BRIANSK'S FATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24690, 16 September 1943, Page 5

BRIANSK'S FATE

DEMOLITION FIRES DESNA CROSSED RUSSIAN BRIDGEHEADS WIDENING OPERATIONS LONDON, Sept. IB The Russians have not yet confirmed the fall of Briansk, which was announced by the Berlin radio yesterday, but messages from Moscow reported last night that the Russians had crossed the Desna River and were storming the city, where fires had been started by German troops left to cover the main garrison's withdrawal. The Russians are widening their bridgeheads on the western bank of the Desna River, the great water barrier on which the Germans hoped to build a defence line from Smolensk to Kiev. Wresting Final Control Red Army units, under clouds of smoke from blazing buildings, are fighting at Briansk, wresting the final control of the city proper from the Germans, says Reuter's Moscow correspondent. German demolition troops are racing from street to street setting fire to buildings and supply dumps. In the last phases o 1 the Briansk battle the doomed German garrison \ struggled to beat off repeated Russian j tank attacks. The Russian success in ' forcing the Desna River has dealt a i heavy blow against the entire German defence system. A Moscow communique speaks of a Soviet advance beyond Briansk in the direction of Roslavl. Russian columns are making forced marches and are fighting incessantly. The Germans hold the railway from Briansk to Roslavl. Reports From German Sources

"The last word on the German retreat," comments the Times, "may not rest with the Germans." German sources, shortly after the announcement of the evacuation from Briansk, said that the Russians had opened a new attack north of the city with strong artillery and tank forces, and claimed that the attacks failed before extremely stiff resistance. The Berlin radio said the Russians • advanced cautiously against Briansk, which was covered only by rearguards, all goods and machinery having been evacuated a fortnight ago. "The installations were so thoroughly destroyed that the Russians put their hands into an empty pocket. This shows that the Germans are pursuing their aim of drawing the Russians after them in a large disengagement movement. They" are doing so faster than the Russians may like."

The Germans also report that the Russians are attacking along the Ros-lavl-Moscow and Smolensk-Moscow highways. They admit a German retreat in the Smolensk area and add that local breaches elsewhere have been "evened out" by straightening the German line.

PACIFIC COMMANDER MacARTHUR'S CLAIMS BRISBANE, Sept. 15 "General Mac Arthur is the logical choice of the American people to command the big push against Japan," said Senator A. B. Chandler, a member of the United States Congressional party touring world battlefields, commenting on a cabled report that , the supreme commander in the South-west Pacific might have to be second to Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten in the campaign aimed at Tokyo. "General Mac Arthur is pre-eminently the best qualified man to conduct the drive against Japan," added Senator Chandler. "It is inconceivable that anyone should try to sidetrack him. If such an attempt were successful it would be one of the greatest mistakes of the war.

"I met Lord Mountbatten before his latest appointment. I do not know what his instructions are, but from what I have seen and learned from Army men in the countries visited, it seems to me that our chances of an early and complete victory over Japan will be greatly enhanced if General Mac Arthur were allowed to direct the campaign." The Australian Government spokesman said in Melbourne that the Government had the greatest confidence in General Mac Arthur. and would vigorously resist any attempt to lessen his authority Lord Mountbatten's command was separate from the South-west Pacific, and there was no suggestion that the two should overlap. If there was any joint action, General MacArthur would control the forces operating from the South-west Pacific.

INTERNEES IN JAPAN EXCHANGE SHIP DEPARTS (Reed. 9.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept.-14 The Tokyo official radio stated that the Japanese exchange ship, Asama Maru, left Yokohama to-day for the neutral exchange port of Lourenco Marques, Portuguese East Africa, to meet the steamer Gripsholm .for the exchange of Allied and Japanese internees. The Asama Maru will call at Shanghai, Hongkong, the Philippines and Indo-China for passengers.

PAYING INCOME TAX NEW PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES LONDON, Sept. 14 What is believed to be a workable "pay as you go" income tax scheme has been drawn up and is reported to have been accepted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Kingsley Wood. An announcement on the subject is expected in the House of Commons soon after Parliament reassembles. Sir Kingsley intimated in. July that he favoured a change in the present system if a satisfactory scheme could be evolved. The inland revenue authorities have been working on alternative plans, and it is understood that the present scheme will apply to all the 7,500,000 manual weekly wage-earners. A "forgiveness" provision may be to avoid wage-earners being faced with the new "pay as you go deductions plus tax already owing. The proposal is that arrears owing may be forgiven on a sliding scale, T)ased on the taxpayer's earnings. In any case the flow of revenue would not be*interrupted. Where wages with overtime fluctuate considerably, it is expected the amounts will be averaged weekly and adjustments made in the form of rebates or extra payments by taxpayers at the end of the year. It is not expected the scheme will apply at present to any but manual weekly wage-earners. It will be a trial scheme, and, if successful, may be included in the Government's post-war plans to apply to the other 5,000,000 taxpayers as well.

AUSTRALIAN FINANCE £250,000,000 BY LOAN (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Sept. 15 The Commonwealth Government hopes to raise £250.000.000 by public loans in the financial year ending June, 1944 Last year the Government raised more than £200.000.000 by loans, £250.000.000 by taxation, and about £200.000.000 by bank credit. Financial experts believe the limit has been reached in taxation on most income groups, and do not favour any big increase in bank credit.