IN OCCUPIED EUROPE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23748, 21 September 1942, Page 4

IN OCCUPIED EUROPE

RESISTANCE IN MANY COUNTRIES

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, Sept. 18. Information received by Czech Headquarters .in London shows that the Nazis have intensified their drive to exterminate all the senior officers of the Czechoslovak General Staff. Secret executions are taking place daily. The Germans apparently suspect them of being the ringleaders of actual or potential Czechoslovak resistance. In order not to exasperate the population the executions are never mentioned on the wireless and the Czech press must not publish even a fraction of the executions which have taken place. In August. Prague papers were allowed to mention the names of 82 persons who had been executed, most of whom were civilians, and this month,sl names have been published so far.

Czechoslovak quarters in London stress the fact that in reality the number of executions is far higher and that a large percentage of the victims are generals, colonels, and lieutenantcolonels of the General Staff as well as local commanders. Fierce fighting is raging in western Bosnia between Croat Quisling forces and General Mikhailovitch’s patriot army, which, it is reported, has received large reinforcements of war material by air from bases in the Middle East. i More than 100 tons of munitions, including tommy-guns, machine-guns, and hand gtenades, recently reached General Mihailovitch’s patriot army from Allied sources. Informed circles estimate that General Mihailovitch has more than 90,000 men organised directly under his leadership, in addition to guerrillas. The Croats state that extensive mopping up operations have been progressing since September 5 north of Sarajevo, particularly in the region of Banjaluka, and they claim that 5000 patriots have been killed and 12,000 taken prisoner. Jugoslav quarters in London have received information that on August 20 the express from Zagreb, on the main line connecting Europe with Istanbul, was blown up. The Germans had purposely sent the express in front of a military train. Nine carriages were destroyed and three were killed and 100 injured. A goods train was blown up on August 29 near Jaesnovac, in Croatia. These acts were organised jointly by the Croat and Serbian guerrilla leaders. Evacuated from Ostend Many families have been ordered to leave Ostend at a few hours’ notice because the Germans fear another Dieppe. Coastal sabotage is reported to have increased and numerous fires have been breaking out near German airfields in western Flanders. A Zurich report states that three acts of sabotage to railway lines have occurred in Paris in the last 48 hours. In addition several German cars have been damaged and attempts have been made on the lives of five German soldiers.

Dispatches from Germany state that six Germans from Frankfurt were executed on September 19 for attempting to undermine the resistance of the people during war time. A Vichy message states that after the throwing of a bomb into the Rex Cinema in Paris, when one German soldier was killed and 30 were injured, the German administrator, Stuelpnagel, issued the following proclamation: “As a result of attempts by Communists and terrorists in Britain’s pay, a number of German soldiers and French civilians were killed or wounded. As a reprisal for these attempts, I have caused to be shot 116 Communists and terrorists whose participation and complicity have been proved. Large-scale deportations have also been carried out.” The statement concluded with an order to close all theatres, cinemas, and places of entertainment in the departments of Seine, Seine et Oise, and Seine et Marne, The order was designed to prevent incidents arising from the demonstrations which the Communists planned for September 20, it was stated. Norwegian Government circles in London learn for the first time that Russian women from the Ukraine have been taken to Norway. One batch of 200 was put by the Germans to work in a fish filleting factory at Hammerfest. which also employs 300 Norwegians conscripted by Germans.