London, Dec. 26.
"Although it was Christmas Day, the Royal Air Force throughout yesterday continued an unrelaxed vigilance patrol covering our fishing fleets in the North Sea," says an announcement by the Air Ministry.
"Certain of our aircraft," it adds, "observed German patrol vessels at jan eastern port. The German vessels opened fire on our aircraft, which took retaliatory action. Hits were not observed, and no damage was done to our aircraft."—Reuter.
London, Dec. 27.
The arrival in England of Australian airmen and the announcement of air training plans in Australia means that in future Australia may become the Empire's arsenal in the Far East, well-informed quarters said today.
The Australian Government expects ing factory at Sydney is to produce United States Pratt are Whitney Wasp engines for the Beauforts.
Australia is providing 10,400 piles and 15,600 aerial gunners and obser vers under the Dominions air training plans. Australia, it wab also revealed, has laid down the keels of coastal between 8,000 and 10,000 persons to be į zicops for patrol work as well as employed in aircraft manufacturing work by 1941.
Besides producing its own brands of planes, Australia is also to build British Bristol and Beaufort bombers and United States North American trainers. The Government constructed minesweepers and submarine duty.
During the World War Australia
at present it is producing artillery, anti-tank devices, armoured cars, grenades, bombs and shells—United made rifles and ammunition, but Press, Latest Exchange The closing Interbank selling rate yesterday, was as follows:—
Sterling....4%d. USS
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.