LATE NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25050, 19 October 1942, Page 4

LATE NEWS

THE PACIFIC WAR NOT THE DECISIVE SPHERE Otec. 1.30 a.m.) BOSTON, Oct. 17. " The Pacific situation is most critical, ««d there is a long road ahead before the tide turns," Mr Walter Nash told the Foreign Policy Association. "But howver yital the Pacific, the prime object of this war must be to strike at the heart of the Axis Powers, which is undoubtedly located in Berlin. Hilier without the Japanese might manage to pull the chestnuts out of the fire, but it is very doubtful if the Japanese without Hitler will ever achieve permanent success, although they will do irreparable harm and add enormously to the price the United Nations must ultimately pay for total victory." STALINGRAD BATTLE SITUATION MORE CRITICAL (Rec. 1.30 a.m.)' LONDON, Oct. 18. / Though no new German progress is / reported from Stalingrad, the situation there has become mox-e critical, and the Luftwaffe is pounding the city mercilessly. The capture of the workers' settlement two ago gives the Germans artillery control of the Volga crossing, and it is now difficult to make use of the river for the transfer of Russian reinforcements. It is evident that the German tactics are designed to pulverise the remaining defences as a preliminary to forcing their way forward from the factory area. DEFENCE OF MALTA 140 AXIS PLANES DESTROYED (Rec. 1.40 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 18. It is now a week since the new Axis assault on Malta began, and in that time the Axis has lost 140 planes. Yesterday eight more were disposed of—four bombers and four fighterswhile many others were damaged. The raiders caused only slight damage on the Island. POSITION IN MADAGASCAR VICHY REPORTS VIOLENT FIGHTING (Rec. 11.45 p.m.) VICHY, Oct. 17. A Madagascar communique states: "Violent fighting is going on south of Ambositra. After lively patrol engagements and violent artillery and air attacks, the British launched a mass attack on our positions. In spite of the large number of British armoured cars\ the invader was compelled to withdraw, leaving valuable equipment, which we rendered useless."