WAR NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 24008, 6 October 1941, Page 3

WAR NEWS

RUTHLESS OPPRESSION UNREST IN OCCUPIED COUNTRIES GESTAPO REIGN .OF TERROR ' CONTINUES ~§ . EXECUTIONS AND HANGINGS (British Official Wireless.) . , Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, October 4. Attention recently has been focused on the German outrages in Czechoslovakia, but information reaching London shows that the Germans are com- ! bating unrest in other occupied countries by the same ruthless oppression. A German commander in Holland announced that the War Court has dealt with the originators of a newly-dis-covered sabotage and espionage organisation. The four principal , accused wpre sentenced to death, and three of them were shot, while the fourth, owing to “ mental inferiority,” had his sentence commuted to life penal servitude. DUTCH DOING THEIR PART. In an interview with the Swedish newspaper, 1 Nye Dag,’ a sailor who recently left Rotterdam declared that the Dutch continue to fight doggedly in spite of persecution and terrorism. Sabotage is frequent. For ‘each German soldier killed, three civilians are shot without trial. He also mentioned a large Communist organisation which distributed stencilled pamphlets that are hidden under table cloths in cafes. The distributors realise that they are placing themselves in the gravest peril, for all Dutchmen accused of Communist activities are now liable to sentence of death. A Reich commissar, when he introduced the death penalty, a measure inspired by fear of anti-German sympathy in the Russian war, declared that anyone carrying out Communist activities, in whatever form, gave undeniable proof of his sympathy with Germany’s enemy. TROUBLE IN NORWAY. Open clashes between German troops and civilians in a town near Trondheim are reported from Norway. Germans in a cafe turned on the wireless for German news, whereupon Norwegians left ;the cafe. The Germans pursued them, fusing revolver butts. The Norwegians retaliated, and the fight spread over the whole town. The Germans lined up the entire male population in the market place of .another town and trained machine-guns oh them. Then a German officer said: “ This display of might is our last warning to you to abandon your anti-German attitude.” The Norwegians were then dismissed.,. Elsewhere the Gestapo’s reign of jterror shows no sign of abating. Germans in Paris disclosed that another 21 persons were shot in the occupied zone, making a total of 71 since the agitation campaign began. A Serbian girl aged 21 was hanged at' Szoged for blowing up a German book shop. According to the Prague radio, 14 snore persons were executed at Prague land Brno, including Colonel Balsban, a former Czech army official. A court martial handed over a further 131 persons to the Gestapo and sentenced to death 13 former Czech army officers. The Polish News Agency says German pffioial figures admit that 150 persons were executed during the past three months. The agency - adds that 40 people die every day in the notorious concentration camp at Oaviecim. It is reported from Zagreb that a German panzer division is moving from south Serbia northwards in the direction of Belgrade with the object of mopping up bands of irregulars. THE CZECH PROCLAMATION. While Hitler, in one" of his rare jjpeecheSj spoke of the extent to which Europe is under his control, a meeting in London of the Czecho-Slovak Government pledged itself to avenge German terrorism and asked for “ strict justice against Germany after the war.” The proclamation stated that the Czechs would hold out in the struggle German suppression until victory was achieved. It added: “The German rulers consummate their crimes jby murdering innocent hostages, and it is a sacred duty of all the decent people of the world not to forget the foul deeds committed by Germany.” The reasons for Germany’s terrorism Campaign in Czeeho-Slovakia were aptly Btated by the Czech Foreign Undersecretary, M. Ripka. He recalled that one-third of Hitler’s war industry was mow concentrated in Czeeho-Slovakia, so that any resistance on the part of the Czechs deeply affected the Nazi war machine. Sabotage and resistance, said IM. Ripka, nowhere in Europe was .organised so systematically as in Czecho-Slovaki a. The German News Agency states that more Czechs, including the former Mayor of Prague, Otokar Klapka, and .three Jews, were executed in Prague. The Moscow News Agency states that [Dr Pravelic has decreed that 10 guerrillas will be shot for every person guilty of attacking the Croat authorities and [who is not discovered within 10 days.

DISMISSED BY HITLER BARON VON NEURATH LONDON, Oct. 5. The Moscow radio stated that Hitler lias dismissed Baron von Neurhth from the Inner Council, of which he was president. Herr Himmler fills the vacancy. TANKS FOR RUSSIA RECORD PRODUCTION WEEK (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. Oct. 4. The Ministry of Supply states that his week’s production of tanks will constitute another record for the first ■week’s production of any month up to date. The impetus of “ Tanks for Russia ” week is continuous..

ECONOMIC WARFARE , \ f AXIS FEELING THE EFFECT NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MILITARY ACTION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 3. A warning that economic warfareefficient as it may be—is not a substitute for military action was given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the .Ministry of Economic Warfare in a speech at Dundee. Mr Dingle Foot said: “ For two years we have been blockading the enemy. Wo have cut off from the beginning his seaborne trade from neutral markets still within his reach. Wo have bought up great quantities of goods he would like to obtain. We have a notable example this week in the failure of the German negotiations in spite of the strongest pressure to secure supplies of Turkish chrome. “ The march of events during the past four months has added very substantially to the effectiveness of our blockade. The Vladivostok leak is now closed, .and the Germans can no longer look to Syria, Persia, or Afghanistan for wool, cotton, and foodstuffs. The Bomber Command is hammering with growing effect at German industrial centres, while the Coastal Command has taken a steadily increasing toll of the enemy’s shipping, thereby throwing- a far greater burden on the German railways. But nowadays the question is often heard if economic warfare is effective and'how comes it that the German armies can still drive forward without any apparent lack of oil or rubber tyres, or indeed any form of military equipment ? The last place you would expect to discover an actual shortage, is among the fighting forces.” “ Tliis is true in the case of countries at war, but applies particularly to the State which adopted the slogan of ‘ Guns, not butter,’ and which with unparalleled thoroughness reduced civilian supplies to the bare minimum in order to feed the war machine. In fact, if the blockade is successful the consequences are likely to appear in four successive stages. The first will be the growing scarcity of consumer goods and services; the second, increasing failure to maintain and replace industrial plant and equipment ; and the third the gradual slowing down of all forms of production. It is only in the fourth stage and after a considerable lapse of time that essential military supplies will no longer be available for the armies in the-field. GREAT PRE-WAR STOCKS. . There is dear evidence that in both Germany and Italy the first two stages are well under way. The Germans have avoided many of the errors of the last war. They laid in great prewar stocks. They specialised in ersatz products and instituted a highly-effi-cient system of rationing. But these economic defences are not impregnable. While British rations have improved German rations .. are deteriorating. Only a short time ago the Germans, in spite of having all the resources of the occupied countries -available, were compelled to cut the meat ration. There are perpetual complaints about the quality of goods obtainable. ■“ But food is probably the least seri--ous preoccupation of the German consumer. If he wishes to obtain a heavy overcoat be must give up no less than 75 per cent, of his clothing coupons for a year and must hand back his old overcoat into the bargain. An increasing number of people are wearing wooden-soled shoes'. The discomforts and delay of German railway travel are serious. To some extent these things are due to the deliberate policy of the German Government. But the marked deterioration in living conditions constitutes the first visible results of our economic warfare. TELLING STRAIN. “ It would be a great mistake, however, to assess the consequences of the blockade simply in terms of diminishing supplies. In so far as it is successful, it produces not only a shortage, but a strain, on the administrative machine, a strain on the resourced of skilled labour, a strain on transport, resulting in a serious loss of mobility, and last, if not least, a strain on the endurance of the population. This last form of strain has been very substantially increased by the air raids over western Germany. The close connection between aerial bombardment and economic warfare has frequently "been [jointed out. Bombs and blockade are a formidable combination. But it should never be supposed that they are sufficient in themselves to win the war. The German people endured immense privations in 1917 and 1918. But it was not until their armies were defeated in the field that the collapse came. It would not have happened without a blockade, hut neither could it have been brought about by a blockade alone. That is why it is absolutely essential that in this war we should continue to build up our own army and with the utmost possible despatch send to our Russian Allies the greatest assistance in our power.”

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER PROMOTION ANNOUNCED (British Official Wireless.) RUfcißY, October 3. The King has approved of the promotion of Major-general the Duke of Gloucester to be lieutenant-general (supernumerary to the establishment) with effect from September 17. The ‘ London Gazette ’ also announces the promotion of the Duke from Air ViceMarshal to Air Marshal, with effect from the same date. The Duke, who is 41, has been a soldier since he joined the King’s Rifle Corps at the age of 19. He was mentioned in dispatches in December, 1940, for his work with the B.E.F. He is a qualified R.A.F. pilot and is entitled to wear wings. CANADIAN NAVAL EASE CONSTRUCTION IN NOVA SCOTIA OTTAWA, Oct. 4. It is announced that the Canadian Government will soon start the construction of a new naval base at Shelburne, Nova Scotia, which was used as a base bv the United States Atlantic Squadron soon after the United Slates entered the first World War.

LOW OVER TARGETS COASTAL COMMAND PILOTS FIRST RAID OVER ENEMY TERRITORY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 3. It is officially, stated- that pilots of Coastal Command Hudsons who were making their first raid over enemy territory last night bombed from only a few hundred feet to be sure of hitting their targets, which were aerodromes and docks at Aalborg, in Northern Denmark. . The crews are members of a Yorkshire auxiliary squadron, and some of them who trained under the Empire scheme, arrived recently from Canada. The Hudsons cruised for nearly half an hour over the aerodromes before releasing their bombs, which fell on the runways and buildings. “It was a perfect set-up,” commented one Canadian pilot in a description of bombing conditions. Diving over the dock at Aalborg, which was clearly outlined in brilliant moonlight, another Hudson unloaded a stock of bombs which fell near a large gasworks. After bomb flashes, a fierce red glow spread rapidly among the surrounding buildings.

MANY SUCCESSES BEAUFIGHTER PILOT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. A wing commander who left the Air Ministry office in Whitehall at the beginning of the year to take a night tighter refresher course has this week destroyed three night fighters over north-east England. The wing commander belongs to a Beaufighter squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, which has now destroyed four enemy bombers and damaged two others. After shooting down his first victim, a Junkers 88, the wing commander flew back to his base from the sea on one engine. Last night, during another attack on a Messerschmitt the wing commander shot down two bombers in one patrol. The first was a Messerschmitt 101 and the second a Dornier 17. A Heinkel pilot .twisted, turned, and dived to try and efecape from the Beaufighter. Though the wing commander saw his fire hit'the enemy aircraft he lost sight of it before it reached the sea. It was then still diving and was later confirmed as destroyed. The Beaufighter climbed and almost as soon as the observer had rearmed the four cannon, the wing commander found the Dornier. “Its gunner fired back at me after my first burst,” said the wing commander, “ but after my second attack the Dornier blew up in front of me. I was blinded by sparks and must have flown right through the point where the Dornier had been. There, was a lot of smoke and I had to fly by instruments for a few minutes. When I looked again the Dornier had gone, hut I saw four parachutes floating down in the moonlight.” ' MOONLIGHT BATTLES CANADIAN PILOT GETS TWO BOMBERS \ (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 3. Between 9 o’clock and midnight last night the German air force lost three bombers for certain and probably more. The Air Minstry news service states that two of the raiding bombers were destroyed by the leader of a Beaufighter squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Last night he saw an enemy plane crossing the coast about 9 o’clock, and attacked. The Nazi took violent evasive action, twisting and diving to get away from the Beaufighter. The German bomber was identified as a Heinkel 111. The fighter clung to his quarry, silencing the rear gunner and finally sending the Heinkel diving into the sea about three miles off the north-east coast. He then continued to patrol while the observergunner reloaded the Beaufighter’s armaments, and soon afterwards he saw another enemy. The bomber, a Dornier 17, fled towards the sea. When attacked, a terrific explosion followed, and the Dornier disappeared. The crew of the Beaufighter saw four parachutes opening against the background of the moonlit sea three miles out from Tynemouth. While German bombers were being destroyed over this country last night Fighter Command pilots, flying Havocs, were attending to aerodromes in France and Holland from which the attackers came. At one aerodrome the flare path and floodlights were put out as the R.A.F. aircraft circled. Bombs were dropped on hangars, which were followed by explosions and fires. Other aerodromes were also bombed.

WOMAN MUNITION WORKER GIFT FROM MR CHURCHILL (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. Mr Churchill sent an autographed copy of bis book, 1 Into Battle,’ and a signed photograph of himself to Miss Evelvn Duncan, a Birmingham war worker, who set up a record production figure of 6,150 anti-aircraft shell parts in a week. When Mr Churchill visited Birmingham a week ago Miss Duncan broke through a police cordon to hand him a box of cigars bought out of her wages for the record week.

ARRIVAL IN PORT U-BOAT CAPTURED BY PLANE BRITISH PRIZE GREW ON BOARD (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. Lying low in the water, the U-boat captured by a Hudson aircraft, arrived in a British port to-day. This craft, once U-570, is now flying the White Ensign. The skipper of the craft, Lieutenant George Colvin, aged 30, who with a prize crew of about 20 British sailors, brought the U-boat to port, said that the submarine was apparently a fairly new one; but “ she is not a particularly good sea boat.” SUPPLIES FOR RUSSIA DUTCH EAST INDIES POLICY BATAVIA, October 4. Well-informed circles believe that the Xetherlands Judies will continue to supply Russia’s needs in spite of the warning of the official Japanese spokesman (Mr Jshii). The Xetberlands policy was clearly defined by M. Gerbrandy when he said that although they would not maintain diplomatic relations with Russia, oil, rubber, tin, bauxite, and other products of the Netherlands Indies were at the disposal of the Soviet. Air Ishii said that shipments from the Dutch East Indies to Russia were considered to constitute an unfriendly attitude to Japan on account of the fact that trade between Japan and the Dutch was at present at a standstill.

ANGLO-AMERICAN AID

CAN HELP RUSSIA TO CONTINUE STRUGGLE LONDON, October 4. The possibilities of giving British and United States industrial help to Russia are discussed in the ‘ Economist,’ which shows'how, even if the Russians lose Leningrad, Moscow, and the Ukraine industrial front, with over 60 per cent, of the U.S.S.E.’s total industrial capacity, Britain and the United States would bo able to supply weapons, ■machine tools, and special steels, without which the Ural and Siberian industrial regions could not carry on. Asiatic Russia is still extremely dependent on the older industrial regions of European Russia, which supply two-thirds of the machinery required in the Urals, while, in spite of the increasing steel output, general purpose steel, rails, heavy girders, and other categories have to be imported largely from the Ukraine. Nevertheless the Ural region now produces one-fifth of the Union’s iron, and one-quarter of its steel, while at Sverdlovsk, Novotagil, and Chelyabinsk there are plants producing all types of machinery and machine tools. According to the 1942 programme, over 95 per cent, of the Union’s output of pig iron, steel, and rolled metal is to come from the Urals and Siberia. These figures illustrate Russia’s ability to continue the struggle if the European areas are lost, for Lord Boaycrbrook and Mr Harriman have promised that all Russian needs will be met from the older industrial systems_ of Britain and the United States, which, if the worst comes to the worst, can, acccording to the ‘ Economist,’ take the place of European Russia in keeping Asiatic Russia going. RESENTED BY JAPAN SHIPMENTS FROM DUTCH INDIES TO RUSSIA TOKTO, October 3. The official spokesman, Mr Ishii, commenting on shipments from the Dutch Indies to Russia, said such was considered unfriendly attitude to Japan on account of the fact that trade between Japan and the Dutch was at present practically at a standstill. He reiterated that the Consul-General in Batavia was negotiating with the Netherlands East Indies authorities for trade resumption, but at present the biggest question involved was the method of payment.

RUSSIAN OIL SUPPLIES FOR TURKEY \ LONDON. October 4. Russia lias notified Turkey that she can supply her with oil. This follows advice that Rumania would be,unable to arrange oil deliveries to Turkey. HOME GUARD AT ADMIRALTY MINISTERIAL INSPECTION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 3. Mr Churchill last night, accompanied by the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr A. V. Alexander) and Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound, inspected a parade of the Admiralty Company of the Home Guard at the Horse Guai;d Parade. Addressing the parade, Mr Alexander said that they at the Admiralty were quite sure that we should hold the country against all comers. The Admiralty Home Guard, in company with hundreds of thousands of other Home Guards throughout the country, was carrying out the spirit of Mr Churchill’s message at the time of Dunkirk that we could never surrender.

BOMBED TOWNS THE “QUEEN'S MESSENGERS" PROVISION TO FEED STRICKEN PEOPLE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 3. “ Queen’s messengers ” —mobile food convoys to help to feed the people of the bombed towns, to which the Queen gave her name, and some of which she has provided—have found keen support throughout the world since the British war relief fund of the United States offered to meet the cost of the remainder of 18 complete convoys then projected. The chief support has come from the colonies and dependencies of the Empire. Gifts received or promised to September 4 comprise, first, £88,714 in money gifts for the provision of “ Queen’s messengers ” convoys and mobile canteens, exclusive of gifts through the Colonial Office; secondly, £2,581 in money gifts other than for the provision of such convoys and other mobile canteens; thirdly, £94,333 in money gifts subscribed by the colonies and dependencies for both purposes; fourthly, £26,100 in money gifts for the same purposes (promises, but not yet received); fifthly, 11 mobile canteens. SHOT PLANE DOWN SMALL VESSEL'S SUCCESS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 3. While a small British coastal steamer was recently plodding along about her business a twin-engined plane approached and circled the ship at I,oooft, then swooped to attack with her machine guns blazing. The Welsh skipper, Captain Roberts, held his fire untl the German was almost on top of him, and then opened up at point blank range. The German burst into flames, skimmed clear of the funnel by a bare loft, and crashed into the sea, where it immediately blew to bits. The naval commander-in-chief sent a personal message of congratulation to Captain Roberts and his crew. LABOUR AGREEMENT « SPANIARDS FOR GERMANY MADRID, October 5. A Germau-Spanish labour agreement allows Spaniards over 60 years and those who have completed military service to join labour battalions in Germany. They must agree to do two years’ service. LORD HAW HAW BANNED BERLIN RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT NEW YORK, October 4.' Reports published in New York quote the Berlin radio announcer as saying: “ We wish to announce to the world that the fa mans radio commentator. Lord Haw Haw, has been banned from the air.”

OCCUPATION OF IRAN NAZI PROPAGANDA ALLEGED SOVIET DEMAND (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. The German propaganda machine is broadcasting to Iran a story to the effect that “General Wavell expressed, approval of the Soviet demand for annexation of north-west Persia to Soviet Armenia.” There is no truth whatsoever in this story. Britain and the Soviet, as announced in the declaration at the time they entered Iran, have no territorial aspirations in Iran. ANTI-AIRCRAFT WORK DUTIES OF WOMEN DEFINED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. The War Office states that there is no' truth in the suggestion that the Government has decided that women are to be trained to fire anti-aircraft guns. Their anti-aircraft work was concerned with instruments of precision, such as radio locators, height finders, predictors, and telephones by which the work was checked and controlled. ALARMING PHYSICAL CONDITION REPORT ON AMERICAN PEOPLE WASHINGTON,'October 4. President Roosevelt said that the physical condition of the American people was rather alarming as disclosed by the examination of men selected for the army. He was so worried that ho had ordered a survey to be made. RETURNING TO NEW ZEALAND MOTHER OF “ COBBER " KAIN NEW YORK, Oct. 3. Mrs R. G. Kaiu, mother of Flying-” officer “Cobber” Kain, has arrived in New ! York on her way to New Zealand by Clipper. She said her daughter Judith was staying in England because she had joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. GRAVES OF CIVILIANS “ BRITAIN WILL REMEMBER " LONDON, Oct. 4. That Great Britain will remember the price paid in defeating German attempts to destroy her cities, including London, was emphasised in a speech by Mr W. Mabane, M.P., addressed mainly to “ civilians in the line of battle.” “We shall remember the graves of civilians,” Mr Mabane said, “ no loss than wo remember the graves of members of the fighting services who fell in the defence of their land.

GERMAN BOMBER CRASH-LANDING 9N SHIP HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE NEW YORK, October 3. When German planes bombed the Cunard White Star liner Georgia at Suez on J uly 13, 137 members of the crew and approximately 600 Italian prisoners, moulding two generals, lost their lives. This was revealed by members of the crew of the President Buchanan, which was berthed a mile away from the Georgic when the attack was made. Two bombs set the Georgic bn fire, and then another Nazi pilot in a suicidal attempt to sink the liner crashlanded his bomb-laden plane on the deck. A terrific explosion followed, and Italian prisoners trapped below decks were burned to death. SHORTAGE OF STUDENTS POSITION IN GERMANY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. Germany is short of professional men and women—engineers, chemists, physicists, doctors, judges, officials, teachers—according to Professor Mentzel, an official in the Reich Ministry of Education. Writing in the ‘ Junge Deutschland.’ he stated that, whereas before the Nazi revolution Germany, which was smaller than it is to-day, could count on 150.000 university students a year, the larger Germany of to-day had during the last summer term before the war only 60,000 students. ABYSSINIAN CAMPAIGN ONLY ONE ENEMY STRONGHOLD LEFT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 3. Following the capture of Walchefit pass and fortress, only one defended stronghold now remains between the British troops and Gondar. This is Voliach, about 12 miles north-east of Gondar. THE "V" ARMY PART OF MASTER PLAN (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4.. All recent operations of Great Britain and her allies have been part of the “ V campaign, said Colonel Britten m his eighteenth weekly talk to the people of occupied countries. The mobilisation of the “ V ” army two months ago, he said, was part of the plan. So were the meeting of President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill, the interallied conference in London, and the go-slow campaign in Europe. The master plan, Colonel Britten concluded, would unfold at the right moment. “It will ask a lot of you. and it will also ask a lot of us in Great Britain,” he said, “ but I can assure you it is a good plan with a good purpose.”

FORMER FRENCH MINISTER OVERTURES REJECTED NEW YORK, October 4. The ‘ Post ’ says M. Chautemps, whose vote swung the French Cabinet to Marshal Petain in June, 1940, and who has been living in Washington on a magnificent scale since November, when he-arrived with a diplomatic passport from Vichy, has been trying to join the Free French movementfor the past three months. Because of his record the Free French authorities have not responded to his overtures. LINDBERGH'S MOTIVE “ WELFARE OF MY COUNTRY " NEW YORK, October 4. A message from Fort Wayne, Indiana, states that Lindbergh in a speech at an America First rally alleged that President Roosevelt was moving towards the suspension of the 1942 national elections. He said that a “ one man ” Government had already plunged the nation into undeclared war, and said he had been subjected to a smear campaign. “My only motive is the welfare of my country and civilisation. This is not a life I enjoy. Political life is not my ambition.” METAL FROM RAILS " BUCKINGHAM PALACE " TANK (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 3. Wearing goggles and leather gauntlets, and using an oxy-acetylene burner, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works (Mr George Hicks) yesterd-; cut through the first of a set of iron railings, the removal of which from‘Buckingham Palace to foundries, and . factories for conversion into munitions has been approved by the King. The metal will be kept together and may be used to provide a “ Buckingham Palace ” tank.