INTENSE DRIVES

Evening Star, Issue 24006, 3 October 1941, Page 5

INTENSE DRIVES

NAZI PREPARATIONS REINFORCEMENTS FOR LENINGRAD BRITISH AND RUSSIAN AIRMEN IN ACTION Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright (Rec. 2 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 2. News from the Russian front indicates that the Germans are preparing intense drives in the Leningrad and Ukraine areas, and are rushing reinforcements to Leningrad, . , The Berlin News Agency denied the Russian claim to have sunk a 0,000-ton cruiser. The latest Russian communique reports heavy fighting all along the whole of the eastern front, 'Short, sharp knocks to the enemy in one sector of the Ukraine resulted in his losing 3,000 killed and 500 prisoners, with much equipment captured. British and Russian airmen have heen in action side by side, says tho ‘ Red Star.’ British and Russian planes took off when large forces of German bombers came over with tho intention of attacking aerodromes, shot down 10 of the attackers, and- scattered the others without loss to themselves. Many of the British pilots fought over England before going of tho East. Tho Russians are unanimous that the British Hurricanes are faster and have greater gun power than the best German fighters. On the other hand, the British pilots are lotul in their praise of tho Russ’an 1.-17 fighter and dive bomber. A German communique reports; “ Operations on tiro eastern front aro proceeding according to.plan. During the encircling operations eastwards of the Dniener the Italians took prisoner oVcr 8.000 and inflicted bloodv looses on the enemv. The Luftwaffe la«-t night bombed Moscow and Leningrad.

RUSSIAN VICTORY

I THE KOLPINO SECTOR i ! LONDON, October 1. | The Stockholm correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says tho Russian drive to Kol* } pino was the strongest of four thrusts which forced back the Germans in confusion. Simultaneously the German right wing was subjected to the greatest pressure to prevent the despatch of reinforcements to Kolpino. The Russians penetrated so far in tho Kolpino sector that all the German troops eastward as far as Shluaselburg were forced to retreat. Troops of the Leningrad garrison joined up with units of Marshal Voroshilov’s forces and reopened tho railway to Moscow. The Germans only halted the Russian counter-attack by rushing up fresh Gorman motorised divisions and strong formations of divoi bombers. The - correspondent adds: South-east-ward and eastward of Leningrad General von Leeb now finds himself back in tho position ho was in early in September.' According to the Stockholm correspondent of tho ‘ Daily Telegraph,’ the Russians aro_ following up their attack around Kolpino by a general counteroffensive in all sectors of the Leningrad front. Tho attacks at Kolpino were preceded by a tremendous artillery barrage, in which the heavy guns of a Soviet warship participated, after which powerful forces of the heaviest and newest tanks turned out by Leningrad’s shock workers drove out the Germans headlong from a prepared position. The opposing forces for some time i were locked so tightly together that i neither side’s artillery could be used for j fear of slaughtering their own men. The Russian victory is new and encouraging support for the view widely hold in Stockholm that the Germans will not capture Leningrad this year. The Moscow radio, referring to these thrusts, said: “Four more areas have been occupied round Leningrad. Tho Germans lost 2.000 dead in one village in two days of fighting and 600 in another.” The Russian admission that Poltava was lost was not unexpected. It docs not mark any important change since tho week-end, because the main Ger- ' man forces in this sector wore checked in the drive towards Kharkov, some distance nearer Kharkov last week. The Moscow radio to-night reported that tho first fall of snow on the Ukraine front began yesterday, and is continuing. Snow is also falling at Leningrad, where tho weather is bad. A Moscow spokesman said that in the course of oyer 30 German raids on the Russian capital only 100 bombers of the 2,500 which had made attempts had actually penetrated tho city’s defences to drop their loads. The Luftwaffe had lost over 170 planes during thoir two months’ attempts on the city, 110 planes being destroyed by Russian night fighters, 60 by anti-aircraft gunfire, and three by the balloon barrage.

limits FOR STU

CHURCHILL-ROOSEVELT PERSONAL LETTERS AMERICAN EXPERTS IN MOSCOW (Roc. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON', Oct. 2. Lord Bcaverbroolc and Mr Mamma n, at a Dross conference in Moscow, revealed that they had brought personal letters from Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt to M. Stalin. Mr Hardman said he was leaving a number of American experts in Moscow, while some United States officers were coming to Moscow in connection with the supply of planes and other equipment to Russia.

AID FOR RUSSIA

THAHSPCRT MAIN PROBLEM THREE ROUTES AVAILABLE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 1. The British. American, and Soviet Conference held its second plenary session in Moscow this afternoon, and afterwards, according to Press messages, the delegates attended a reception given by the Soviet Government. The six committees established to discuss various aspects of the supply question completed their work last'night and presented reports to to-day’s conference. Originally the committees wore instructed to complete their work by Friday morning, hut urgency and speed have provided the keynote of the conference) The speed with which the six committees reported to the conference is unparalleled, according to a statement made in London to-day by Mr Laurence .T. Cadbury, managing director of Cadbury’s. Discussing the problems of supplies for Russia, Mr Cadbury revealed that the problem was not one of supplies. There had been little difficulty about foods themselves or about financial agreements. The Russian ships had quickly been put into service, including many which were laid up at Hongkong, Shanghai, Vladivostok, and so on. The main difficulty was transportation. At Archangel it was the chief problem. Opinions varied on the feasibility of using the port during the . coming months. Pessimists declared that it would be icebound after November 15, while a more hopeful view was that the Russian authorities would he able to keep it open throughout the winter. A port accustomed to handle timber must be adapted to handle Other supplies, said Mr Cadbury, and such readjustments and the consequent speed-up in the turn round constitute the main problems at Archangel. The Vladivostok route was good, but expensive. A third route was via the Persian Gulf. The methods of bringing supplies had been improved by the position in Iran, where the railways had been taken over.

With regard to the slight reticence which the Russian authorities had shown when the mission arrived in Moscow, Mr Cadbury thought this might now have been modified. Lord Beaverbrook had now seen M. Stalin on three occasions, and M. Litvinov, who was particularly friendly to Britain, had been appointed- to tho conference, which is now sitting. DUTCH EAST INDIES ASSIST GOODS SHIPPED FROM SOURABAYA (Rec. 8 a.m.) BATAVIA, Oct. 2. Tho Netherlands East Indies for some weeks has been taking part in tho flow of materials to Russia, whose ships took in at Sourabaya rubber, oil, and tin, and sailed for Vladivostok. Immediately after the outbreak of the German-Russian War Dutch East Indies exporters attempted to _ make contact with the Russian authorities. However, they did not succeed. Direct transactions between Moscow and Batavia must apparently be via London for financial reasons. STRUNG COALITION OF POWERS " WILL ERADICATE NA*I POISON " LONDON, Oct. 2. M. Molotov said: “There has at last emerged against Hitler a coalition of Powers which will know how to eradicate the Nazi poison from Europe and tho menace it represents for all countries loving independence and freedom. Russia has experienced an attack from tho Hitlerite hordes, but. she will not be broken. On tho contrary, she will be strengthened. Russia’s conviction in victory over tho sworn enemy of all freedom-loving countries is unshakable.” RELIEF FUNDS FOR CHINA BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S CONTRIBUTION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 1. His Majesty’s Government has agreed to send £5,000 to the British fund for the relief of distress in China. This was stated in tho House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary, Mr Anthony Eden, who said tho fund will bo used to meet the expenditure on tho maintenance of ambulance units, the treatment of sick and wounded soldiers, and relief activities generally in the war zone of free China. LORD HALIFAX RETURN TO AMERICA (Ree. 8 a.m.) NEW . YORK, Oct. 2. Lord Halifax (British Ambassador to America) arrived by clipper. He told a Press conference that the United States and Britain have a groat new obligation to give all possible help to Russia as quickly as possible. lie added that the public would bo astonished if they knew how much had been sent already.

R.A.F. RAIDS

HEAVY BOMEING ATTACKS WEDNESDAY'S OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS (UnlUli Official Wireless.) IiUGMY. October 1. The Air Ministry Nows Service states ; Thu Fighting Command's latest Hurricanes attacked a formation of eight enemy 10-boats off the French coast oa Wednesday evening. They dived on the E-boats and all the pilots saw their shells anti machine gun bullets going homo. Each pilot made two attacks. Members of the crew of o.ne boat were seen to fall into the sea. while another boat sent up sheets of llamo. All the German vessels were brought to a standstill and one of the pilots reported that ho could sec iu his mirror dense columns of smoke arising from one vessel as he loft.

Flying ovor France on the way to attack the industrial and shipbuilding centres of Nantes and St. Na zaire on Tuesday night, Beaufort aircraft of the Coastal Command, swept .so low over towns and villages that people rushed from houses to flash victory signs with pocket torches. When the Heanforts arrived over Nantes the crows saw two largo buildings “ as big as half a dozen hangars.” Outlined by the moon. Sticks of high explosives and incendiary bombs, states the Air Ministry News Service, were unloaded, and the buildings were left wrecked and in (lames. The pilots could see the blaze far away. Meanwhile renewed attacks were made on Stettin and Hamburg, fully as effective as the previous night. At Stettin fires were very widespread and flames lit up waterways and many ether places which pointed thu way to the docks and railways. They also lit up oil storage tanks, and when these in turn were bombed clouds of black smoke showed that the contents wore burning. The details of blazing buildings could be picked out and one reargunner saw the roof of a large building ‘‘sent sky high.” The members of another crew counted 24_ separate fires as they came away. When they had flown 50 miles a red glow still tinted the clouds.

Heavy explosions, flames in dock areas, ami bursts in the railways were seen by the crews which attacked Hamburg. A thin haze which lay over the city was illuminated with continual flashes of bursting bombs. One aircraft after it had dropped its bombs flew along the 'River Elbe many miles at less than 100 ft. with both gunners shooting up all the ships they could see Whitleys and Hampdens, as well as Wellingtons, made up a force which at the same hour was attacking Cherbourg. Hero the moon shone brilliantly, Our aircraft left great clouds of smoko shot with the glow of many fires. HEAVY WINTER BOMBING ITALY WILL HAVE FULL SHARE LONDON* Oct. 2. The Press Association states that Italy is likely to have a full share of the R.A.F.’s heavy winter bombing. LATEST OPERATIONS RESTRICTED SMALL FORCE BOMBS STUTTGART (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 2. An Air Ministry communique states: Operations by aircraft of the Bomber Command were restricted last night by unfavourable weather, but a small force bombed objectives at Stuttgart and elsewhere in south-west-ern and western Germany. Bombs were also dropped on tho docks at Calais, Boulogne and Ostcnd. Ono enemy night fighter was destroyed and another damaged during these operation. Aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked enemy 7 shipping off the Frisian Islands during the night. A merchant vessel was hit and set on fire. From these operations one aircraft of the Bomber Command is missing. ATTACKS ON SUPPLY SHIPS GOOD RESULTS ACHIEVED ,• (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 2. A single squadron of tho R.A.F. Coastal Command, which bombed two Gorman supply ships on Tuesday night, cither sinking or severely damaging them, attacking another two ships last night, states the Air Ministry’s news service.

Tho latest' 1 attack was made by the pilots of tiro Hudsons, each finding an enemy convoy steaming close inshore to the Dutch coast, well protected by A.A. ships. The first pilot bombed his ship with delayed-action bombs from a height of 30ft. He scored a direct hit and left the ship with a largo column of smoke rising from her. Tho second pilot picked out a tanker, which was flying protective balloons. His gunner saw a flash on the tanker’s bows and splashes a few vards to either side of her. Both aircraft flow through intense A.A. fire to reach their targets, and their gunners returned the fire. This squadron, which has become a menace to all German shipping along the Dutch const, has been recently formed, and is manned largely by Canadian air crews. SMART WORK DAMAGED BOMBERS REPAIRED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 1 p.m.) (RUGBY, October _2. Working incessantly day and night, and barelv stopping for food, a ground staff of tho South African Air Force repaired nine shrapnel-riddled bombers in 48 hours, states the Air Ministry News Service. The squadron had carried out a hazardous operation fearlessly during an intense anti-aircraft barrage to bomb a given target. Although only one aircraft was lost some of the others had difficulty in reaching their base..

FRIGE RESURGEIT

A NEW SPIRIT ILL-BODING FOR INVADER (British Official Wireless.) (Itcc. noon.) P.UGBY, Oct. 2. General do Gaulle, speaking in Londoii, said: " France, crushed, pillaged, and betrayed, is recovering. Despite the maltreatment and lies by which the invader and bis accomplices are determined to keep her down, vast secret activity is going on in the spirit of the people. The internal divisions of the past, which were played upon by the oppressor to turn the fury of the French against themselves, have g’vcn place to national fraternity, and terrible hatred of the enemy and the collaborators are coining to light. “Countless and bloody proofs'show that little by little national union—that which upheld Joan of Arc's mission, gave rise to the martial effort of the Devolution, and sustained Poincare and Cleiucneean—‘s forming again in resistance. It seems to mo that this is already a reward for noble and valiant Groat Britain, which has for 15 months upheld in so many ways the courage of her temporarily overthrown Ally. It seems to me that this is tbo first, but n. striking, justification of the policy of confidence followed by His Majesty’s Government with regard to Frenchmen who have refused to despair of France. “ The same feelings and the same determination which animate the Free French, ’and which have enabled them to bring back into the war for liberation an important part of the empire as well as valuable sea and air forces, and a remarkable spiritual and moral influence, are coming to light among the vast majority of the French. A permanent current now exists between the thoughts and desires of compatriots ill Paris, Lyons. Marseilles, Lille, Rennes, or Strasbourg, and the thoughts and desires of compatriots in Brazzaville, Biornt. Damascus. Noumea, London, or New York. Little by little, a vast French resistance is forming again, and we are justified in believing that it will have an increasing influence on the events of the war, and that on the day of final triumph for tho Allies it will place French democracy, renewed by its trials, on a level with victory. “To organise and direct this resistance, not alone in territories which already have been freed, but throughout the whole of Franco and the Empire —such is the primary task assumed by tho French National Committee. It will do so by a delegation of people who approve of this action, and to whom it will render account. It will do so by shaping tho nation’s efforts towards liberation, excluding none, other than those who exclude themselves.”

MIDDLE EAST WAR COUNCIL MINISTERIAL STATEMENT WORKING SATISFACTORILY (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 2. Mr Oliver Lyttelton, Minister of State in the Middle East, made a statement in the House of Commons regarding tho organisation ho had set up, and gave details of the Middle Eastern War Council, of which ho is chairman. The council consists of the British Ambassador in Cairo,'the com-mandcrs-in-chief of three services, and tho Inteudaut-Gcneral. The Ambassador at Bagdad, tho High. Commissioner for Palestine, the Governor of Cyprus, and the Governor of Aden were members, and attended 7 hcii Alley were able. There was also a Middle Eastern supply centre, which worked in close liaison with the Eastern Supply Group at Delhi, and was concerned with a wide range of military and civil supplies over the whole area. Mr Lyttelton said he held regular meetings with the throe commanders-in-chief in order to deed witn purely service matters, and relieve them of as many extraneous responsibilities as possible. His own office in Cairo was organised on the same lilies as the Caeinet office in London, and the total of the staff numbered 26. The whole organisation, which included a propaganda department, was as simple and small as possible, and after three months’ experience he was able to assure the House that it was working satisfactorily. WOLCHEFIT GARRISON ITALIANS SURRENDER A GALLANT DEFENCE (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 1 p.m.) RUGBY, October 2. Reports from Nairobi regarding the surrender of the Italian gaprisou at Wolohefit, holding a key position 50 miles north-east of Goudar, to Imperial and patriot forces show that the garrison numbered 71 Italian officers, 1 ; 560 Italian troops, and 1,300 African troops, and was about a quarter of the total of the Italian forces defending Gondar and the neighbourhood. They held what appeared to bo impregnable positions on tho great ramp-liko mountain tops of Wolcheftt, which rise 5,000 ft above sea level. Imperial patrols had been raiding into the enemy defences for a period of several months, while patriot forces, led by British officers, operating to tho south near Dabat, were able to cut off tho garrison’s communications with Gondar. The only means of rcvictualling tho garrison had been by air, but this had been stopped by the presence recently of British planes. The Italians had only sufficient food to last them until tho end of September, when they surrendered. They were accorded the honours of war after a gallant defence. AMERICAN EAGLE SQUADRON HAVOC AMONG MESSERSGHMITTS LONDON. October 3.

The American Eagle Squadron has been in action in a sweep over enemyoccupied territory, its pilots shooting down four Mosserechmitts without loss to themselves. They dived to the attack in among 25 Messerschmitts,

JAPAN’S REASONABLENESS

MERELY MILITARY CAMOUFLAGE OVERTHROW OF MODERATE CABINET LIKELY NEW YORK, Oct. 1. “ The overthrow of Prince Konoye’s moderate Cabinet and the re-emei‘-genco of Mr Matsuoka arc expected, as signs multiply that tho_ talks between Japan and the United States have reached a stalemate,” says the New York ‘ Times ’ correspondent in the Far Fast, Mr Hallett Abend, who is now at: Manila. “ Prince t Konoye will probably survive a Cabinet reshuffle, while Mr Matsuoka, whose policy ted Japan into the Axis Pact, will return with strong extremist support. Significantly, Tokio announced that Sir Matsuoka wiys now regaining his health, tho loss of which was given out ns tho reason for his resignation from the Cabinet. Meanwhile, informed observers in the Far East eXipress amazement at tho persistence of the belief - that Japanese moderates are able to influence the country’s policy. On the contrary, recent evidence of Japan's reasonableness has been merely militarist camouflage to prevent the necessity of fighting a major Power in defence of Japan’s earlier conquests. They would agree to an understanding with the United States only oh terms safeguarding all the advances made in Asia.” . The Tokio correspondent of the ' Herald-Tribune ’ says the Japanese are expressing ahxiety at the threePower talks in Moscow having been extended to include the Far East. This, it is claimed, increases the difficulty of attaining a United States-Japanese agreement.

TOBRUK AREA

BRITISH ARTILLERY ACTIVE ' A FEW BOMBS DROPPED ON CYPRUS (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11 a.Ui.) RUGBY, October 2. A Cairo communique states i “ Although the duststotm m Libya continued unabated yesterday, our artillery effectively engaged enemy positions facing tho south-west sector of the Tobruk defences causing casualties and forcing the enemy to withdraw. In the frontier area our patrols are continuing tlieir aggressive activities,” A Nicosia states that enemy aircraft crossed tho* Cyprus coast on Thursday. A few bombs were dropped in the open country in the central part of the island. There was no damage and there were no casualties. NAZI TRADE DELEGATES OVERTURES TO TURKEY LAST EFFORTS BEING MADE LONDON, October 2. Apparently under instructions from Berlin, whicli is trying a last effort to break through Turkish resistance in the German trade negotiations, Herr von Rapen and Dr Clodius cancelled their departures from Ankara. Reuter’s Ankara correspondent says Turkey refused a German request to revalue the mark at 65 piastres, compared with 60.5 as at present. Turkey also insisted on a credit limit under which caeh country’s purchases of goods would be limited while previous orders were undelivered. Dr Clodius’s solo success appears to be an agreement for the fixation of prices. TURKEY S CHROME SUPPLIES IMPORTATION TO GERMANY UNLIKELY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 1. The Turkish Government luri been requested by the German trade delegation, under Dr Clodius, to deliver certain quantities of chrome to Germany in exchange for German manufactured goods. It is known in authoritative sources that the Turkish Government lias not agreed to deliver any chrome to Germany, where it would form an extremely valuable addition to the Gorman resources of raw materials for armament production, and there appears to be every reason to hope that the Turkish Government will maintain this position. As regards chrome supplies, which Britain at present imports from Turkey, the whole amount is being sent to America. FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA AMERICAN MISSION EH ROUTE NEW YORK, (Rec. 1.15 p.m.)- Oct. 2. A United States mission, including representatives of the army, navy, and State Department, is en route to Brazzaville for discussions with tho Free French authorities, says the United Press Asociatisou’s Washington correspondent, Tho officials stated that the mission did hot indicate that definite plans had been adopted for closer co-operation with the de Gaullo movement or a < departure from the recognition of Vichy. The mission would see what could bo done for the mutual benefit in Jie war against the Axis, The officials emphasised that the army’s interest in tho mission was above that of the navy and State Department. It is assumed that the mission will explore the possibilities of increased trade in articles needed by tho United States for defence. GERMAN CLOTHING RATION REDUCTION OF THIRTY PER CENT. LONDON, October 3. In Germany there is a reduction of 30 per cent, in the clothing ration. The people are being told that the shortage is because clothes are needed for the troops.

OCCUPIED COUNTRIES

NAZI BRUTALITY CONTINUES HOKE EXECUTIONS IK CZECHO-SLOVAKIA LONDON, October 1. The Prague radio announced that Heydrich extended tho state of emergency to three more districts in Bohemia and Moravia—namely, Hodonia, tfherskeradiste, and Uncfskcbrod. The names of 30 persons executed in the Banat region were printed in the Hungarian Government newspaper ‘ Magyarsag,* in which It was stated that those who wore arrested and charged With sabotage Were reported to be mostly Jews and Serbs, After further sabotage 12 more wore executed and suspended in the main square of one town for 24 hours after execution. A secret radio in Bohemia picked up reports that partisan fighting _ has greatly increased in the Carpathians. A military train at Sojma was derailed. Many soldiers were killed and a large amount of war material was destroyed. Partisans blew up an ammunition store, burnt down a coal depot and a petrol dump at Pol,jane. They barricaded a road near Selo, forcing Hungarian motorised forces to halt, and they destroyed it. ADVICE TO CZECHS. The official spokesman for the Benes Government through the > 8.8. C. warned the Czechs against being provoked into open demonstrations, strikes, and rebellions. “ The time is not yet ripe, though it will come. It is possible that German agents posing as Czech patriots may call for strikes, with the purpose of giving Heydrich an excuse for further terrorism.” Speaking from London over the 8.8. C.. the leaders of the Czech army paid a tribute to three executed generals and all the other victims of Heydrich. “We take an oath to revenge their deaths.” A Czech pilot also spoke “ When I release the next bomb over Germany I will not see immovable objects, but the gigantic shadow of Heydrich. I shall hit him right in his heart.” GESTAPO IN RUMANIA. Travellers reaching Istanbul from Rumania report that the Gestapo is now taking action in Bucharest, whore people aro rounded up in the streets for questioning. Bucharest is reported to be devoid of winter supplies of wood, coal, and food. Schools and public buildings have been converted into hospitals, for which Jews have been ordered to hand over 5,000 beds.*

Copies of 20 secret Polish newspapers, printed in half-quarto size for easy handling and disposal, have arrived in London. These spread rapidly after the German in spite of the fact that readers are liable to execution.

WHOLESALE EXECUTIONS TERRORIST CAMPAIGN AGAINST CZECHS 89 SHOT IH FEW DAYS (British Official Wirclet*;) (Received noon.) RUGBY, Oct. 2. \ According to reports reaching London, since Heydrion started his ist campaign in Czecho-Slovakia last Sunday, 89 Czechs have been executed and several hundreds arrested. A state of emergency now applies to nine districts. Executions aro also reported to have taken place during the last few days in Holland and Erance, and it would seem that the Nazis aro making an example of Czecho-Slovakia not only to deter further resistance and sabotage in that country, but also in other occupied countries.

The ruthless imposition of their “ new order ” on an unwilling people daily becomes more severe and gives overincreasing evidence that such will never be accepted except under the harshest enforcement.

TWENTY FRENCHMEN SHQT NO CHARGE OR TRIAL (British Official Wireless.) pße'c. 1 p.m.) RUGBY, October 2. Free French headquarters in London state: “On September 26 20 Frenchmen were shot by the Germans in Lille. The news at first indicated that this shooting had taken place in Belgium. From a depot of explosive material in northern t rance on the night of September 22-23 several cases of high explosives wore stolen, and on the night of September 24-25 a German train transporting ammunition was blown up, as well as two goods trains in the vicinity of Lille. The following day tho Germans arrested and shot 20 French railway workers, who were executed without charge or trial.”

SEARCH FOR " SUSPECTS " GESTAPO COMBING REMOTE VILLAGES (Reo. 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 2. Since the appointment of Heydricb 126 Czechs are reported to have been executed, including 30 yesterday. Another 38 were sentenced to death yesterday, and a further 228 persons who appeared before Moravian and Bohemian courts martial have been handed over to the Gestapo for further interrogation. Reports received at Czech quarters in London reveal that there are many more executions and arrests than thoso officially announced. The Gestapo is hunting in the most remote villages for “ suspects.” Thousands of people have left their homes and arc hiding in the woods and hills. The appalling number of suicides include Dr Rudolf Rumpl, pioneer aeronaut. It is pointed out that nearly all the industrial districts in south Moravia are now under martial law, whereby the Germans are desperately attempting to maintain production. It is reported from Stockholm that Dr Hacha sought to resign as a protest against the mass executions, but the Nazis forced him to remain.

It is officially announced in Berlin that Elias has not yet been executed. He probably appealed to Hitler for clemency.

A message from Bucharest states that Greeks, armed with machine guns, baud grenades, and revolvers, attempted an uprising in the mountain areas around Drama. Police and tho military “ re-established calm,” -