NO CHANGE IN LIBYA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23809, 1 December 1942, Page 5

NO CHANGE IN LIBYA

DISPOSITION OF FORCES BERLIN REPORTS OF BRITISH MOVES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 30. No new developments are reported in the land fighting in Libya. The Berlin radio states that the 7th British Tank Division, which temporarily made fighting contact with Rommel’s covering forces is again quiet. A New Zealand infantry division is gradually closing its ranks in the Agedabia area. Behind it another British tank division is slowly moving up. Between them and two infantry divisions in central Cyrenaica are at least 125 miles. Five other Bth Army divisions are still between Mcrsa Matruh and Tobruk. Between Derna and Benghazi the road is covered with thousands of supply vehicles. The conclusion is drawn from this that General Sir Bernard Montgomery is establishing large supply and ammunition dumps immediately behind his advance forces before bringing up the main army. AXIS GENERALS AT VARIANCE REPORTED DISPUTE ON LIBYAN CAMPAIGN NEW YORK. Nov, 29. A clash of opinions, with open charges of cowardice and desertion, broke out between Marshal Rommel and General Baslico, the Italian Com-mander-in-Chicf in Libya, according to reliable reports reaching the "New York Times” from Rome. The report says that General Bastico, reporting to the Italian High Command. charged Marshal Rommel with overriding his decisions and inviting disaster in attempting to proceed east of El Alamein. He added: "Rommel over-confldently jeered; ‘You may slay at El Alamein if you wish. I have enough forces to proceed alone to Alexandria and even farther’.” General Bastico said that Marshal Rommel also seized the trucks and guns of the Italian rearguards in the retreat. When General Bastico had viewed the situation in Tripoli he refused to sanction an advance by way of the Libyan south-eastern fortifications. Political pressure was exerted and following a stormy interview between Count Ciano, General Keitel, and von Ribbentrop, the Reich assumed | on November 10 the entire responsibility for the defence of Tunisia, and ! Hitler sent five additional divisions, including two armoured divisions, to Milan, allegedly in order to reinforce the Tunisian armies. 100 KILLED IN FIRE BOSTON NIGHT CLUB GUTTED BOSTON. Nov. 29. At least 432 persons were killed and more than 214 were severely injured in a fire in a Boston night club. It was the worst fire in the nation’s history since the Chicago theatre fire of 1903, when 373 were killed. Several hundred people were taken to hospital badly burned. Only a few escaped unhurt. The main loss of life was caused when screaming crowds became wedged in the exits, fighting madly to get out. About 1000 people were in the ciub. including many servicemen. Some of the victims were students celebrating after a college football game. The origin of the fire is uncertain, but the entire establishment was ablaze within a few minutes and the inside of the building was gutted in less than an hour. Servicemen and firemen risked their lives many times trying to reach bodies, which were heaped feet high at the entrance. About 150 bodies fell into the basement when the dance'floor collapsed. Appeals were made for 100 blood donors, and all the available blood plasma in the Boston area is being used. According to the United Press of America, the building had only two exits, through revolving doors in a small vestibule. Official investigators believe that faulty exits were largely responsible for the enormous death roll. A 16-year-old waiter. Stanley Tomaszwski, told the police that he accidentally started the fire while he was replacing a light globe. "I stood on a chair,” he said. “I lighted a match and held it while I screwed the bulb with the other hand. The match set fire to a palm tree. That is how the fire started.” Account by Eye-Witness A taxi-driver, an eye-witness of the fire, said he saw a lot of screaming people crowding near a revolving door, which would not move because people were pushing in opposite directions. "I kicked open a door near the cloakroom,” he said. “Then people started coming out, some with their clothes and hair on fire, and some with their bodies bn fire. Some dropped and died on the pavement. We started carrying bodies to an ambulance, but there was such a shortage of stretchers that they piled the bodies on the pavement. I saw people with no skin on them at ail. People who did not gel out in the first few minutes were just goners. I saw nine men walk into the night club a minute before the fire ; I did not see one of them walk out.” A girl attendant, with her hair ablaze, gave the first alarm. There was an immediate stampede for the exits, and women with their hair and clothes on fire were trampled to death by the screaming crowd. In a few minutes dozens of bodies were piled up near tht doorway. Pathetic scenes were witnessed at the morgues and hospitals as relatives attempted to identify charred bodies. Many of the bodies were burned beyond recognition. Seventeen hours after the fire, only 163 bodies had been identified. Among those taken to hospital were Buck Jones, the cowboy film star, and Scott Dunlap, a film producer. TRANSPORT STRIKE IN LEEDS ARMY AND AIR FORCE MAINTAIN SERVICE (Rcc. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 30. Army and Air Force lorries and drivers have been drafted to Leeds to maintain a skeleton transport service for workers, following the failure of efforts to avert a strike of municipal tram and bus drivers and conductors which began at midnight. The transport workers are demanding improved conditions and also increased pay for black-out duties. The Transport and General Workers Union does not countenance the strike. Union officials in the last three days have assisted the municipality in fruitless efforts to reach a settlement. The corporation has also organised a skeleton service with the aid of 140 inspectors who are qualified drivers. A later message states: “The Leeds transport workers have decided not to strike.”