GERMAN ATTACKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24875, 22 April 1944, Page 7

GERMAN ATTACKS

CARPATHIANS AREA GAINS MADE BY, RUSSIANS IMPORTANT POSITIONS TAKEN (Reed. 6.35 p.m.) LONDON April '2l > Von Mannstein is extending and intensifying the attacks he has launched in the region of Stanislawow, Poland, supported by a large t number of planes, in an attempt to l force the Russians from key Car5, pathian passes and hold up the im- .. minent threat against" the vital base ] of Lwow. ; The Russians, however, according to | latest indications, are wearing down the . Germans. The British Broadcasting Cor- , poration says Marshal Zhukov's men „ have advanced to gain important posit 110 us south-west of Tarnopol. r , A Soviet communique says that east | and south of Stanislawow large enemy forces repeatedly attacked our positions from two directions. All of them were > repelled with heavy losses. In one sector alone more than 1500 Germans • were killed, in another area an enemy [ battalion which penetrated Soviet posiI tions was surrounded and completely 1 wiped out. I The German radio states that heavy j lighting is going on along the lower . Dniester River, where seven Russian infantry divisions are violently attacking 1 along a 35-mile front. The radio adds i that the Russians have brought up con- . siderable reinforcements between the Dniester and the Pruth in conjunction with increased Soviet pressure north of lasi, in Rumania. ; Renter's correspondent says air fight- • ing is playing an increasing part in the battles e,ast and south of Stanislawow, and also around Chisinau, in Bessarabia. The lied Air Force is maintaining day ; and night attacks against railway , centres and the Germans are, therefore, increasingly using roads to bring up supplies. The German commentator. Hallensleben. cautioned the German people against expecting too much from German counter-thrusts at Stanislawow and Tarnopol, which are "local operations , designed to improve and strengthen the' , front." ROYAL BIRTHDAY PRINCESS ELIZABETH - HOSTESS AT A DANCE (Special Correspondent) LONDON. April 21 Princess Elizabeth is spending her eighteenth birthday quietly in the country with the King and Queen and Princess Margaret Rose. There was a luncheon party at mid-day, at which Queen .Mary, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess of Kent, the Princess Royal and close friends of the Royal Family were present. After dinner, the Princess was hostess at a dance, to which 200 young friends, most of them in the services, nad been invited. By the wish of the King and Queen no publicity is being given to the presents which Princess Elizabeth is receiving. It is the Royal Family's wish that the birthday should bo a quiet family affair. Messages of good wishes and congratulations from all parts of the Empire began to reach the Court post office at Buckingham Palace last evening for Princess Elizabeth. Tie King's gift is a pearl to add to a string of 17 which he began when the Princess was born. BRITISH ARMY PAY BASIC RATE UNCHANGED • INCREASES FOR LONG SERVICE (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 21 The Government has decided against an increase in the basic rate of service pay. Instead, according to the Daily Herald's political correspondent, all servicemen with three years' service or longer are to receive increased pay and allowances. Details will be announced in the House of Commons next Wednesday.. AMERICAN MANPOWER SERVICES AND INDUSTRY (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 21 A joint statement to Congress by the War Department, the Navy Department and the Maritime Commission says that 1,400,000 men, needed for the armed services, would be drawn from vital services this year. To replace them, Congress should enact legislation authorising the voluntary recruiting of industrial workers as a preliminary measure, but unless sufficient volunteers were available, the national selective service principle must be invoked to supply labour. It was imperative that- the country should realise that Americans must adopt some system of national industrial service. HARBOUR EXPLOSION GERMAN MUNITIONS SHIP (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 21 The Oslo correspondent of the Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau says that 43 people were killed and hundreds injured in a terrific explosion on a German ammunition ship in Bergen harbour, Norway. Fires raged for many hours. U-BOAT WARFARE STILL A REAL MENACE OTTAWA, April 20 "German submarine warfare is still a very definite menace and is likely to break out again with renewed fury," said Lieutenant Norman Jewell, an outstanding British submarine commander. He has sunk or damaged 14 enemy vessels. Lieutenant Jewell added that the current U-boat lull could probably be assigned to repercussions among German naval personnel as the result of blows against the Tirpitz and Scharnhorst. He said that the Germans must keep their U-boats at home because of low morale, and they wanted as many as possible on hand when the Continent was invaded. ENEMY SHIPS SHELLED DOVER BATTERIES FIRE "(Rerd. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 21 Shortly before midnight British guns on the Channel coast opened fire on enemy shipping in the Strait of Dover. They were in action for 40 minutes and fired about 80 rounds. German guns re- ■ plied, but sent over only about six shells. WORK IN YUGOSLAVIA NEW ZEALAND OFFICER (Special Correspondent) LONDON, April 20 Another Now Zealander who has been serving with Marshal Tito's forces in Yugoslavia is Lieutenant A. O. Woodhouse, R.N.X.N.V.R., of Napier. Jn a letter to London written from the Mediterranean in March he said: "Until about a month ago I was on a liaison job with Marshal Tito's men, which gave a most unusual and very interesting glimpse at another sort of war. It meant being pretty cut off at times. The Partisans are a good lot on the whole, and tough, generous and brave." Lieutenant Woodhouse added that Corporal J. Denvir, of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who rose to command a battalion in the Yugosjav Army, "has done more to put New Zealand on the map there than anyone else. Hs is a great chap." i