LATEST WAR NEWS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13775, 19 October 1942, Page 3

LATEST WAR NEWS

The following is a summary of the latest war news:

LE CREUZOT RAID

British heavy bombers in their attack on the Schneider works at Le Creuzot struck the heaviest daylight blow of the war. Our pilots have now been interrogated and full reports are available. Tbe raid was executed in masterly fashion and with perfect timing. All bombs had gone down in seven minutes. A great weight was dropped and there were many large fires and a very loud explosion. An attack was also made on an electrical transformer station which supplied power to the works. It was here that the only plane lost in the raid was shot down. i

One of the Lancasters Avas attacked by three German fighters and shot down two of them. There were 94 Lancasters employed on the raid and this means that one bomb load was dropped every four and a-half seconds. The weight of bombs dropped is not stated but each plane could carry eight tons. Our bombers came down to 4,000 feet and the bombing was highly successful. Le Creuzot is near the border of occupied France and 70 miles from Vichy. Its full production has been going to Germany. RUSSIAN FRONT

The situation at Stalingrad is still critical although the Germans have not been able to develop their break through in the factory district. The Russians are beating off enemy attacks night and dayBetween 200 and 300 enemy tanks have been smashed in the last few days. The Germans are endeavouring to widen the gap in the Russian defences and reach the Volga. In the north-west local Russian attacks are still meeting with success. No change is reported elsewhere. MALTA At least 114 enemy planes have been destroyed over and around Malta since Sunday last. Four bombers and four fighters were shot down yesterday and many more damaged. Many of them were intercepted over the sea and forced to drop their bombs in the water. Damage on the island is slight. The Home Fleet has subscribed £IBOO to tne Malta Relief Fund.

NEW GUINEA

ISie Australians have gained more ground against strong opposition than in any previous day. They are now two wiles beyond Templeton's Crossing and from here t© Kokoda the going is muen easier.

Aleutian Ishmds The Japanese have landed rein-

forcements at Kiska. It is thought that they have come from Attn and Agattu. FRENCH WORKERS FOR HITLER A lengthy appeal has been made over the Paris radio for workers to go to Germany. France, it is stated, cannot stand apart from the New Order. It is in France's interest to avoid new and painful military operations on French soil and march shoulder to shoulder with Germany. In exchange for fresh and important concessions, not enumerated, and special favours granted by Hitler, she should co-operate with kim and so repay hi* magnanimous gestures. Registration * of French manpower begins to-morrow and it is stated that if workers are selected to go to Germany they are not compelled to do so. They are only recommended to go. WARNING BY GOEBBELS In a speech at Munich Goebbels warned the German^P^OP l^ of «£ consequences of defeat. He said they were fighting for their WJ existence. No reprisals could be made on Britain because> all the German plane* were wanted for Stalingrad and th« Caucasus.