27 Dec 1940
Page 1
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Newspaper
Canberra Times
Location
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Date
Dec 27, 1940
Page
1
OCR text shows scattered terms and times. Readable items include George News, theatre trio, Fred Webster, and mentions of a China-Latter. The source lacks coherent narrative or clear event details to confirm a single item.
The King sends a wartime Christmas message to Bri sh merchant and fishing vessels. He notes they suffered first from enemy attacks and kept vital Empire supplies moving, praising their courage and daring as an inspiration and wishing them a safe return and good landfall.
An Air Ministry communique reports a Christmas Day foe aircraft shot down off the Orkneys with four crew captured. No further contact with the enemy since Monday. A German plane over the mid east coast was repelled by anti aircraft fire without dropping bombs.
A brawl at a Hong Kong defense zone cafe during Christmas morning drew nine American marines and three Millers to hospital care. The fight began over a table as Italian and American patrons clashed amid a tense international settlement. Military police arrived and the incident was reportedly settled without lasting fallout.
The report lists R A A casualties including Corporal Arthur Leslie Holt of North Ipswich Queensland found dead at Manafield Hotel Montreal Canada Pilot Officer Hubert Albert Lenne of Echuca Victoria died December 29 from injuries from a November 28 air crash attached to the RAAF at No 8 Squadron Queensland and Sergeant George Watt of Clifton Hill attached to No 1 Service Flying Training School Point Cook killed in a collision at Laverton December 23
A London review details RLA.F. operations aiding the Greek Army and Air Force. From November 7 to December 21 extensive bomber actions destroyed nine Italian planes while nine British aircraft are listed as missing. The campaign began November 18 after 88 arrived in Greece and went into action the same day.
British bomber raids hit Cazala aerodrome and Sollum with varying damage. Valona aerodrome in Albania targeted under low cloud, dispersing aircraft on the ground. Rhodesian squadron attacked in Italian East Africa. fire and explosions followed. Desert operations, naval skirmishes, and raids across Greece and Sudan reported with fighter escort and low altitude dives.
Canberra’s public gardens will host large flax plots next year under a joint plan by the 8.C. and IR and the Supply Department. Hundreds of acres near Parliament House and bordered avenues will be planted. Experimental plots show potential yields with the British Government paying up to £180 a ton for flax straw, promising cost saving and added beauty for the capital.
Large crowds greet Sir Andrew Cunningham and the British fleet in Malta. The Admiral tours the dockyard and is repeatedly cheered as he thanks the grateful public saying the applause belongs to the people who deserve it.
London authorities say they have no knowledge of any Italian mission coming to London by air with peace terms and no knowledge of German troop movements in Hungary.
Tokyo reports the Emperor opened the Diet urging closer ties with treaty powers. He warned that worldwide disturbances require Japan to increase government assistance and support for the budget measures submitted by the government.
Estimates based on export statistics show 11464 military planes forwarded to Britain by August 1, with 1500 deliveries overall in 1940. The RAF likely took about 600, Canada 354. total exports to all countries reached 2778 with engines and 71 without.
New Zealand railways seek dametery from France to improve speed monitoring on engines. Authorities call on manufacturers to assist after a Te llington line incident found a train took a curve at over 55 mph with no speedometer fitted.
During the Swan by election accusations flew over negligence and attitudes of Federal and State ALP leaders. Dinan criticized no official ALP figure visiting WA, while Dyatt was reportedly not welcome by Western Australian colleagues. Curtin dismissed Dinan's denunciation as bitter after failing to achieve what others could not.
Desmond Clarke aged 2 wandered from his parents yesterday into scrub near Burgaldie about 100 miles from Barrabine. Two hundred searchers and trackers scoured the area but found no sign of the child who may not survive another night in the open.
An electrolytic process developed by a Czech refugee is being used in Sydney to reclaim tin from scrap tinware. The method, already used in Britain and the United States, is regarded as more modern and efficient than earlier practices.
In the latest dispatch from Salinba a report claims several unidentified French planes were observed over Spain with anti aircraft fire heard around 3 p.m. local time. Details remain unconfirmed and authorities have not released aircraft identifiers or flight paths.
The Minister for Shipping Ronald Cram denies German claims that Britain seized Danish ships serving under the British flag and will not compensate or return them. A later official statement by the Army Minister Spencer confirms Australian troops in Libya and notes ships will be returned or compensated postwar, with Danish owners to receive profits in sterling.
An aged Darwin aviator Neville on ener crashed about 35 miles from Pinehill station. He was located by two Air Force planes today. Four Bell is safe but the aircraft is badly damaged.
Budapest dispatch reports the German army is massing toward Romania from Hungary. About 300000 troops are expected in Romania within a month, with 1160 trains for 20 divisions carrying artillery and vehicles. Rail services face restrictions as military authorities estimate thousands more soldiers and bridge building material moving across Hungary.
Report estimates 6,000,000 Polish soldiers are POWs in Germany, with 18 officer camps and 71 others. Show camps exist for visitors, but most camps are unheated, damp, and underfed. By February 1, twenty percent had died, many exhausted, diseased, or emaciated, with rationed soup and bread. Germany appears to aim at exterminating Polish POWs.
Darwin reports six meningitis cases in the last three days and authorities vow no relaxation of precautions. Chief Medical Officer confirms ongoing preventive measures as the outbreak is monitored.
Secretary J Cranston of the Illawarra Trades and Labour Council said a settlement on the beer strike was expected tomorrow at a South Coast Licensed Victuallers meeting. Hotelkeepers may follow Bulli Hotel’s lead after a settlement. Striking workers visited Bulli hotel amid brisk business.
Wellington reports that Prime Minister Fraser sent a Christmas message to Australians saying the Commonwealth and the Dominion are closer than ever and united in a great common cause. He praised New Zealanders for admiring Australia’s war effort.
Melbourne reports the Army plans to enforce merit seniority while aging officers face removal. Major General and Lieut Colonel ranks eyed for retirement as officers 50 to 60 poised to be affected. Executive committee weighs new upper age limit amid concern over loss of experienced officers.
A truck toppled, tossing three people onto the sand along the roadway. The incident involved the three occupants who were with chison, and bystanders reported the crash as it unfolded.
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