LATE NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 24498, 28 July 1941, Page 6

LATE NEWS

ELECTION LOOMS IN AUSTRALIA PROBABLE ISSUES OF CONTEST

(Rec. 2 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 27. The probability of a Federal election is being prominently mentioned by political observers. The United Australia Party has been preparing for an election for some weeks. The Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menzies) attributes most of his troubles to lack of a working majority consequent on the adoption of a policy of compromise. Therefore, he may appeal to the electors to give him either a decisive victory or a decisive defeat. It is known that Mr J. Curtin, the leader of the Federal Labour Party, if an election is inevitable, is. anxious to stage it on the Budget, but it is unlikely that Mr Menzies will allow the Labour Party to choose the battleground. He is likely to make the election on the industrial issue. Mr Menzies also believes that in an election he will get rid of the threat to his leadership within his party. As least two of his critics hold doubtful seats. , REPORTED DEMAND FOR HITLER’S RETIREMENT LONDON, July 27. The Moscow radio declared that the German General Staff was pressing for the temporary retirement of Hitler, whose nervous disease is worsening. It added that according to one of the oldest members of the Diplomatic Corps in Stockholm there was an influential group among the Nazi leaders who were inclined to meet the demands of the German generals for a military dictatorship. BLOCKADE RUNNER CAPTURED (Rec. 2 a.m.) LONDON, July 27. The German steamer, Erlangen, of 6100 tons, which tried to run the blockade, has been captured by British warships. She is one of five German merchant vessels which are reported to have left Chilian ports about a month ago. She carried a cargo of coal.