OUT OF PRISON

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24747, 22 November 1943, Page 4

OUT OF PRISON

MOSLEYS' DEPARTURE

STATEMENT PROMISED PUBLIC PERTURBATION B.v Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright |(Recd. 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. '2O Sir Oswald and Lady Mosley were released from Holloway prison today. Elaborate precautions were taken to ensure the secrecy of their departure. A former member of the British Union of Fascists, of which Sir Oswald Mosley was the leader, stated : "I imagine that Mosley will be under house arrest. The Mosleys were met at Holloway by a representative of the Home Office and taken by car to a place where they will live during their period of liberty."

It is understood that Mosley may at jiny time be imprisoned again if conditions contained in a document which he signed are not fulfilled. He is believed to have been taken to Oxfordshire for medical treatment. Government Not Wavering The Home Secretary, Mr. Herbert Morrison, has promised to make a statement in the House of Commons on the Mosleys' release. He said he would have no difficulty in convincing the country that the Government was not wavering jn its adherence to the principles for which it was fighting. Evidence has come swiftly that the decision of the Home Secretary to release the Mosleys is having a bad psychological effect on workers in war factories throughout Britain. This is one factor which is perturbing most members of Parliament, who are to raise the matter when the House of Commons meets. Another factor which is arousing perturbation is the manner in which the public reaction is being linked with the effect on the fighting services. The Allies' struggle for freedom and democracy is being used as a catch-cry by opponents of the Mosleys' release, and there is no telling to what extent feeling will run. Whitehall Deputations

Delegates from many factories in the London area on Friday stood four feet deep in Whitehall with petitions for the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, the Home Secretary and other Ministers protesting against the release. The leader of one deputation estimated that between 75,000 and 85,000 workers were represented by the delegates, and said .that other deputations were on the way. The representative of an aircraft factory said: "Many of our workers are women whose husbands are in the forces. We are going to tell the Minister of Aircraft Production, Sir Stafford Cripps, that if he wants Halifax bombers turned out he must see that Mosley stays in." Two other delegates declared their intention of staying in the Homo Office until they had seen Mj\ Morrison. Re]ays of six delegates remained outside the Home Office to give their comrades backing while the rest of the delegates went to Trafalgar Square to hold a meeting.

JAPANESE ADVANCE (BITTER FIGHTING IN CHINA 4000 ATTACKERS KILLED ;(Recd. 12.15 a.m.) CHUNGKING, Nov. 21 The Chinese High Command announced that in the bitterest fighting during, the past five years 4000 of 18,000 attacking Japanese were killed in a battle in which the enemy seized Tzali, 90 miles south of Ichang, on the Yangtse" River front, Central China. The Japanese used waves of planes in a battle that is still going oil. Japanese forces in China's central rice bowl, between the Yangtse River and Tungting Lake, have increased from 60,000 to 80,000, enabling the Japanese to cross the Li River in considerable strength, stated the Chinese Army spokesman, Majar-General Thong. Latest reports indicate that the Japanese have gained more ground in this region. Fighting is going on along a twisting front nearly 100 miles long In the western Yunnan, the Chinese recaptured all the ferry crossings in a <4O-mile section of the Sal ween River. Genera! Stilwell's communique reports that fighter planes continued to support Chinese ground forces in the Lake Tungting area, Central China, and the Salween River area, Western China. Two villages were set on fire. Aircraft _ also intercepted Japanese cavalary crossing a river near Shihsien, killing 60 men. RAIDING INDO-CHINA ALLIED WARNINGS GIVEN LONDON, Nov. 21 American bombers based in China, have attacked several towns in northera Indo-China in past weeks. Allied broadcasts from India have begun warning the people of Indo-China to keep away from factories, airfields and transport centres used by the Japanese. COMMAND TAKEN OVER LORD LOUIS MOUNTBATTEN LONDON, Nov. 20 Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten yesterday took over supreme command of the South-east Asia Command. In his first communique he reports a week of vigorous air offensives in Burma in which British and American bombers arul_ fighters maintained a steady drive against Japanese airfields, supply dumps,_ road, rail and river craft. Particular attention was paid to railways in Central Burma, above and below Mandalay. American heavy bombers attacked a target half-way" to Rangoon, while Wellingtons and Liberators bombed airfields. Other formations attacked railways running north from Mandalay toward the Chinese frontier. The R.A.F. attacked Japanese targets on the Arakan front and raided an enemy position in the hills east of the Indian frontier.

RELATIONS WITH INDIA (Reed. 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 20

The, relations of the now South-oast Asia Command with the Government of India wore explained by the Coinninn-der-in-Chief India, Genera! Sir Claude Auchinleek, states a Delhi message quoted by the British official wireless! General Auchinleek said the command would apply to him for units of the Indian Army to he placed at its disposal. 1 he situation would he the same as that with regard to Indian troops in the Middle Hast and other theatres Regarding the financial aspects General Auchinleek said the. High Command would place the demands before the Government, and it would consider financial and economic conditions and decide whether to arrange the provisions from India or from other sources.

BATTLE WITH U-BOAT VICTORY FOR AIRCRAFT , . LONDON, Nov. 21 A ID-hour battle in the Caribbean t-°? 6 x c l m tlle Slllliin e of another U-boat by seven American aircraft, helped by a blimp. The U-boat put up a stiong fignt. One American aircraft was destroyed and two more badly damaged. Ihe blimp was forced down later ™" e to J? ck °L fueL Fort J- survivors were picked up from the U-boat.