AT LOW EBB

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21358, 28 February 1941, Page 5

AT LOW EBB

WEAKENING OF MORALE ! CONDITIONS IN ITALY TIGHTER NAZI GRIP (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 26 I Reports are accumulating of signs of weakening morale among the | civilian population in Italy which I may account for the issue of a decree in Rome making provision for reinforcing the Italian public security | policy by recruiting a further 3000 : men. Mussolini’s speech on Sunday did little to cheer drooping spirits. Silex, writing in the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, goes so far as to admit that the events of the last few months have driven the Italians to the limits of their willpower. Italy’s reaction to the increasing German grip on their country has yet to be revealed, but leading Italian newspapers now make no secret of Italy’s increasing dependence on Germany. Reports coming from the Italian frontier suggest that depression at Italy’s military prospects has reached such a low ebb that women regard it as a matter for congratulation when they learn that, their menfolk have become British prisoners, feeling assured that they will at least be well treated. ITALIAN COMMANDER TALKS WITH MUSSOLINI (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 27 The German radio stated that General Cavalerro, Italian Commander in Albania, has arrived in Rome to confer with Mussolini. RAIDS ON MALTA GERMANS’ HEAVY LOSSES BOMBERS SHOT DOWN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 27 The Germans suffered heavy losses in attempts to raid Malta and seven of the attacking bombers were brought down and another six were possibly destroyed. The raids were made by divebombers. Five were shot down by anti-aircraft fire and two by our fighters. The six others damaged were probably unable to reach their bases. The German aircraft which escaped the defences apparently carried the news of the heavy losses as shortly afterward German aeroplanes marked with the Red Cross flew round the island looking for wrecked machines. HEAVY ATTACK DIVE-BOMBERS OVER MALTA SEVEN SHOT DOWN SUCCESS OF DEFENCES (Official wireless) (Received Feb. 28, 2 p.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 27 Seven enemy aircraft were shot down and six more probably destroyed, during a big daylight raid on Malta yesterday. The Malta Royal Air Force communique states: “At midday a heavy attack was made on our airfields by dive-bombers, escorted by fighters. The enemy was engaged by our fighters'and our anti-aircraft guns put up a heavy barrage. “Enemy losses by our fighters were 1 two confirmed and six possible while anti-aircraft fire accounted for five enemy losses confirmed.” STRIKES IN AMERICA DEFENCE ORDERS DELAYED DISPUTE AT STEEL WORKS. (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Feb. 26 The Congress of Industrial Organisations’ steelworkers’ organising committee has declared a strike of : 12,000 workers at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation’s Lackawanna plant. Unionists predicted that similar strikes would follow quickly at other Bethlehem plants, tying up production of 1,000,000,000 dollars’ worth of defence orders involving 60,000 workers. The strike was called in spite of Washington efforts to halt it. It is therefore considered a demonstration of the Congress of Industrial Organisations’ determination to organise all major industries. It has already obtained an agreement with the largest steel company, United States Steel, but has fought a war for years with a steel group, of which the Bethlehem concern is the principal member. The concern owns mines and shipyards and if fought out the battle 1 would be one of the biggest between labour and capital. AUSTRALIAN WOOL SUPPLIES FOR AMERICA (United Press Assn.—Eiec. Tel. Copyria-mj WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 A Government report states that about 45,000 bales of Australian wool, destined for storage in the ; United States, have already arrived and 87,000 additional bales are en route. I It is said that the remainder of the ! original 840,000-bale transaction will | be shipped at a monthly rate of | 150,000 bales. Storage arrangements ; nave been completed for the entire i amuUuL.