REARGUARD ACTION

Evening Star, Issue 23968, 20 August 1941, Page 7

REARGUARD ACTION

Withdrawal To Dnieper RUSSIANS FIGHTING WELL Nazis Still Long Way From Leningrad (British Official Wireless.) Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, August 19. The German thrust in the Ukraine is vitally important, according to military experts in London. The speed of the German advance, although! high, is such that there is no doubt that the Russians are fighting well in the rearguard action to the Dnieper. The. Germans have not yet reached 'the Dnieper in force, nor have they crossed it. *Their advance beyond it will depend on Russian ability to dispose of sufficient resources to defend the five or six bridges between Kiev and the sea, to watch the river for German efforts to cross and to keep bodies ot troops ready to attack any parties which succeed in crossing in strength. Any such crossings by the Germans would be exceedingly serious, as valuable stretches of the Ukrainian cquntry w r ould be open to them, with no natural line of defence until the Don is reached. -The new German thrust in the north is certainly in the nature of a threat to Leningrad, but Nazi troops may still be regarded as a long way off. A Berlin communique says; The entire region west of the Dnieper is now in our hands. We launched an attack on Odessa and isolated bridgeheads in the lower Dnieper. The enemy suffered heavy losses in the course of these fights. Sixty thousand prisoners were taken in addition to the number reported in the battle of Uman. Eighty-four tanks, 530 guns, and abundance of other war material were captured. In the harbour of Nikolayev, a battleship of 35,000 tons, a cruiser of 10,000 tons, four destroyers, and two submarines arc all still on the stocks. In addition we sank a gunboat and severely damaged another,, ■ We captured a floating dock fully laden with locomotives.

ORDERLY RETREAT

RUSSIANS GROSSING THE DNIEPER MARSHAL BUDENNY ESCAPES TRAP LONDON, August 19. , “It is increasingly clear that Marshal Budenny is succeeding in escaping from the trap arising from _ General Runstedt’s drive down the • River Bug to Nikolaiev,” says the Stockholm correspondent of the ‘ Daily _ Telegraph.’ “ Aided by heavy rain during the past four clays,"and possessing temporary air superiority. Marshal Budenny is now transporting the greater part of his armies across the Dnieper. The Russians are covered by a rearguard using collapsible boats, roughly assembled rafts constructed from empty _ oil drums and trees, as well as the bridges at Zaporaje and Dnepropetrovsk. Already Marshal Budenny has transported half of his total West Ukraine forces—between 300,000 and 400,000—across the river, with losses approximating 150,000. About 200.000 Russians are still fighting on the west bank of the river, and these forces have taken a heavy toll of the Germans. 1 Fresh Soviet armies from the Crimea and Kharkov wait behind strongly prepared positions, ready to repel any German attempt to penetrate Eastern Ukraine.

The Stockholm correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says a certain amount of surprise, apparently reflecting chagrin. is noticeable in German commments. which ask why the Russians have not opposed them with their usual tenacity. One fact is clear—the Germans have not attained their chief avowed ohiect of destroying the enemy’s forces rather than capture territory. Jubilant at the capture of Nikotaicv and Krivoy-Rog, the Willielmstrasse confidently predicts that the present week will sec the completion of fighting in the Western Ukraine. It also claims that this third phase of the operations is destined to prove the most decisive Reuter’s Moscow correspondent states that the avacuation of Nikolaiev was inevitable if the Russians felt obliged to straighten out their line after the fall of Krivoy-Rog with a view to basing a solid defence line on the Dnieper bend. There is still no information whether the Russians intend to make Odessa another Tobruk, but German propaganda is attempting to make out that it will be another Dunkirk. POSITION AT KIEV RUSSIANS STILL HOLDING POSITIONS LONDON. August 19. The Stockholm correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says the situation at Kiev suggests that if Marshal Budenny possesses sufficient armoured units tho Germans may themselves eventually be enveloped on a large scale. The Russians are still stubbornly holding positions not far distant from tßyolaya-Tsorkov and Korostcn. Although no general offensive is in progress against Kiev, local operations continue day and night. The front is only relatively stabilised pending the resumption of tho German drive after replenishment of supplies or a Russian counter-offensive if the Germans delay too long.

ACROSS THE OLD FRONTIER

THE THRUST ON LENINGRAD LONDON, August 19i Tho Russians evacuated JKingisepp after stubborn fighting. Thus Marshal Voroshilov’s army is defending Leningrad against a new German thrust from Estonia, falling back to the city’s outer defences just inside the old Soviet frontier, which the Germans have now crossed after eight weeks of stubborn fighting. According to Mr Carl Sulzberger, tho * New York Times ’ correspondent in Moscow, powerful all-out attacks arc being launched by the Germans in the Ukraine and Leningrad zones. They are tin-owing everything they have got into terrific drives designed to isolate the Soviet from the Black and the Baltic Seas. The Berlin wireless claims that German forces have reached the Dnieper both above and below Dnepropetrovsk. A Russian communique states that fierce fighting continued yesterday along the entire, front. “ After fierce fighting, our'troops evacuated Kingisepp, 65 miles south-west of Leningrad. On August 16 25 German planes were shot down, not, as previously reported, 19, On August 17 22 German planes were brought down in air combats, and our losses were 18 planes. Our motor torpedo boats sank in the Baltic an enemy submarine and two transports.” THE FINNISH OFFENSIVE ANYTHING BUT A BLITZ LONDON, August 19. Tho Stockholm correspondent of the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says Finnish claims reveal that the Finnish offensive north of Lake Ladoga is anything but a blitz offensive. The Finns are still fighting well inside the old frontier, less than 50 miles from the starting point of their vaunted drive against Leningrad. Tho Swiss radio reports that Soviet planes bombed the Hungarian town of Komarom, near the Slovakian Danube border.

A message from Homo says that the Helsinki correspondent of the Stefani Agency says parachutists were dropped in the Helsinki region on August 18 from several Russian transport planes. Some were dressed in Finnish uniforms and others in civilian attire. The latter were mostly Estonians, who, it is stated, had hot previously been flown and dropped by parachute. All were rounded up by Finnish troops. The Tass Agency in Moscow says several German planes attempted to raid Moscow during the night, but only one broke through the city’s defences, dropping several incendiaries and high explosives. The damage was insignificant. v KIEV WOMEN'S MESSAGE HOLY WAR. AGAINST FASCISM (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, August 19. According to messages received in London, a Targe meeting of the women of Kiev to-day drafted a reply to the message from the women of Birmingham, in which the following sentence appeared;—“Hand in hand with yon we are participating in a Holy War against death-dealing Fascism.”

GERMAN DESERTERS

DRASTIC ACTION BY MILITARY RELATIVES SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT (Roc. 12.-10 |),m. LONDON, August 19. The German military loaders are taking drastic measures to check growing desertions on the Eastern Front, says a Stockholm report. Deserters’ relatives in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, and Danzig have been sentenced to terms up to live years in gaol. Relatives have also been sent to concentration camps on charges of having encouraged soldiers to desert. RUSSIAN GRAIN CROP EXCEEDS FORMER BUMPER HARVEST (Roe. 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 19. Although the German people believed that the capture of the Ukraine would solve their food problem for the coming winter, the Berlin radio said the Russian wheat crop was not as big as they had been led to believe. The Moscow radio, however, stated that the grain harvest totalled 131,000.000 tons, far in excess of the bumper crop of 1937.

GREAT DNIEPER DAM

MAY BE BLASTED BY RUSSIANS WOULD SWEEP AWAY ADVANCING GERMANS (Rec. 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 19. The Russians may flood a vast area of South-western Ukraine by blasting the great Dnieperstroy dam on the Dnieper River if the battle goes against them, says the 1 Daily Telegraph’s ’ Stockholm correspondent. Destruction of the dam would send the pent-up waters of the Dnieper swirling through the plains west of the Dnieper bend, creating a vast unnavigable flood. The Russians claim that the Dnieperstroy dam is the greatest hydro-electric undertaking in the world. The dam, which has a capacity of 291,800,000,000 gallops, services power stations supplying the industrial area of Dnepropetrovsk. It is believed that Marshal Budenny would not hesitate if it became necessary to destroy at one blow the whole of the Dnepropetrovsk industrial district and sweep away his enemies by blasting the dam.

THE NAZI LEADERS

REPORTS OF DIFFERENCES (Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON. August 19. The Russian Tass Agency’s Stockholm correspondent reports differences between Ribbentrop, and Himmler and Goebbels in reference to the policy in Hungary, Sweden, Denmark, and Slovakia. Himmler is stated to have demanded the dismissal of old diplomats, who, it is noticed, are being replaced by prominent Storm Troopers.

LATEST NAZI THRUSTS.— While fighting apparently is in progress along the whole RussoGerman frontier from the Black Sea to tho Baltic and in parts of Finland, the thrusts at present are directed against western Ukraine and at Leningrad. In the Ukraine tho fighting is centred at Korosten. SO miles west of Kiev, and at Bel Tserkov, 50 miles south of Kiev. The Germans also hold Nikolayev and claim to have reached the river Dnieper both north and south of Dnepropetrovsk, fn tho Leningrad area the Russians have abandoned Kingisepp about 70 miles south-west of Leningrad.

CHINA’S SUPPLY LINE

THE BURMA ROAD CAPACITY GREATER THAN ESTIMATED NEW YORK. August 19. The Chungking correspondent of the ‘New York Times’ says: “The potential capacity of the Burma road is far in excess of the usual estimate of 30,000 tons a month, according to Daniel Arstein, an American truck operator, who has completed a survey of the road for the United States Government. Arnsteiu declared that it was a good road, with a capacity practically unlimited. Asphalting was now beginning, and was expected-to be well advanced by the end of the year. He said he expected that 7,000 American trucks would operate on the road shortly, and added that Chinese chauffeurs were good drivers. Japanese bombing had not appreciably affected road traffic, and vital bridges were still in use.

IRAN TROOPS

MOVING TO IRAQ FRONTIER n PROTECTION OF OIL REFINERIES ” JEWISH MERCHANTS FEAR POSSIBLE EVENTS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright (Hoc. noon.) LONDON, Aug. 10. While the Iran Government is considering the second British-llussian warning against the activities of Gorman agents in Iran, troops and tanks are moving towards the south-western frontier with Iraq. The 1 Daily Mail , s Teheran correspondent says the official explanation of the movements of troops is that they arc “ to afford protection for the Abadan oil refineries, which are of common Anglo-lran interest.” The military have also taken over control at Ahwaz. Jewish merchants, the most sensitive barometer possible of political storms, are shifting their goods from the frontier town of Mohammerah to Basra. The ‘ Daily Herald’s ’ Teheran correspondent says the Germans in Iran might attempt sabotage if Iran consented to transport of war materials to Russia, or might attempt to seize Iran. The Germans are saying that their armies will reach the Caucasus within four weeks. . The official Iranian reply is that the Government has learned its “ fifth column ” lesson and has the activities of every foreigner under control. RAW MATERIALS QUESTION OF FUTURE ACCESS MR BEVIH'S STRIKING PROPOSALS (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9.35 a.m.) RUGBY. August 19. The Labour Minister, Mr E, Bevm. made striking proposals regarding the control of raw materials in a speech at the annual conference of the transport general workers. He said countries dealing in primary products would have a greater say in future in world affairs than hitherto. The British Commonwealth, China, the United States, and (Russia would probably play a role that none up till now had ever conceived in the future organisation of the world. One of the striking declarations m the Churchill-Roosevelt statement dealt with raw materials. Mr Bevin said he thought what applied to raw materials would apply largely to certain primary foods. They must no longer be subject to speculation. They must be organised. If he had his way he would introduce for the raw materials of the world- something in the nature of the postage stamp principle. He would poo 1 ! them internationally, pool freight facilities and make a charge for their use with international control. These, he believed, would relieve some of the primary causes of international struggle. *He hoped the declaration meant not only free access to raw materials, but the working out of a system whereby these great basic materials would be free to mankind on equal terms. LESS BOASTFUL THE GERMAN LUFTWAFFE (British Official Wireless.) IUJGBY, August IS. The official Nazi excuses for concealment of news of the effects of tho British air offensive in Germany show a change of tone from the Luftwaffe’s boastfulness earlier in the war, and though imitative of the common-sense British policy since the start, the air attacks here are likely to prove cold comfort for the German people, who had been guaranteed protection by Reich-Marshal Goering against aerial onslaughts. A writer in the ‘ Deutschlander Zeitung ’ says: ” Wo fully understand that the German population cannot be informed to what extent German towns are suffering. We do not mind neighbours of those who lose their homes knowing the facts. This is unavoidable, but the German High Command prefers not to make the facts known throughout Germany, as this would probably give the enemy valuable information as to what part to bomb next. A similar argument is that tho enemy sooner or later will learn the facts, but as late as possible. When the time arrives making it possible to inform the German people of the results of British bombing they will learn that the actual destruction falls behind British expectations.” GERMAN REPORT BRITISH RECONNAISSANCE ATTEMPTED (Rec. 8 a.m.) LONDON, August 19. The Berlin Propaganda Ministry reports that German sentries on the sand dunes near Calais on a stormy night recently saw a shadow on the sea. They fired a Vercy light, revealing two large British motor boats full of men GOyds from the beach. The Germans opened fire and the British replied with french mortars, causing German casualties. A landing was prevented, but it was impossible to determine whether or not the boats were hit. ” Apparently the British were attempting an armed reconnaissance.” bomb explosions in guba THE CASUALTIES UNKNOWN (Rec. 8 a.m.) HA VANN A, Ang. 19. Two bomb explosions in tho centre of the shipping district occurred shortly before midnight. It is reported that three or four more bombings occurred in widely-separated parts of the city. The casualties are not known.

WELL PLASTERED

COLOGNE AND DUISBURG HIDE AND SEEK WITH SEARCHLIGHTS (British Official Wireless.) (Roc. noon.) RUGBY 7 , August 19. Once more the Germans appear to have brought up a now defence for the Ruhr and Rliineland, the Air -Ministry news service states in describing last night's R.A.l l ’. attack. One bomber was held over Cologne by the searchlights for a whole hour, while there was fierce anti-aircraft fire from both sides of the river. But the weather was on the side of the attackers, and they dropped load after load of incendiaries and high explosives on the factories and railways of Cologne ami Duisburg. ” We played our usual game of hide and seek with the searchlights and anti-aircraft fire,” said a roar gunner, “ and didn’t let tho fireworks put us off. As we turned sharply away from Cologne after the bombing. I could see our own fires adding to the light of those there before.’ There were as many large fires at Duisburg as at Cologne, including a great oil fire on the west bank of the river opposite the inland _ docks. It was burning explosively, with a heavy cloud of black smoke over it. DUNKIRK DOCKS BOMBED (British Official Wireless.) (Roc. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, August 19. An Air Ministry communique, dealing with R.A.F. night activity, states that another force of the Bomber Command effectively bombed the docks at Dunkirk. Light of our aircraft are missing. Fighter Command aircraft on offensive patrol attacked enemy airfields in occupied territory during the, night. TWO PILOTS RESCUED IN CHANNEL (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11.25 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 19. The rescues of R.A.F. pilots arc described by the Air Ministry in its account of to-day’s fighter sweep over Northern France, in which eight enemy machines were destroyed Six R.A.F. aircraft wore lost, but the pilots of two are safe. Both were rescued by tho air sea rescue service. One is a Belgian who shot down a Messerschmitt yesterday. He climbed into his rubber dinghy when he came down in the water, and was picked up an hour later. AIR OPERATIONS OVER BRITAIN NOTHING TO REPORT (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, August 20. Regarding air operations over Britain, tho Ministry for Home Security again states there is nothing to report. SHOT DOWN AT SEA ATTACKING ENEMY PLANE (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9.10 a.m.) RUGBY, August 19. An Admiralty communique states that a Junkers 88 which attacked a group of minesweepers was shot down at sea. It was hit by light anti-air-craft fire from minesweepers in the group and by a shell from H.M. trawler Charles Doran. There were no casualties or damage to our ships.

ATTACK OH ATLANTIC CONVOY

ENEMY PLANE'S HARROW ESCAPE A BRITISH FIGHT (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 1.35 p.m. RUGBY, August 19.) A Fockewulf Condor, when on its way to attack Atlantic convoys, was intercepted by an American-built LockhecdHudson ‘of the R.A.F. Coastal Command, and only escaped minus a bomb load with some damage and probable casualties. The fight, which took place a few feet above sea level, ended after 19 minutes, when the Condor lied with her cannon and one machine gun out of action. The two aircraft roareil around each other till they were at point-blank range, when bullets from the Hudson’s rear turret were seen to pour into tho Condor’s fuselage. When the Hudson climbed to got into a better attacking position the Condor took advantage of the opportunity to make off at top speed. The Hudson had not enough petrol to follow and then get home. NEW BRITISH BOMBS BERLIN’S BIG MISTAKE ZURICH, August li). In an article in tho ‘ Nouczuerelier Zoitnug,’ a writer recently arrived from Germany declares that the new British bombs are fitted with a propeller, for which reason the people of Berlin hope that they aro sea torpedoes which are being used, because- that would moan that British factories have been destroyed and Britain’s stocks of bombs exhausted. TOBRUK SECTOR HEAVY ENEMY SHELLFIRE (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, August 19. A Cairo General Headquarters communique states: ” At Tobruk there was heavy enemy shellfire on one sector. Our artillery obtained many direct hits on parties of the enemy. In the Western Desert the situation remains unchanged.”-

SAFE RETURN

MR CHURCHILL BACK IN BRITAIN IMPORTANCE OF “ ATLANTIC CHARTER" GCAL FOR FREEDOM-LOVING PEOPLES (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright (Rec. 9.35 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug. TJ. Thankfulness was generally expressed this morning at the safe return of Mr Churchill to Britain after the meeting at sea with President Roosevelt. ‘ The Times’ says: “The journey which he and his staff of advisers made could not be without its hazards, however powerful the battleship on which ho travelled to and from the momentous meeting, and however numerous and alert tho escort. These hazards are now in the past. It was well worth while to accept thorn. The meeting and its results grow in importance as they are measured. President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill both deserve the highest credit for the form of consultation adopted, not so much because it was dramatic, though it is not unimportant that it should touch the world’s imagination, as because it was direct. It established personal contacts which must bo of the highest value for all future exchanges of views and contacts, not only between the President and tho Prime Minister, but between the directing minds of the fighting services of both free nations. The common understanding reached by the men responsible for the actual conduct of the war and tho joint consideration of contingencies in the near future constitute a great and important gam. “ This war is not solely a matter of men, munitions, and machines. It is also a conflict of ideas. In their declaration of common principles in the Charter of the Atlantic, as it has been called, Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill provided a great goal for all freedom-loving peoples and a great weapon for use in this struggle. The real opportunity will come for a well-based, consistent, and energetic campaign on the political side. It can and must bo taken. It may be too early to speak of the Atlantic conferences as the turning point in the war. But they hold that promise, and its fulfilment must lie in the decisions and exertions of the coming weeks and months.” WONDERFUL RECEPTION AMAZING SCENES AT STATION (Rec. 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 19. An/azing scenes marked tho arrival of Mr Churchill in London. When the train pulled into the station the official party, comprising generals, admirals, air marshals, and leading members of Cabinet, led by Mrs Churchill, ran down the platform to greet Mr Churchill, livery vantage point - overlooking the platform was thronged with people. Mr Churchill’s first words were: “ It is good to be back in London again.” Mr A. V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty), was greeted by Mr Churchill with the remark: ” You have done it very well,” in a tribute to the way the Navy carried him safely on his historic journey. Mr Alexander replied: “The Royal Navy was proud to carry you, but your safe return has taken a load off my mind.” Terrific cheers swelled around them as the official party crossed the station approach to the car. Mr Churchill time and time again raised his cap in acknowledgment. The crowd at the station was so great that the traffic had to be held np and a -passage cleared for Mr Churchill’s ea r. Mr Peter Fraser was among the party which met Mr Churchill. He received a hearty handshake as he congratulated Mr Churchill on his achievement. Mr Fraser later attended a War Cabinet meeting. LUNCHEON WITH KING CHEERING CROWDS IN STREETS (British Official Wireteu.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, August 19. Mr Churchill had an audience with the King to-day, , and afterwards lunched with His Majesty at Buckingham Palace. Mr Churchill was loudly cheered by a large crowd as ho drove from Downing Street. KING SEES FILM (British Official Wirelesi.) (Rec. 11.50 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 19. The King visited the Ministry of Information to-day for a view at the private show of the newsreel depicting the meeting of Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill. RECORD OF HISTORIC MEETING MR CHURCHILL WITNESSES FILM (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 19. This afternoon Mr Churchill, accompanied by Mrs Churchill, witnessed at a private showing at the Ministry of Information a film of his meeting with President Roosevelt. TO BROADCAST (British Official Wirelesi.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY 7 , August 19. Mr Churchill will broadcast next Sunday at 0 p.m. British standard time.

ENEMY CONVOY

SUCCESSFUL AIR ATTACK TWO MERCHANTMEN AMD TANKER DESTROYED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 19. A communique issued by Headquarters of the R.A.F. in the Middle East states: “ Swordfish aircraft of the fleet Air Arm carried out a highly-successful attack on an enemy convoy consisting of five large merchant vessels and a tanker, escorted by six destroyers, in the central Mediterranean during the night of August 17-18. A vessel of 6,001) tons was hit by a torpedo and sank after two hours. The tanker was also hit by a torpedo, and a violent explosion followed. Aircraft which shadowed the remainder of the convoy reported later that the tanker was still on lire and had stopped. There followed a scene of considerable confusion. Anti-aircraft guns fired in all directions without a definite target. The second merchantman was • then torpedoed, and a reconnaissance the following day showed that it had been beached at Lampedusa Island. The ship was there attacked by Blenheims, and a direct hit with a heavy bomb set it on fire. Volumes of black smoke poured from the ship. . n 11 Heavy bombers of the R.A.l'. raided Benghazi and Tripoli during the night of August 17-18. At Benghazi the harbour and shipping were attacked. Bombs were observed to burst on the bases of> the Juliana, Cathedral, and central moles and railway sidings. An explosion and several fives resulted. At Tripoli the harbour was bombed. ' Hits on the Spanish mole and the fort caused a number of explosions. “ An attempt by a large force of ML 109’s and ME 110’s to attack shipping off the Egyptian coast yesterday was foiled by Tomahawk aircraft of the R.A.F., which gave combat to ME 109 s and compelled the _ME 110’s tp drop their bombs some miles from the target. “In the Wolchefit, Debarech, and Gondar areas in Abyssinia aircraft of the R.A.F. and the S.A.A.F. have been co-operating in machine-gunning and bombing enemy positions. Direct hits were scored on huts and buildings, and Fascist headquarters wore destroyed. A number of fierce fires were started. “ Operating off Malta, a Hurricane intercepted and shot down a Caproni seaplane. . , . “ From all these operations two of our aircraft are missing.” ATTEMPT TO REACH MALTA THREE ENEMY AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 13.30 p.m.) RUGBY, August 19. An agency message states that British fighters were successful in intercepting enemy aircraft which approached Malta this morning. They shot down three without loss to themselves. One raider was shot down in flames over Sicily.

FOUR MILLION TORS

ENEMY SHIPPING LOSSES RUSSIAN CLAIMS INCLUDED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9.10 a.m.) RUGBY, August 19. It is officially revealed in London that the total enemy tonnage lost (captured, sunk, and scuttled) to August 16 was 4,007,000 tons, comprising 2,321,000 tons German, 1.533.000 Italian, 34,000 Finnish, and 119,000 useful to the enemy. Of the just over 4,000,000 tons, 696.000 have been sunk since June 10. These figures include 51 ships of an estimated tonnage of 200,000 claimed to have been sunk by the Russians.

MR CHURCHILL IH ICELAND ASSURANCES TO PEOPLE LONDON, August 19. e We came here to keep the Germans away from Iceland,” Mr Churehill told cheering crowds gathered outside Parliament House, when he visited Reykjavik on August 16. Addressing them from the balcony, he said; “Wo will trouble your life as little as possible, and guarantee, together with the United States, that after the war your culture will be linked with a free future.” He gaye the “ V ” sign when stepping ashore at Reykjavik. . Although the exact day on which Mr Churchill left Britain for the meeting with President Roosevelt has not been revealed, Mr Churchill must have been absent from London for nearly a fortnight. It is reported that Mr Churchill has been compiling a full, detailed record of his conference with President Roosevelt for preservation in Whitehall archives. VISIT MUCH APPRECIATED (Rec. 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 19. Mr Churchill won all hearts at Reykjavik on the occasion of his recent visit. It is the subject of many leaders in the Reykjavik Press, one declaring that it was fitting that the smallest democratic nation in the world should be the first to be visited by the British Prime Minister after the historic conference with President Roosevelt. LORD HALIFAX RETURNING TO LONDON (Rec. 8 a.m.) ■ WASHINGTON. August 19. Lord Halifax paid a final visit to the Under-Secretary of State. Mr Sumner Welles. He returns to London some time -this week.

CRITICAL

AMERICAN-JAPANESE RELATIONS VERY NEAR BREAKING POINT AMBASSADOR'S GRAVE WARNING Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, August 19. The representative of the United Press in Tokio says: “ The relations between the United States and Japan admittedly were near breaking point to-day following the conference between the American Ambassador, Mr Joseph Grew, and the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Toyoda, at which the former is reported to have issued a warning that American pressure will be intensified unless Japan makes fundamental changes in her foreign policy. “ It is understood that Mr Toyoda refused to make any pledge to Mr Grew, but it was reported that he did nob reiterate his past statements that Japanese policy is based on the tripartite Axis pact The past 24 hours have seen an exceedingly acute strain, but the negotiations have not yet passed from the diplomatic stage. The outlook, however, is admittedly not bright. The United States is understood to be attempting to confine the immediate situation to the status of Americans in Japanese-controlled areas, and other technical points resulting from America’s freezing action, Tokio, on the other band, insists on a broader discussion of Japanese-American relations, including Japan’s greater Far East programme. “ Following the conference the Japanese Foreign Office protested against the United States insinuations that Americans were being held in Japan as hostages. The Foreign Office alleges that Washington misrepresented Japan’s position regarding the refusal of permission for the President Coolidgo to call at a Japanese port and pick up 100 Americans. The Foreign Office will make a statement shortly.” A message from Washington states that Mr Cordell Hull stated that Japan had not given a satisfactory explanation of the refusal to permit Americans to depart. AMERICANS IN JAPAN RESTRICTIVE MEASURES (Rec. 8 a.m.) TOKIO, August 19. Count Ishii said'Americans can leave Japan “ only if the Japanese Government gives them permission.” He added that their position must be considered individually. Count Ishii said no ’Americans would be permitted to leave unless the United States sent a ship. He claimed that the American Embassy had promised that only 22 officials would leave by the liner Collidge if she came to Japan. Then they tried to send 100 civilians, whereupon Japan broke off the Collidge discussions. REGULATIONS APPLY TO ALL FOREIGNERS LONDON, August 20. A Japanese Embassy spokesman, speaking on the President Coolidge affair, stated that the regulations under which the Americans are being detained has no connection with the present situation. He stated that changes to tho regulations had been under consideration for more than a year and applied to all nations and not to. America alone. He. added that it would ba a foolish matter to hold a handful of Americans when there were thousands of Japanese in the United States. * ——— BARTER AGREEMENT REPORT FROM JAPANESE SOURCE (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) SINGAPORE, August 19. Tho Japanese-owned ‘ Herald 1 states that a barter agreement between Britain and Japan through tho Bank of England and the Yokohama Specie Bank is nearing conclusion. It provides for the exchange of materials winch are not used for war purposes; for instance, Australian wool, Indian cotton, and Malayan products for Japanese cement, textiles, and certain foodstuffs. WITHOUT FOUNDATION (Ree. 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 19. Viscount Kano said tho Singapore report of an Anglo-Japanese barter agreement was without foundation. SUBMARINE OVERDUE GERMANS ANNOUNCE CREW PRISONERS LONDON, August £O. The Admiralty reports that H.M. submarine Cachalot is overdue and must be presumed lost. The Cachalot is a submarine minelayer of 1,500 tons. The German radio has announced that the crew of 35 are prisoners of war in Germany. TURKISH TRADE BRITAIN BENEFITS LONDON, August 19. The Ankara correspondent of the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says Britain and the. Empire are benefiting from tlia breakdown of transport between Germany and Turkey, which is upsetting Turkish-German trade. British purchases in Turkish markets during tho last 12 months totalled about £4.400.000. Turkish orders from Britain include 23,000 tons of steel and 10,000 tons of sugar.