1940-06-22 — Page 3

Saturday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

June 22, 1940.

MAGAZINE

PAGE

If the Parachute Troops

London, June 12,

IT Is the very newest thing. la

technique-invasion

parachute troops.

by.

It has happened in Norway, Holland and Beiglum.

wymi

happen in Brituln?

Can it be effective in Britain? What are we doing about this new menace from the skies?

On the face of if the idea of men cropping to earth in hundreds from aeroplanes is almost farcient.

But the lesson of the past few weeks has been swiftly learned by Britain,

Police Armed.

If the parachute, invaders come. we are fully prepared for them.

AS PART OF ENGLAND'S VERY EXTENSIVE PLANS FOR SMASHING ANY SUCH AT- TEMIT. THE GOVERNMENT RECENTLY TOOK A DECISION THAT IS HISTORIC.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE BRITISH POLICE WILL BE ARMED, FOR THE PURPOSE OF COUNTERING THE LAND- ING OF GERMAN INVADERS BY PARACHUTE,

This decision was arrived at after a conference between Sir Philip Game, Commissioner of Police, and the Home Oflee.

During the next few days, Chief Constables in every county will be advised to take steps to train their

Come to England

police forces in the use of revolvers and automalle pistois,

It is copiosised that such arm are only to be used in the event of any sort of landing by the enemy in this country.

But the arming of the police is only one aspect of Britain's reply to Hitler's latest form of blitzkrie

We have troops placed nt pil strategic points. Stretches of lone- ly countryside which might make Ideal landing pinces for parachute troops are being specially patrolled and watche:t.

All ground defences of acro- dromes are strengthened.

And the air observation corps are alert for the newest danger from the air.

The Navy and coastal defences naturally play their part in this right and day watch,

The new armed police will short- ly link up with the military organi - satlon,

A system of patrols by aimed cyclists and motor-cyclists, wita machine-gunor in sidecars, will enver the countryside.

Field telephones in isolated parts of the country will enable the. watchers and patrols to keep in constant touch with headquarters.

Mobile troops and searchlight units could be dispatched to any polni in Britain Immediately a pa- trol reported any landlog by para-

chute.

Motorists and cyclists recently kaw's glimpse of some of the pre- 'paration. There were wire bar- rleniles, on niany arterial roads with armed guards.

Drivers

challenged and asked to produce their identiflention papers.

were

Meanwhile country dwellers re remembering the question asked in the House of Commons by an M.1' who inquired whether the Govern

to train ment had taken steps golfers in rifle shooling, so that

We Are Ready

for

Them

All!

they could deal with stray par chute descenders.

IT WAS ON A RECENT FRI- WOKE DAY THAT BRITAIN UP TO THE FACT THAT PARACHUTE INVASION WAS

WILD NOT JUST A

DREAM BUT A DEFINITE POSSIBIL- ITY, WHEN THE GOVERN- MENT ISSUED OFFICIAL IN- STRUCTIONS TO THE PUBLIC ADVISING THEM WHAT TO WO IF THEY ENCOUNTERED PARACHUTE RAIDERS.

The advice was: Take a careful note of the exact position of the

When the A.A. Guns Tackle the Bombers Overhead

Recoil Cylinder

Pull on this, rang Shell into Breach.

Trunnion.

Loading Tray Handles

282b. Shell in Tray

This Wire must-

be pulled,

Kammer

to return

Rammer

Tray Hinges

Loading Tray,

in Loading Position.

Powerful

-

·Scammell These Wheels Tractor are removed

Thrust Girders hinged

upwards

when Gun is for Transport

in Action

Breech Opening Laver

Breach' Block

Part of Road Wirel kept in Position

THE EMPIRE IN ARMS-Rhodesia

THE two Rhodesias, North and

South, were controlled by a chartered company, the British South Africa Сотраду, up to seventeen years ago, but now they are governed by progressive

Governments.

Northern and Southern Rho- desla have a joint area of 440,853 quare miles, stretching from the Transvaal to the Belgian Con- Fo.

There are large truft erchards in Southern Rhodesia, but al- though the territory, is admirably suitable for white colonisation there are only 58,870 Europeans In a total population of 1,375,000, This area contains good sup- plies of gold and other minerala. Gold Is the most valuable pro- duct of Southern Rhodesia, ac- counting for more than half of the country's £10,000,000. annual export. Olber valuable exporta aro asbestos and tobacco. More than 70 per cent of Southern Rhodesian exports are sold to Britain

"Southern. Britain provides thodesla with nearly half her

BELGIAN

COYO

ANGOLA

total Imports, worth £8,500,000. a year, mainly in coiion, motor. cars, railway material 'and 'min- ing machinery. ;;

Northern Rhodesla," whileh has a European population of 10,000 In a total population of 1,370,000 exports £10,000,000 worth of ecpper, annually-mainly to Bel taine

These Wheels always in Position

help Balance

Sighting Apparatus

Firing Platform

Gun FlatForin

THE coastal Observer" Corpe spota enerny aircraft and sets the defence machinery in motion. The listeners mannenre "thele huge "ear trumpets" to the exact spot where the totem de greatest. This gives the direction and height of the aircraft, enabling the thres searchlights to be accurately patated. On the command "expose," the" "enemy bombers should be illuminated. The interceptor Oghters attack, while the height-inder, crow measure the height of the bombers and pass this on to the Predictor. The predictor calculates te bearing, elevation, and fare selling for the shell to borst at the correct height. and also allows for wind curve of the trajectory and barometric pressure in the upper ate.Afi Unia information Ir automatically pissed to the dials of the A guns. The Gun Crew

3-7-inch A.A. guns are each worked by a crew of nine, Two of the crow bring up 20-lb. shells, and after the fuses have been set by an automatic Arg wetter, the shells are placed as requires In the loading tray, itis is then swung over into line with the open breccli. A this moc rame it home witho wire operated ramming device, The breech does not close completely until loading tray is returned to its original portion.

How the Jun Works

The shock of discharge is absorbed by a recall system embodying a recoil cylinder which, by means of compressed air, not only brings the gun to reat at the end of the recall and returns it to the aring position, hul opens the breech and eject the empty cartridge caso. Bo the breech lover. I und only when: starting the gun, and thereafter the gun-operates asttomatically. The setion of ramming home the cartridge closes The breechanică operates the firing-pin In the French blook.

landing, and then advise the nearest police lution or military post,

The arming of the police aml itary preparations make this advice more empliatie,

Could Hitler Invade us with his parachute troops?

Some people are still ineliued to mile at the possibility, but the of Aelal view of the Government. Is that such a desperate attempt is A distinct possibility, and perhaps within the next few days.

Invaded-

Buch venture would be a des- perate gamble, but its advantages to Hitler would be that he could announce to Germany and the world that England had been In- vaded for the first time since

1000.

The panic possibilities and the another effect on British morale is factor in Hiller's calculation.

The plan would be to concentrale bombing from the air on one vital strategic point, such as a railway Janetan, town, a power station or a big aerodrome.

This Hitler hopes-would draw the attention of British dghter air-

craft.

The task of parachute troops laming in ather places would then be to cut railway communi- cations to the ports, damage nir

Land War at 30 m.p.h.

It's a tough job in the Tunks. That's why the specialist Tommies who man them receive 115. a day, the highest pay for their rank in tho British Army, equal to that of as second lieutenant.

This is what each stands up to. for his money when he goes into action:-

Cooped up in a box of machinery, shaken by vibration, deafened by: nose, sweating from heat, he races his "cuterpillar bus" over treacher- ous shellholed earth at speed up -to 30 m.p.he.

Wheeled Cavalry

He can't hear himself speak as in a whippet tank, his two heavy Vickers machine-guns spit forth their deadly 500 rounds a minute; can hear stili less in the cruiser and big tanks as their 2-pounder guns augment the machine-gun din by firing between them twelve shells a minute.

The whippet has a crew of not fewer than three-driver, gunner, spare man. They are cavalry on

out to wheels,

reconnoitre with lightning rapidity.

More Ikely than not, they are ex-cavalrymen skilled in the art of reconnaissance.

The cruiser and big tanks, be-

cir sides

armament of two- pounder and machine-guns, have wireless-transmitting and reccly-

A11 apparatus.

operator la among the crew, and in every bly tank there is an officer as well.

Ing

Orders are given to the squadron by radio. All three-whippet, cruiser and big-cover advancing infantry by putting out

screen.

Face Guard

smoke

In action, the driver draws n steet 'visor-guard in front of his face, making him, like the rest of the crew, invisible to and armour- protected

against the enemy's anti- tank gun.

One good bit anywhere near the tank's Achilles heel the cater- pillar drive and the formidable mechanized monster comes ta standstill. The anti-tank gen both sides is its match if not its *master.

ов

Both tank and Its destroyer have gone a long, long way since that day at Cambrai, in November, 1917 -the first mechanised battle in the history of war--when Britain's secret weapon not only surprised the enemy, but, according to the Germans, surprised our comman- ders as well;"

Then And Now

There is no advantage of the cle- ment of surprise this time.

In a box of charging steel for hours on end, the mechanic in the Tanic will spit forth six shells and 500 rounds per machine-guni per minute,

And the anti-tank gun's wither Ing fire will answer back.

Elevan shillings a day won't be overpay.

C. D

fields, and humper the dispatch of troeps to other centres of the

war.

The parachute troops would be "Kulelde squads," prepared to riak onnibilation In the effort to harry, the British home front and, do as much damage as possible-and, I poralble, capture an airport.

No Food Carried

As proved in Holland and Bel- gium, their equipment is considera-

e. Each parachute soldier carries o folding bleycle, machine gun, radlo set, lent, as well as gas mask,, binoculars and water bottle, and ammunition.

R

Para-

They don't carry food. chute landing 18 lonely and hazardous gamble. been pre-

Germany has quietly

paring this new weapon for five years, since Russia showed the way with the first large-scale experi ments.

Parachute troops are taught. to fall safely, to find their way about do the the country, and how to most effective damage to valuable paints.

The parachute training school in Germany is very efficient and thorough.

BUT BRITAIN IS READY. AND YOU CAN PLAY YOUR PART IN STAMPING ON HIT- LER'S LATEST WEAPON.

POCKET CARTOON

"Of course it's just possible. that one of the transport wallahs has slipped up some- where..

BUDDY

The dog you all love

It happened in a friend's house

on a visit.

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❤

Marina Houso

The Boss to grinning still, but

I don't care,

I made a faur pas-that's not

funny, la It?

I'll tell you what occurred while we were there.

Within the window-bay, upon.

a table There stood some water-what

was to think? At any rate, I found that I was

able

To reach the bowl and get my-

self a drink.

*

Then underneath my ROSC

there was a furry:

I started back and barked in-

dignantly,

I heard the Boss returning in'a,

hurry

To see exactly what excited

me.

You must admit it is a bit un-

nerving

When stooping for a drink to

quench your thirst

To find a golden, scaly crea-

ture swerving Within the depths. It startlet

me at first.

A goldAsh-there's a thing to keept. Now most men Are sensible enough to

tracise

A prt who can't retrieve or

baric at postmen,

But merely glares at you with

alony eyes.

*

Its conversation's limited to

bubbles

And all day long it just awinis

round and round.

Now, there's a pal to go to tolth

your troublent S

No one confides in goldfishi. „I'IL

babarend.

Phone 24648

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