FACED CERTAIN DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 24226, 20 June 1942, Page 7

FACED CERTAIN DEATH

RAID ON ROMMEL’S HEADQUARTERS POSTHUMOUS V.C. FOR GALLANT LEADER (British Official Wireless.) ■ (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, June 19. One of the most daring feats of the present war—the raid on Field-Marshal Rommel's residence and headquarters last November—is recalled by the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Mayor (tmporary colonel) G. C. T. Keyes, of the Royal Scots Greys. In the words of the official citation, “ it was a venture which, even if initially successful, meant almost certain death for those engaged in it.” _ Major Keyes was the son of Sir Roger Keyes. He commanded a detachment of a force which landed 250 miles behind the enemy lines under orders to attack the headquarters, base installations, and communications. The citation continues: “ From the outset Major Keyes deliberately selected for himself the command of the detachment detailed to attack what was undoubtedly the most hazardous objective —the residence and headquarters of the G.OX). of the German forces in North Africa. He led his detachment without guides in dangerous, precipitous country, in pitch darkness, and by his stolid determination and powers of leadership maintained the morale of the detachment. He then found himself forced to modify original plans, in light of fresh information gained from neighbouring Arabs, and was left with only one officer and an n.c.o. with whom to break into Rommel’s residence and deal with the guards and the headquarters staff. At zero hour on the night of November ’l7, having dispatched a covering party to block the approaches to the house, he, with the two others, crawled forward past the guards through the surrounding fence up,to the house. With out hesitation he boldly led his party up to the front door and demanded entrance. Unfortunately when the door opened it was found impossible to overcome the sentry silently, and it was necessary to shoot him. The noise aroused the inmates of the bouse, and Major Keyes, appreciating that speed was of the utmost importance, posted the n.c.o. at the foot of the stairs to prevent interference from the floor above. Major Keyes emptied bis revolver into the first room, followed by the other officer, who threw grenades. Major Keyes, with great daring, then entered the second room, but was shot almost immediately and fell into the passage mortally wounded. On being carried outside by his comrades'he died within a few minutes.” AUSTRALIA’S WAR EFFORT LABOUR’S FULL CO-OPERATION NECESSARY <MR CURTIN ADDRESSES UNIONS /T 1 MELBQUHNE, (Rec. 10 a.m.) June 20. Mr Curtin yesterday presided over a conference of representatives of 85 Federal industrial unions, with a membership of more than 1.000,000, with the object of seeking tneir full cooperation in the war effort. Mr Forde, Army Minister, and Mr Chifley, Treasurer, also sipoke. To-morrow the conference will be addressed by the Labour Minister, Mr Ward. Mr Curtin placed the war position frankly before the conference, saying neither the Government nor the country would make substantial progress in the projects in the Government’s mind unless the unions identified themselves closely with those projects. The war had produced problems of which Australia had had no experience, therefore there had to be experiment, trial, and error. Success would come to the Allies only by being stronger than the Axis, which could not be beaten by the Allies having a better post-war programme or a. better housing programme. Australia had obtained a merciful respite as the result of the Coral Sea and Midway battles. Japan was now playing the part of a valuable friend to Germany in the war against Russia. After reviewing Libya. Mr Curtin referred to shipping problems, saying the surest way for Australia to get war requisites was within Australia. The Government had not the right to ask fdf planes from overseas when it could nqt get full capacity aircraft production in Australia. The Australian Prime Minister, whoever he be, could not be asked to evade giving his best mind and all his vitality in collaboration with other countries. The first demand Australia must make was on Australia. The programme would involve hurts, hut the Government could not help that. LIBERATOR BOMBERS THE LANDING 1H TURKEY LONDON, June 20. Semi-official reports published in Turkish newspapers regarding the landing of four United States Liberator bombers in Turkey give the lie to Axis statements that the United States bombers deliberately flew across Turkey when raiding the Black Sea area. The reports state that the Turkish Government is satisfied with the explanations made to the Turkish Ambassador in Washington and to Turkish quarters by the United States Embassy in Ankara. The statement says that the planes were forced down, and the pilots took sanctuary in Turkey. THICK WITH BRITISH MINES GERMAN COASTAL WATERS STOCKHOLM, Juno 18. “ German coastal waters are thick with British mines,” said a sailor from Goteborg. who sailed for many months between Germany and Norway. In an interview with the ‘ Aftonbladet ’ he said: “ It is most dangerous leaving German ports. "British flyers drop mines practically every night, and minesweepers have to work day and night to fish them out. One convoy leaving Kiel lost four ships. Our ship had to wait a fortnight to leave Kiel because the water was so full of mines.” VICE IN MELBOURNE (Rec. Sara.) MELBOURNE. June 19. Nearly 200.000 • persons in Victoria have si vied a petition ren nesting tin’ Prime Minister and the State Premier to elc”ii up Melbourne city and minin’ the liquor menace, especially among young people.