INVASION FORCES

Grey River Argus, 18 May 1944, Page 5

INVASION FORCES

CHECK.UP IN BRITAIN Whole U.S. Army (Rec. 9.50. p LONDON, May 17. The entire United States Army m Britain, except that which is in. transit, were confined to barracks during the twenty-four hours ended at midnight last night. The object of this was the checking of the credentials of every man on duty in this theatre of war. The credentials of the men in barracks were examined, and military police stopped those in streets, including the officers. ALLIED OCCUPATION PLANS. LONDON, May 16. A communique issued simultaneously at London, Washington and Moscow announces an agreement in identical terms between Britain, America, Russia, Norway, Belgium, and Holland, on jurisdiction of civil administration in Norwegian, Belgian and Dutch territories, after liberation. The communique says: “The agreements are intended to be essentially temporary and practical in character. They are - designed 'to facilitate the task of Allied Commanders and further the common purpose of the Governments concerned, namely, the speedy expulsion of the Germans from Allied territory, and the final victory of the Allies over Germany.” The agreements recognise that the Allied commanders must enjoy during the military phase of liberation such measures of supreme responsibility and authority over civil administration as mav be required by the military situation. It is laid down that as soon as the military situation permits, the Government shall resume full constitutional responsibility for civil administration on the un : derstanding that such special facilities as the Allied forces may continue to require will be made available for the prosecution of the war. NEW YORK, May 16.

The United States Assistant Secretary of War (Mr. John McCloy) told a press conference that France and other friendly nations would receive less strict military governorship than Italy, says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” He also hinted cautiously that Frenchmen, possibly through the de Gaullist Committee, might be given considerable latitude in selfgovernment. Vichy supporters and collaborationists would be eliminated. A firm rule was planned for Germany, including the forced use of German labour, if necessary, in the early stages, measures to stamp out the effects of Nazi indoctrination, and measures to cope xyith the expected German underground movement, which dated back to the Ruhr occupation after the World War. Discussing Soviet participation in ruling liberated countries, Mr. McCloy, said that Russia was actively participating in the Advisory Council for Italy, and was co-operating with Britain and America in considering the terms of surrender for Germany. Plans were being _ formulated for governing occupied Pacific territories and possibly Japan. Details could not be discussed at present. R.A.F. ACTIVITY. 8.0.W. RUGBY, Mav 16 Mosquito crews who bombed Ludwigshafen last night, reported a large explosion after fires sprang up in the target area. The attack started shortly after midnight. Although many searchlights were switched on when the aircraft arrived, they were ineffective, because of haze and cloud over the town.

Yesterday afternoon a Junkers 32 transport was shot down and another damaged when a Coastal Command Beaufighter pilot sighted six enemy aircraft. He decided to fly through the formation and break it up. Early yesterday morning an Avenger aircraft with the Coastal Command bombed enemy shipping off the ■French coast. One small merchant vessel was hit. • RAID ON BERLIN., (Rec. 12.50.) LONDON, May 17. The Air Ministry in a communique, states: Royal Air Force Mosquito bombers on Tuesday night, without loss, attacked objectives in Berlin. U.S.A. RAIDS. LONDON, May 16. Shifting the attack on the airfields to Southern France, a small force of Mustangs late yesterday machinegunned an enemy airfield at Agen, on the Garonne River, less than 100 miles from the Spanish frontier,destroying two grounded ’planes. From this operation no aircraft Is missing. The Mustangs penetrated more than 450 miles and were unmolested. Heavy bombers attacked military installations in the Pas de Calais area, and medium bombers attacked railway yards in Northern France and an airfield near Paris. Fighter bombers hit other targets in Northern France. Various types of fighters went with the bombers. One Mustang is missing from escort work.

U.S.A. FIGHTERS TOO GOOD’. (Rec 1.10'.) WASHINGTON, May 17. The United States Navy has announced it has ordered tfie reduction in the production of Navy fightei ’planes. It was explained that losses were thirty-three per cent, less than that estimated because of a low attrition rate, relative air superiority and superior quality of the ’planes and pilots. BRITAIN’S WAR OUTLAY. RUGBY, May 16.' The war is costing the British taxpayer fourteen and .three-quarter million pounds daily at the present moment, said the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir J. Anderson) asking the .Commons to approve a supplementary vote of credit of a thousand million pounds for war expenditure. Sir J. Anderson said that although the thousand millions voted on January 25, for the current year was likely to cover requirements to the early part ,of next month, it was never possible to say on what precise date the money voted for war purposes would be exhausted. The vote he was asking for should continue the war expenditure until August, before which date he would have to ask for a further vote. The average rate of expenditure on the war over the whole of the past financial year was twelve and a-half millions a dav. (Rec. 12.40.) LONDON, May 17. Sir John Anderson asked in the House of Commons for another one thousand million sterling to carry on the war till early in June or sometime in August. He stated that in recent weeks the rate of expenditure was fourteen and three-quarter million sterling daily. Of this, twelve millions was for the fighting forces. The average for the financial year just concluded was tihirteen [and a-half millions daily, uf which eleven and aq/jarter millions was for the serv.ces. He spoke for four minutes. The vote of credit was granted in one hour.