LATEST WAR NEWS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13774, 17 October 1942, Page 3

LATEST WAR NEWS

The following is a summary of the latest war news: RUSSIAN FRONT

The defenders of Stalingrad are standing up to a furious new German assault; Latest reports say that the fate of the city hangs in the balance. It is impossible to predict the outcome of this new thrust. So far the Germans have only gained a few streets. After being pounded with* a shattering barrage of bombs and shells the Russians were attacked by wave after wave of German infantry. The Red Army men were ready for them and, with thenbacks to the flaming ruins, they poured in a deadly fire which inflicted heavy losses on the closelypacked Germans who were attacking on a narrow front. SOLOMONS BATTLE A Navy Department communique from Washington states that a large number of Japanese troops and equipment have been landed on Guadalcanal* Island. United States positions on the island are being heavily shelled. U.S. planes damaged nine Japanese planes on the ground at Rakata Bay on Tuesday. They also scored a probable torpedo hit on an enemy cruiser. ALEUTIAN ISLANDS U.S. air attacks on the Japanese positions at Kiska have been continued. Incendiary bombs dropped on a Japanese camp caused many fires. Photographs confirm the damage announced in previous raids. Three ships are beached and two others are below water level. The American planes encountered no opposition. They also destroyed three enemy seaplanes. R.A.F. OFFENSIVE Canadian squadrons took part in the attack on Cologne where big fires were left burning. Three Canadian planes were among the IS missing from the raid. BRITAIN 111 daylight raids on English country towns and villages the Germans machine-gunned children in the playground of a village school. MEDITERRANEAN The Admiralty announces that two British submarines have between them stopped seven shipleads of supplies from reaching the Axis. They *ank three of the sliips and torpedoed four others. FRANCE Widespread disorders are reported in France. Vichy regards the position as serious and the Cabinet met to-day to consider it. M. Laval said that he would not tolerate any attempt to interfere with public order or freedom of labour. Arms and explosives are beins; parachuted to the French. The Workers at Lyons and other places are out on strike. The district headquarters in Paris of Doriot's Fascist movement was wrecked by a bomb last night. MALTA A message just received states that six more Axis aircraft were shot down up to lunch-time bringing the total to over 100 in five days. .: .