THOUSANDS MURDERED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24134, 28 November 1941, Page 7

THOUSANDS MURDERED

MARTYRDOM OF SERBS SAVAGE GERMAN RULE (Rfrd. 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 26 The execution of hostages had taken place nowhere in such proportions as in occupied Serbia, said General Simovich, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia, in a statement in London. He said the newspapers in Belgrade revealed that 2100 citizens were shot at Shabac, 2540 at Kraljevo and 2300 at Belgrade. It was now known that 4576 were executed at Kragujevic as a reprisal for the killing of 26 German soldiers. General Simovich said: "The martyrdom of the Serbs evokes deep compassion in every man bred in the spirit of Christian civilisation, but it is questionable whether condemnation by public opinion is enough to make the Germans discontinue this butchery of innocent Serbs. "The threat of reprisals would have a far greater effect. If such assistance is not given without delay Serbian towns, and even Belgrade, will become heaps of rubble and our finest representatives will be shot as hostages." BRAVERY REWARDED SEVERAL NAVAL OFFICERS SERVICE IN MEDITERRANEAN (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 20 Officers and men of the lost aircraftcarrier Ark Royal figure in a long list of naval awards announced in the London Gazette. Lieutenant - Commander J. Sholto Douglas, Lieutenant E. D. G. Lewin and Temporary Lieutenant R. C. Cockburn are awarded the D.S.O. for courage and resolution in operations in the Mediterranean. For similar services the D.S.O. goes to Captain E. L. Berthon, D.S.C., formerly of Auckland, who commanded the Cossack when she was sunk, Captain G. N. Oliver, of H.M.S. Hermione, Commander A. R. Rosenthal, Royal Australian Navy, of H.M.A.S. Nestor, and Lieutenant J. B. E. Wainwright. DRIVERS' MISTAKE ENTERED ENEMY CAMPS THIRD TIME UNLUCKY * CAIRO, Nov. 26 A group of 16 British supply waggons had an extraordinary experience when they lost their direction in the desert. Ihev drove into an encampment thinking it was one of ours, only to find it was Italian. They simply drove through unchallenged. The same thing happened •with a second enemy encampment, but their luck did not hold, and they ran into a. third, where they were challenged by a guard with fixed bayonets. The leading eight lorries had no option but to surrender, but eight others in the rear, under the command of a sergeant, turned round and drove off at full speed, followed by a hail of bullets. Late that night the surviving lorries, riddled with bullets, reached South African headquarters safelv. ; SUCCESSES CLAIMED AXIS COMMUNIQUES LONDON, Nov. 26 A German communique states that counter-attacks in North Africa are bringing further successes, and positions on the Solium front are being held in spite of enemy attacks. The Germans claim to have frustrated fresh attempts to break out of Tobruk. , A Homo communique claims that the 1 Italians have captured General D. F. 1 Armstrong, of the l'ith South African j Division, and several British and American journalists, and also to have taken { 500 prisoners south of Sidi Rezegh. They j admit that the British occupied Gialo, an oasis about 250 miles south-west of Jarabub. CRUISER NOT SUNK LONDON. Nov. 26 ( 'i The Ministry of Information an- a nounces that the German claim that a 3 U-boat sank the 5000-ton cruiser ii Dragon, in the Atlantic, is entirely un- o founded. This statement is necessary in c )rder to prevent unnecessary anxiety to- ii lexi-oS-km. "> 6