1941-08-27 — Page 23

THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 27, 1941.

ATLANTIC CHARTER

Page

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

JAPAN'S LESSON

That part of Mr. Chur- chill's broadcast speech which most attracted at- tention in the Far East was naturally the sharp-. ly-toned warning to Japan that Britain and the United States will not look idly on while further acts of aggression are perpe- trated. There was, of course, something more to the Prime Minister's measured sentences than! a recommendation to: Japan to behave. There was, for instance, the most interesting implica- tion that one result of the Atlantic conference was a clear understanding that the United States would' assume the major res- ponsibility for calling Japan to a halt. Choos ing his words carefully, Mr. Churchill said that if efforts to maintain peace fail, Britain will range herself unhesitatingly on the side of the United States. The special cir- cumstances permit of only one interpretation of that sentence. Any fur ther Japanese act of ag- gression will find counter in an instant reply by the| United States: Japan will| find herself at war with the United States, and. with Britain.

EUROPE

GLIMPSE OF DAYLIGHT

I Fly With The

Cinderellas

For three days I have lived --

of the Royal Air Force.

and flown - with the Cinderellas

started a wide sweep of waters

and skies for submarines and air-

craft.

it

I watched these four men and that their seemed

schooled alertness of mind. and eye was transmitted to me.

I saw

j sober sort of R.A.F. work, yet I saw another side of his remark- able character when, as I was leaving the sergeants' mess with an operation-room officer, I heard whispered plea for a {"stab" (bombing operation) next

day!

Jim and Bill ure similar types.

would disturb Nothing

their tranquil temperament,

Most people wouldn't think they were Cinderellus, these men of

Bill, one of the youngest at the the Coustal Command, though

station, was a farmer at Worcester certainly their exploits are less

before the war, and now the only cultivate is a spectacular - or less publicised

many "submarines" be-thing he has to than those of the Fighter and low the water surface. But they pencil-like moustache. Bomber Commands

were no inore than cloud shadows Only a short time ago a Coastal and the flotsam and jetsam of the Command plane hit a German ¦ seas. pocket battleship with a torpedo:

I was getting accustomed to before that, the sinking of the these mutrages, to banking and

That order of events is doubly interesting be Cause it is certain to sti- mulate Japanese cries about encirclement, and because Mr. Churchill had something to say about encirclement also. He re- called one of his memor able speeches of 1938 when he was warning of the peril of Nazi military preparations, and urged of a 21-year-old pilot of the Com- the policy of collective mand, who told me that most of security, with Britain tak-their activities were merely "spade

Bismarck and the successful at- tacks on the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau at Brest had been

largely due to their spotting,

Still, they're Cinderellas. description isn't mine, but

work."

The that

By William Gibbons

down

I should say that anyone who can get down to handicap four at golf should be capable of many things. Jim did--and is. Between long spells in his father's oil busi- Hess art Manchester he found time to reduce his handicap from 20 to four. Now, like Bill, he's ex- pert at radio and gunnery.

these My second flight with boys was to escort a convoy, and it meant a long light.

That there were no "major in- exemplified the

cidents" clearly Coastal Com-

efficiency of our mand, even if contributing to our disappointment at not meeting a Nazi bomber.

turret.

ob-

turning at high speed until The sea was racing up, reaching inexorably to grip and plunge us ing leadership in forming. But In my flights with the to destruction. a combination of nations Coastal Command I had more than We were in a dive. We hurtled

enough excitement.

at nearly 300 m.p.h. Lo in Europe. He answered

But A brief introduction to the crew within less than 100 feet of the

that is pure logic-from the German viewpoint, I would the Japanese accusation and then through the prelimin- gaping sea before I felt myself, as

aries. To the operational of encirclement in that where the crew are "briefed"

room, though in a dream, being lifted not like to be in a Nazi raiding

off my

seat as the nose of

of the Coastal the plane with any

Command craft around. of the flight and 'plane cheated the water. speech three and a half given details

navigational instructions, and then What had the pilot spotted that

There was one diversion for the years ago when he said: to the crews' room to get Aying I hadn't? Nothing,

it appeared, crew as we headed for home. Just "To form a war combina- equipment.

He was taking no chances and time for a last look round, so I the rear gun On with our combination "coats" just came down out of the clouds decided to inspect tion against a single state of parachute harness and "Mac for a closer look. would be a crime. To form West" and, carrying our para-

Following Bill's instructions, I chutes and carrier pigeons, we With my first flight over, I had wormed my way up, fastened the a combination for mutual were driven to "Katie," our plane. the chance of getting to know my seat, adjusted the "table," switch- defence against a probable Engines, inter communication crew. We threw a little party.ed on the motor and was shooting

system and controls were tested With me were just Nicky, the pilot away at mythical 'planes aggressor is not only no and set for the take-off,

officer, George, the sergeant pilot, livious to everything else. crime but the highest I watched the speedometer race | Jim, a sergeant wireless operator- That was my mistake, I'd for- round to nearly 125 m.ph, as we gunner, and his counterpart, Bill, gotten Nicky and George. They moral duty and virtue. We roared along before the 'plane the only one of them without a chose just the moment when I'd

off ask no security for our-glided the ground with wife thero, in their dige. He's too swung the turret right; round to do everything a 'plane can stand selves we are not prepared any of the camouflaged run-young for that at 19, he says!

way to spare.

Nicky, a Scots-Canadian, came up to without breaking up. our We were on freely to extend. If Ger-

way over to England eight years ago to join Lives, split-a.r.c. turns, "gens" the sea to our readezvous the R.A.F, and, if you please, and everything else in the avin- many (now Japan) nour- secret naval operation was rejected.

tor's alphabet served to give me would have ishes no aggressive de- which I warrant

He stayed here, tried journal,my baptism in fighting tactics in. intrigued the Nazis ទន muchism and car salesmanship and the air. I straight away avowed I signs, if Germany (now as it did me.

then when war came, volunteer-was non-belligerent! With a load of bombs and six ed for the Air Force.

one thing for us," said Japan) professes herself

This time he was accepted, and Nicky to me when I was leaving. to be afraid of attack, let guns sitting ready for action we

since then has been doing. "Odds "Tell the Americans what we her join too; let her join the picture of Anglo- and Ends" as he put it which think of these Hudsons. They're 'planes, and! We the club and share fairly American policy in the means that he's been in all pos- grand

sible operational flights the usk for nothing better to fly. We and equally all its privile Pacific for the Japanese Coastal Command could offer Uke them; Jerry 'doesn't."

Breezy and likeable is Nicky, Well, there it is. I trust this ap- ges and safeguards." If to ponder. The difference but no more esteemed than preciation of British airmen can Mr. Churchill had quoted is that Mr. Churchill's George, Jim and Bill.

find its way across the Atlantic. these phrases from his words passed unheard in an early age, and when he left from America are playing a big George felt the lure of flying at Yes, these Lockheed Hudsons speech, substituting Europe in 1938: in 1941, school at Canterbury went straight part together with other Coastal Into the Air Force. "Poker-face" Command craft, the Sunderlands; Japan for Germany in the the understanding for George is one of those who are Beauforts, Blenheims, Catalinas, text, he could not have joint defence is already not happy unless he's in the thick Ansons and Lerwicks in the win- more accurately presented established.

"Do

of trouble. -

ning of the Battle of the Air and He looks", cut out for the more Sea for Britain.

ecessary

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