1941-08-27 — Page 7

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSELE

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 in 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, with Britain.

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

!

ま

I

EUROPE

GLIMPSE OF DAYLIGHT

Fly With The

Cinderellas

For three days I have lived - started a wide sweep of waters of the Royal Air Force. and flown with the Cinderellas and skies for submarines and air-

craft.

the

of a 21-year-old pilot of the Com-

work."

A brief introduction to the crew

aries.

I was

to

getting accustomed These mirages. to banking and

William By

Gibbons

turning at high speed until The sea was racing up, reaching inexorably to grip and plunge us

•

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 George's whispered plea

for a "stab" tbombing operation) next day!

Jim and Bill are similar types. Nothing would disturb their tranquil temperament,

Bill, one of the youngest at the station, was a farmer at Worcester before the war, and now the only thing he has to cullivate is a pencil-like moustache.

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- ness al Manchester he found time to reduce his handicap from 20 to four. Now, like Bill, he's ex- pert at radio and gunnery.

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

That there were no "major in-

cidents" clearly exemplified the efficiency of our Coastal Com- mand, even if contributing to our disappointment at not meeting a Nazi bomber.

But that is pure logic-from the German viewpoint. 1 would not like to be in a Nazi raiding plane with any of the Coastal Command craft around.

There was one diversion for the crew as we headed for home. Just time for a last look round, so I decided to inspect the rear-gun

lurret.

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Most people wouldn't think they! I watched these four men and were Cinderellus, these men of it seemed that their schooled

Coastal Command, though alertness of mind. certainly their exploits are less transmitted to me.

and eye was

spectactilar

or lens publicised!

I saw many "submarines" be- Bomber Commands

than those of The Fighter and low the water surface. But they were no more than cloud shadows Only a short time ago a Coastal and the flotsam and jetsam of the Command pocket battleship with a torpedo,

plane hit a German seas,

before that, the sinking of the Bismarck and the successfut at- speeches of 1938 tacks on the Scharnhorst and the when he was warning of e mir at Brest hast been

largely due to their spotting. the peril of Nazi military Still, they're Cinderellas. The preparations, and urged description isn't mine, but that the policy of collective mand, who told me that most of security, with Britain tak. their activities were merely "spade 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.

down in Europe. He answered

at nearly 300 m.p.h. to within less than 100 feet of the the Japanese accusation and then through the prelimin- gaping sea before I felt myself, as of encirclement in

To the operational that where the crew are "briefed"

room, though in a dream, being lifted

off my

seat as the nose of the speech three and a half given details of the flight and plane cheated the water. years ago when he said: to the crews' room to get flying' I hadn't?

navigational instructions, and then What had the pilot spotted that Nothing, it appeared. To form a war combina- equipment.

He was taking no chances and tion against a single state of parachute harness and "Mac for a closer look.

On with our combination “coats" just came down out of the clouds would be a crime. To form West" and, carrying our para-.

chutes and carrier pigeons,

Following Bill's instructions, a combination for mutual were driven to "Katle," our plane the chance of getting to know my seat, adjusted the "table," switch-THESE FACTS MAKE

With my first flight over, I had wormed my way up, fastened defence against a probable Engines, inter communication crew. We threw a little aggressor is not only no and set for the take-off.

system and controls were tested With me were just Nicky, the pilot away

party. ed on the motor and was shooting

at mythical 'planes 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- moral duty and virtue. We round to nearly 125 m.p.h. as we gunner, and his counterpart, Bill, gotten Nicky and George. They roared along before the 'plane the only one of them without a chose just the moment when I'd ask no security for our- glided off the ground with wife there in their digs. He's too swung the turret right round to selves we are not prepared way to spare. plenty of the

camouflaged run-young for that at 19, he says! do everything a 'plane can stand,

Nicky, a Scots-Canadian, came up to without breaking up.. freely to extend. If Ger- We were 011 cour way over to England eight years ago to join Dives, split-a.r.c. turns, "gens" many (now Japan) nour-

the R.A.F., and, if you please, and everything else in the avia- naval operation was rejected. ishes no aggressive de- which

tor's alphabet served to give me I warrant would have He stayed here, tried journal- my baptism in fighting tactics in the air. I straight away avowed I then when war came, volunteer- Japan) professes herself With a load of bombs and six ed for the Air Force,

was non-belligerent!

"Do one thing for us," said to be afraid of attack, let guns sitting ready for action we This time he was accepted, and Nicky to me when I was leaving. 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 the club and share fairly American policy in the means that he's been in all pos- grand 'plane's, and and equally all its privile-Pacific for the Japanese Coastal Command could offer.

tho ask for nothing better to fly. We

like them; Jerry doesn't." ges and safeguards.' If to ponder. The difference but

Breezy and likeable is Nicky, Well, there it is. I trust this ap- Mr. Churchill had quoted is that Mr.

more esteemed than preciation of British airmen can Churchill's George, Jim and Bill.

find its way across the Atlantic. these phrases from his words passed unheard in 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 an carly age, and when he loft from America are playing 'a' big Japan for Germany in the the understanding into the Air Force. "Poker-face" Command craft, the Sunderlands, 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.

we

the sea to our readezvous → a secret

signs, if Germany (now as it did me.

intrigued the Nazis as much ism and car salesmanship and

sible operational nights

no

ob-

We

of trouble.

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

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