SEETHING EUROPE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24538, 22 March 1943, Page 3

SEETHING EUROPE

ACTS AGAINST NAZIS STRIKES AND SABOTAGE STERN MEASURES IMPOSED (ißectl. 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, March :21 Europe has become a latent volcano, according to Reutor messages from inside Europe. More than 600 Belgians were arrested after the Germans had thrown a cordon round several districts in Brussels following the killing of three senior German officers and two soldiers. Machine-guns were installed at cross roads and searchlights trained on the crowds, who wero forbidden to move. Thousands of people, including German soldiers, were searched in the streets. Civilians even had to unfold the cuffs of their trousers. The Germans in Czechoslovakia aro combating mounting tension with mass arrests and round-ups. They have forbidden flags to bo flown and banned all meetings. Strikes and sabotage are spreading in Denmark's big factories, including llurmeister and Wain's Diesel engine factory, which the Royal Air Forco recently raided. There have been 17 major stoppages of work in tho last few weeks, The Germans are arming the proAxis minority in Yugoslavia to enable them to supplement tho occupation forces in the event of tho Yugoslav populace rising. Tho Polish Government announced that the Gestapo have executed all Jews remaining in ghettos in the towns of Padomsko, (Tjazo, Sobolew, Radzymin and Szczerzec. Yugoslav officials report that the Germans, as a reprisal for sabotage, executed 400 Serbians in the town of Poaarevac and burned down tho village of Topaonitza. BIG MOVES COMING LONDON EXPECTATIONS SOME SIGNIFICANT FACTS (Reed. 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, March 21 Informed circles expect some surprise moves by the United Nations which may suddenly swing the balance against the Axis, says the diplomatic correspondent of the Sunday Express. Tho presence of the Greek King and Prime Minister in Cairo and tho Turkish military mission in Algiers, also unceasing air activity in the Mediterranean, may possibly have the greatest significance. Military experts, the correspondent adds, are planning a big attack on the theory that it will succeed or fail in the first few hours. Therefore, it is vital to get the strongest forces into the best positions before the stroke. CHANGE IN TURKEY NON-BELLIGERENT ATTITUDE (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, March 20 The speech by the Turkish Prime Minister, M. Saracoglu, on Wednesday means that Turkey again has assumed a non-belligerent attitude as opposed to her neutral attitude hitherto, according to political circles. Tho Ankara correspondent of tho Times says that before the Russo-German war the Turks were non-belligerent, but subsequently announced that they were neutral. Now the policy has again changed. Tho main reason, according to political writers, is the recent meeting of Mr. Churchill and President Inonu at Adana. "We warmly grasp the hand extended to us by the British Government," said M. Saracoglu, addressing the Grand National Assembly. "Reaffirmation of Anglo-Turkish friendship is not dictated by the emergencies of the moment; it is a vital need of both nations. Wo have got to know Mr. Churchill more intimately following the meeting at Adana and to love him better. The Government will deny the army nothing which will increase its fighting power." The Assembly unanimously carried a vote of confidence in the Government. ISLAND GARRISONS JAPANESE STRENGTHS (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 7.25 p.m.) SYDNEY, Mnreh 21 Tho following estimated strengths of enemy forces in tho South-west Pacific aro given in the latest issue of the American magazine Newsweek; —in New Britain, with the main concentration at Rabaul, 150,000; in New Guinea, 80,000, of which 7000 hold Salamaua and Lao, the balance being scattered at Wewak, Madang, Finsehhafen and other small bases on the coast; in Timor, 12,000. No figures are given of the Japanese strength at the important base at Ambon, 550 miles north of Darwin, or at other bases in tho Taninbar and Aru Islands. SOLOMONS BOMBINGS (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 21 Tho United States Navy Department states that Flying Fortresses carried out minor attacks against Japanese positions at Kahili and Ballale, in tho Shortland Island area, also on Vila, in the Central Solomons, on Thursday. Tho results were not. observed. Dauntless dive-bombers, escorted by Wildcat fighters, later bombed Vila and started a fire. All the United States planes returned safely. Wildcats on Saturday, without loss, strafed Japanese positions at Munda. GUERILLAS IN LUZON (Reed. 0.5 p.m.) NKW YORK, March 20 The Tokio radio states that American and Filipino guerillas are still resisting the Japanese in the mountains in northern Luzon, Philippine Islands. It also states that LieutenantGenera] Takura Matsui has boon appointed supreme chief of staff to the China Kxnoditionarv Force.