London, May 19.
IGRATULATIONS have been sent by the King to the Royal Air Force for the splendid work they are doing.
His Majesty's message read: "During. my visit to the headquarters of the Bomber Command, I was able to hear more of the epic deeds of the bomber force in recent weeks. Coupled with the arduous, unceasing duties of the Coastal Command, and the heroic exploits of the fighter squadron in this country and in France, they make an immortal story—a story which fills the whole Empire, whose! sons al now fighting in ill three branches, with gratitude and admiration.
"T congratulate the R.A.F. with all my heart and wish them good luck and continued success. The matchless spirit they have shown makes the final victory of the Allies doubly sure." meee ae cee Soe Vi cee eros ae tas Gierafl, while patrolling over North Sea, attacked a convoy of merchant ships with bombs." One enemy vessel was damaged, Describing how nine Hurricane fighters shot down ten Jurkers dive-bombers in one engagement France on Friday, it is ofleially nounced that twenty enemy bombers were seen to be circling over a word. The teading section of the Hurricanes dived in an_allack, while the ether ey pang, Soto AS Dae enemy road and railway junctions in Enemy Supplies Strafed the aren north-west of Namur, extensive operations were carried out night on eud and. rail Communications used by the enemy's Sdvancing columns, according to. Announcement by the Air Minty.
ages and railway tracks were hil, ferodonca were bombed machine-gun Are." Tatense ait act supply convoy was damaged
ity continues over the fighting fron a recent engagement, nine Huricane fighters shot down ten dive Dombers without loss. "A Blenheim ireral, while over" Bergen, shot down a. Hteseersehmitt 10, "which ranked into a motintain. "A Hudsor two remained above on guard. When they saw no escort protecting the bombers, they too came down to join the fight. AN the Hurricanes Felumned safely to their bases.
RAF, Holding to Bases in France The Royal Air Force is holding on with determination to its advanced bases in France despite the severe battering which the advanced striking force, operating from them, received inthe frst week of the biitzkrieg as a result "of the enemy's numerical superiority,—telegraphs Reuter's special correspondent with the RAF. in Fravec.
'The considerable damage witch the tutee has suffered fwuin Germat div-bombing attacks—equal in tier scenes to that wich broke up the Folish alr force completely in 25 many days—has not' broken its spirit of means of retaliation, While the bombing of German troops and other objectives continues, British Aghters are successfully coun: tering toa large extent the waves of German aircraft at the head of German tank columns south of the river Details of yesterday's operations are not yet available, but one patrol of six Hurricanes engaged 40" Messerschmitts and shot down six. Lost night it was claimed that another handful of British pilots brought} down 15 more German aircraft of different types—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.