROWNE.