LATEST WAR NEWS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXX, Issue 13647, 21 May 1942, Page 5

LATEST WAR NEWS

The following is a summary of the latest war news: R.A.F. OFFENSIVE Before the R.A.F. offensive reaches its peak, we may be sending 1000 bombers a night to attack Germany. Coal shipments to Italy, which are already in arrears, will be seriously hampered by last night’s raid on Mannheim. ATTACK ON THE PRINZ EUGEN It is revealed that 50 of our planes took part in the attack on the Prim Engen. There were 40 Messerschmitt fighters forming a protective umbrella over the cruiser. The opposition was so intense that our planes had to dive in one by one. As soon as the movements of the German warships were observed our planes were held in readiness and went out as soon as the ships were in a suitable position. They were thus able to attack when it was still daylight. RUSSIA German panzer units have been routed in the Kharkov sector. Over 70 wrecked enemy tanks were counted after the Germans retreated. Field-Marshal Von Bock is making strenuous efforts to penetrate Marshal Timoshenko’s southern flank. The Gentians admit that large groups of Russians are attacking at Yenikale and also near Kerch. This contradicts last night’s German announcement that the Kerch peninsula was completely occupied. GOERING’S SOB STORY Field-Marshal Goering has spoken with much feeling of the sufferings of the German army in Russia. He said the winter campaign was terrible. The Germans were forced to hold on to their front line as there were only ruins in their rear. Only those who had experienced the conditions in Russia could appreciate their severity and cost to Germany. Germany had been unfortunate in experiencing three very severe winters, and last year’s harvest was had. He called dojyn the blessings of the Almighty on Hitler. It was unthinkable that Providence had raised such a man as Hitler only to push Germany, back into the abyss. BURMA U.S. planes destroyed 56 Japanese planes in Burma last month. The Japanese iu China are fearful that the Chinese may establish air bases in Chekiang from which to attack Japan. Nagasaki, the important Japanese naval base is only.-ICO miles distant from this part of China. INVASION OF EUROPE Sir Stafford Cripps promised that we would invade Hitler’s Europe when the time was ripe and we were ready. MALTA Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm 1 have attacked an enemy convoy, says a Malta message. A destroyer and a merchant ship were probably hit. Three more enemy planes have been shot down over Malta making a total of 55 destroyed in the week ended last night. Italy admits the loss of a submarine.