Business Men versus V-Boats AN auxiliary squadron of the R.A.F. Coastal Command, whose job is to escort shipping convoys, is achieving great success in spotting submarines that lie in wait. It has attacked nine within the last two months, two of which were almost certainly destroyed and three others damaged. These results are all the more remarkable in that the squadron consists almost entirely of professional and business men, tradesmen, factory hands and clerks from a Scottish city near the air station. Among the flight commanders are chartered accountants and a PT instructor, while the commanding officer was head of a firm of building contractors. American Refugee Ship in Port After a rough voyage the U.S. refugee ship "American Legion," which left Petsamo, in Finland on August 16, arrived safely in New York harbour on August 28. Among her 900 passengers she carried the Crown Princess of Norway and her three children, and a number of American diplomatists, including' Mrs. Borden Harriman, U.S. Minister to Norway. Germany had done her best to make propaganda out of this rescue mission, denouncing the voyage as "wanton" and as "criminal folly," and predicting certain destruction of the ship. While in the danger zone life belts were worn the whole time except during eating and sleeping, the number of look-outs was doubled, and constant lifeboat drills were held. On the last 500 miles two American destroyers provided an escort in honour of Princess Martha, and to indicate that the exiled Royal family are still recognized as the rulers of Norway. Vichy 'Axes' the Diplomats M Baudouin, Foreign Secretary in the Vichy Government, has imposed “compulsory retirement" on 83 officials of the French diplomatic service, including 15 Minders. 3 Counsellors of Embassy, and 19 consuls-general. It is evident that Germany's intention has, been to remove diplomatists who hold a pro-British and democratic outlook, for the Marquis de Castel-lane, former charge d’Affaires in London, has already been appointed to fill one of the vacancies, as "the French Government wishes to recognise the tact which he showed in a particularly delicate situation." British Workers Defy Hitler IT has been found that after a raid work in British factories has either consciously or unconsciously speeded up. In one Midland factory the output was only a fraction below normal during the week when it suffered from a bombing raid, while the following week the output increased by 33 per cent. Moreover, workers everywhere are anxious to have the shelter regulations so modified that they need not abandon their tasks unless bombing attacks appear imminent. Red Cross' Cover' Again Invoked The remarkable mixture of cunning and naiveté in the Nazi character has once more been in evidence. Through the Swiss Government Britain has received from Germany a proposal that 64 Nazi vessels, to be distinguished by Red Cross markings, should be allowed to range unmolested in the Channel and North Sea-ostensibly to rescue German airmen who had been shot down; actually, it may well be surmised, to reconnoitre our defence arrangements. The British Government has naturally rejected the proposal, at the same time reminding Germany of many deliberate attacks upon British hospital ships and carriers, including the actual sinking of the hospital ships "Maid of Kent," "Brighton" and "Paris." It is noteworthy that the day this announcement was made (August 31) the Air Ministry reported that an R.A.F. pilot who had baled out at 15,000 feet was dead when he reached the ground, his body riddled with bullets from three Messerschmitts which had savagely attacked him during his descent. September 13th 1940
Apologies for quoting massive chunks here. But the phrase "War Effort" leaps out after reading this. I suppose this phrase is almost cliche now, but these passages really show the true depth of feeling in Britain. NIce post. Can I ask the source again Jim ? BTW I got gazzumped happy: ) on a lot of 60 copies of the War Illustrated on eBay a few weeks ago, but the whole lot went for little more than £20 in the end... :sad:
