NORWAY’S PLIGHT

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22513, 23 November 1944, Page 5

NORWAY’S PLIGHT

DESTRUCTION BY GERMANS BIG CATASTROPHE FACED PEOPLE DRIVEN SOUTH I nnci p-css A<«n.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlrat. (Received Nov. 23, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 22 The Germans themselves declare that the military situation in northern Norway has reached a stage where no consideration can be given to the civilian population, according to a Norwegian who has j-.-st arrived from Fintnark, says the Stockholm correspondent of the Times. He said: “The Germans are driving the people south-west, burning houses and shooting cattle. Finmark. which normally contained 53,000 people, is now lifeless and empty except for those hiding in the mines in Kirkenes. The Norwegians fear that a similar fate awaits the whole area from Tromso to Narvik, where 250,000 people are living. “Norway is facing the greatest catastrophe in her history. The grave devastation has also stopped the fisheries which were the mainstay of the country’s wartime and peacetime food supply." CAPTURE OF TOWNS GERMAN RETREAT LINE CUT (Received Nov. 23, noon) LONDON, Nov. 22

The Yugoslav Headquarters announces the capture by Yugoslavs and Bulgarians of Kosovska, Mitrovica and Vucitm, north-west of Pristina.* This, it is stated, has cut the German retreat to the west. When Pristina was captured over 700 railway waggons fell into Yugoslav hands. RUSSIA AND POLAND FRIENDSHIP AND ALLIANCE LONDON, Nov. 22 The Russian radio today gives prominence to a recent meeting between Marshal Stalin and the Lord Mayor of Warsaw at which they discussed the future of Russo-Poiish relations. Marshal Stalin particularly emphasised that Russia Would always support a strong and democratic Poland and added that there should be friendship and alliance between all the Slav peoples. This alliance, Marshal Stalin said, did not mean a great Pan-Slav State, but an alliance of the various Slav nations with Soviet Russia standing guard over it. He emphasised that the new Poland would seek allies not only in the east but also In the west, in the shape of Britain, France and the United States. Marshal Stalin promised Russian assistance completely to restore Warsaw. Marshal Stalin declared: “Poland should be a strong, independent and democratic country. She should have a strong army, which, together with the Red Army, would stand guard for democracy, security and peace, j Russia is always ready to aid such a IFoland.” The gradual Russian advance into the hills of Northern Hungary continued in a region about 50 miles north-east of Budapest. Here they have taken Verpelet, eight miles south-west of Eger, thus strengthening their hold on the BudapestMsikolc railway. ENEMY SHIPS SUNK HEAVY LOSS TO JAPAN (Received Nov. 23, 2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 American carrier planes sank, burned or damaged seventeen Jap- ! anese freighters, oilers and luggers j and crippled a cruiser in sweeps over * Luzon Island on November 18, anjnounces a Pacific Fleet communique, j General MacArthur announced ! that four troop-laden Japanese freighters were destroyed or damaged near Ormoc. The Americans are continuing their pressure against the Japanese trapped in the Limon pocket. Japanese attempts to reinforce their garrison on Leyte Island have again failed. WITHIN BOMBER RANGL CONCENTRATION OF SHIPPING (Received Nov. 23, 11.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 22 The spokesman for General MaeArthur said that there is a large concentration of shipping at Brunei, which is a stop-over point between Japan and the East Indies. It is possible that some warships which were damaged in the second battle of the Philippines last month sought refuge in Brunei Bay. The spokesman added that all the Philippines is within range of the Allies’ land-based bombers on Leyte. The airfields have been extended sufficiently to permit bombers based south to refuel on Leyte.