REPRISAL DEATHS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24275, 16 May 1942, Page 7

REPRISAL DEATHS

*■ % D~i )3flO^ BOMBINGS OF BRITAIN 938 PEOPLE KILLED BATH, YORK AND NORWICH (Reed. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 1# Civilian air raid casualties ia Britain last month, when the German air force made so-called reprisal attacks on Bath, York and Norwich, were 938 persons, including 446 women and 122 children, killed or missing, and 998 persons seriously injured and detained in hospital, among these being 419 women and 79 children. The casualties were heavier last month than for some time past. In, April last year more than 6000 civilians were killed. Three persons were injured last evening when a few enemy aircraft dropped bombs at a point on the south-west coast of England.» The damage was slight. In a raid over enemy-occupied territory yesterday, a Norwegian pilot dived so close to the ground that hj« returned with pieces of a tree in the radiator of his machine. MALTA SCORES AGAIN EIGHT RAIDERS SHOT DOWN LONDON, May 16 Aerodromes on Malta were again atI tacked by Axis aircraft yesterday. Some civilian damage was caused. People stood in the streets to watch the dog-fights. Eight raiders, five of which were bombers, were shot down, and a further five machines were damaged. In a raid on one aerodrome three enemy bombers with a heavy escort of fighters dived to attack* Two of the bombers were shot down. Three bombers which made another raid later were all shot down. The new Governor, Viscount Gort, V.C., said in a broadcast that the George Cross, which the King had awarded to the people of Malta, would be exhibited in various centres on the island. & A correspondent says the building of aerodromes all over the island has meant the clearing of stone walls and the filling up of gullies. Hangars have been cut out of the rock. U-BOAT CAMPAIGN EXTENDED CRUISING RANGE NEW YORK, May 14 The New York Times said that officials in Washington were greatly concerned over the two sinkings in the St. Lawrence River. "We can expect shortly an intensified U-boat campaign against American shipping in the Atlantic, particularly with a view to cutting the Russian supply lines," the paper says. "Recent information indicates that German submarines in the Atlantic have more than 15,000 miles cruising range and are capable of two months' cruising." A correspondent says the torpedoing of two merchant vessels in the St. Lawrence has been a rude awakening to the people of Quebec, who provided most of the opposition to the enforcement of conscription. The Federal Minister for Naval Defence, Mr. A. L. Macdonald, has frequently emphasised that operations by submarines in the St. Lawrence are possible. MEXICAN SHIP SUNK STRONG PROTEST TO AXIS (Reed. 8.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON. May 14 The Navy Department announces that the Mexican merchant ship Portrero Delano, while fully illuminated and also showing a brightly-lighted Mexican flag, has been torpedoed and sunk. The death roll, which includes the captain and all the officers, numbers 13. Twenty-five of the crew were rescued. The survivors said the U-boat stalked the ship for half an hour, and then deliberately torpedoed it. A message from Mexico City says the Foreign Minister, Senor Padilla, announced that a strong protest against the sinking had been sent to the Axis. The Portrero Delano is the first Mexican ship to be lost through U-boat action since the outbreak of the war. PHILIPPINES ESCAPE COMMANDER'S PLANE CREW (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 14 A colourful parade, including theatrical stars, dancers and bands, organised by the leading theatres, moved along Broadway celebrating the return of Lieutenant Bulkelev, Lieutenant Robert Kelley and Ensign Anthony Akws, who ferried Genera] Mac Arthur from the Philippines to Australia. The Mayor of New York, Mr. F. La Guardia, addressed a crowd of 4000, and praised the heroic deeds of the three heroes. He also opened a nationwide drive by theatres aiming to collect 3,000.000 dollars for Army and Navy relief. NEW DIVISIONS REALISTIC FIELD TRAINING (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 14 Mr. H. L. Stimson. when asked about numerous blackouts recently on the west coast, in a press interview said there was a real danger of air attack on the west coast, therefore he was glad the armed forces were constantly on the alert. Mr. Stimson announced that the army had ordered the formation of four additional infantry divisions. This summer there would be realistic field manoeuvres on a large scale, placing emphasis on the offensive and stressing air and ground operations, desert fighting, jungle fighting and night manoeuvres. Stress would also be placed on the effectiveness of small task forces. Every unit would be required to demonstrate ability to march 25 miles with full equipment. At least a third of the training will be at night. NAVY CROSS AWARD UNITED STATES OFFICER (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 14 Colonel Knox, Secretary for the Navy, presented the Navy Cross to Captain Arthur Granvelle Rcfbinson. Captain Robinson was in command of the light cruiser Marblehead, which the Japanese repeatedly claimed to have sunk, and which arrived at a United States east coast port badly damaged but definitely afloat after an epio journey of approximately 13,000 miles, half-way round the world, made after a bombing attack in which she was hit twice directly, killing 15 and wounding 20.