The White Falcon - 27.02.1943, Blaðsíða 2

2
Allied Bombers
Pound Nazi Bases
Relenltless air attacks on ene-
my targets in Germany and oc-
cupied countries of Europe re-
veal the growing strength of
United Nations Air Forces.
The British Air Ministry an-
nounced that over 100,000 tons
of bombs have been dropped by
RAF and Allied planes on mili-
tary objectives since the start of
the war. Of this figure, 50,000
tons have been dropped in the
last 12 months
Results of a raid Feb. 11 by
Allied bombers on the great na-
val base at Wilhelmshaven prove
by late aerial photographs (that
the chief naval munitions depot
has been destroyed. Huge cra-
ters cover the ground where 50
munitions sheds once stood.
Over 150 acres of the targdt area
are in devastation.
Recent attacks by Allied pla-
nes scored hits on electrical in-
stallations in France, while Bre-
men was subjected Ito a 20-mi-
nute raid earlier this week. It
was the 14th raid of the war on
the German industrial city.
The week’s Allied air losses
totaled 14 bombers. Enemy anlti-
aircraft screens were admitted
to be heavy, but there were few
Nazi fighters in the skies to chal-
lenge the RAF and American
bombers.
Alltacks on Northeast Scottish
towns this week by Nazi airmen
were acknowledged by the Bri-
tish Air Ministry. Some casual-
ties were reported.
Churchill
Rejects Plan
To Free Ghandi
“We can’t permit an individual
to interfere with India’s obliga-
tions to her own'people-and to
the people of the United Na-
tions,” was Prime Minister
Churchill’s reply to urging that
Mohandas Ghandi be granted his
freedom from technical custody.
The Prime Minister, speaking
from his sick-bed where he is
recovering from a mild attack
of pneumonia, was emphatic in
his declaration that the 73-year-
old Mahatma deserved no con-
sideration for his prolonged
“protest fast.” Ghandi is now in
the. 18th day of his water and
fruit juice diet.
The spiritual leader of the
Hindus has managed to survive
his self-imposed ordeal remarlc-
ably well, although he still is
in danger. He lapsed into a semi-
coma last week, but recovered
when his condition reached the
“crisis” stage. However, attend-
ing physicians have expressed
fears that Ghandt's heart will not
withstand the 21-day fast.
With the Jap menace confront-
ing India from the outside, in-
ternal strife now might offer the
Nipponese nn opportunity to
cripple the United Nations’ cause
in the Far East,
Red Army
Celebrates
25th Year
Agitation for the1 opening of
a second front in Europe was
created by Premier Josef Stalin
and his London representative,
Ivan Maisky, in speeches com-
memorating the 25th annivers-
ary of the formation of the Rus-
sian Red Army.
Premier Stalin thanked the
peoples of the United Nations
for their warm messages of con-
gratulations and their friendly
cooperation in the war, but flat-
ly asserted, “Russia, alone, is
bearing the brunt of the war.”
In his order to his troops, he
demanded their fidelity and ex-
plained, “The present campaign
is designed to drive the Germans
out of Russia. If the enemy does
not lay down its arms, it must
be encircled and annihilated.”
Maisky’s speech in London
followed the same pattern. “The
second front must be opened
speedily to insure the defeat of
Germany in 1943,” he declared.
Opinions were expressed in
the United States that Russia
would use only passive resist-
ance after she had cleared her
lands of the enemy.
This prompted President
Roosevelt to caution Americans
against interpreting the Russian
leader’s thought incorrectly. The
President stated, “Stalin did not
make any announcement to that
effect. Nobody is justified in as-
suming that Russia will use only
passive resistance when she has
routed the enemy from her
lands.”
• • •
Red Cross Ships
Arrive In Greece
Four Swedish food-supply ships
chartered by the Red Cross for
Greek civilian relief, arrived at
the port of Athens this week, the
Berlin radio announced.
The vessels carried 20,000 tons
of grain and medical supplies.
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Paci-
fic Fleet, confers awards on 24 American fighting men at Guadal-
canal Island. Receiving his decoration here is 2d Lt. James Jar-
man of the Army Air Force. In background (left), Is Maj. Gen. Al-
exander A. Vandergift, commander of U.S. Marines in Solomons,
who received the Navy Cross.
Hitler Says
He’ll Fight
To Finish!
Ideas that Hitler might accept
conditional surrender were eli-
minated today, following his
pledge never to surrender and
that he would fight fanaltically
to the bitter end.
The Nazi dictator’s declara-
tion was issued in the form of
a proclamation <to the German
people on the occasion of the
Nazi party birthday celebration.
It was read at Munich by Ger-
man Secretary of State Esser and
broadcast (throughout the Reich.
Hitler declared that no matter
how large or powerful the coali-
tion grew against Germany, it
could not match whalt he called
the “strength of the alliance of
people who are facing Bolshe-
vism-Plutocratic destruction.”
He stated flaitly that he in-
tends to bleed to the “very
death” the Nazi-enslaved nations
of Europe.
Norwegian Workers Face
Punishment ‘If Lazy’
German Gestapo chief in Nor-
way, Radiess, has been ordered
by Berlin to send 50,000 skilled
workers from that country, “at
any cost,” to Germany, the Rus-
sian news agency, Tass, reports.
The Reich, in its efforts to ob-
tain workers to replace men now
being called for active duty with
the army, has not found enough
German women who can handle
the industrial jobs, and must rely
on labor from countries which it
occupies.
Spreading “uneasiness of
mine]” in Germany has resulted
in harsh treatment to many
workers, and in many cases the
death penalty has been imposed.
Recently five women were hang-
ed in Hamburg. Notices after-
wards were distributed to all
factories in the area, warning
people to the effect that the co-
operation of every German must
be had, and by force if neces-
sary.
Compulsory labor Ip Norway
has been put into effect, requir-
ing all those who are 18 to 55
to register;
-Pacific
(Continued from Page 1)
brought down both of the raid-
ers. Heavy and medium Amer-
ican bombers also blasted Jap
bases at Kiska.
In the south Pacific, a Japan-
ese submarine attacked a heavi-
ly laden American merchant ves-
sel. The Nipponese sub hit the
American ship wS’h a torpedo,
then moved to the surface to
watch the badly damaged Yankee
ship begin her last dive to the
bottom of the ocean.
/
Instead, as soon as the sub
was visible, the American sea-
men, who had stuck to their
guns, greeted the Japanese crew
with shells and machine gun
fire. The enemy U-boalt sub-
merged as quickly as she could.
The American ship was towed
to port, but her cargo and crew
were saved.
In Burma, RAF Liberator
bombers blasted the Jap air-
drome at Toungo, and also two
villages near Akyab on the
western coast of Burma. Mean-
while, British Blenheims kept
up a steady barrage of raids on
Jap targets near Mandalay in the
eastern part of Burma.
Fierce fighting has broken out
in China along the Salween
River. The Salween River is
located southwest! of Chando, a
small town near Burma. The
Japs attempted to cross the Sal-
ween, bult were repulsed by the
Chinese, who attacked from both
flanks.
It was announced from the
Japanese Imperial Headquarters
that forces of the Japanese army
and navy—wilih full consent of
the French government—have
marched into the French con-
cession pr\ Kwangchow Bay,
U.S. Tanks
Recover
Positions
(Continued from Page 1)
circled in a pass leading toward
Silina in central Tunisia. Attacks
on other sections of the Tunisi-
an front have also been costly
and unproductive for the Axis
forces.
At Sbeitla, Mejez el Bab, and
at Essador, three miles from
Ousseltia, Axis attacks have been
driven back by French-Moroc-
can, British and Scotch troops.
In the northwest corner of Tun-
isia, German General Von Arn-
im, fighting only a defensive
war, is busily preparing “im-
pregnable” positions near Biz-
erte and Tunis.
In southern Tunisia, General
Montgomery’s Eighth Army has
taken enemy bastions such as
Maretli and Foum Tataliouine at
the Maretli Line with little dif-
ficulty. The weak defense of
Itlie line indicates that because
of the Eighth Army’s numerical
superiority, and the impotence
of the line against modern weap-
ons, the Germans expect to make
(the real defense of Tunisia at
Gabes where marshlands, ex-
tending from the shore road on
the east to Algeria in the west,
will narrow the scope of Gen-
eral Montgomery’s armored
units.
—Russia
(Continued from Page 1)
In the Ukraine, Soviet forces
sweplt 83 miles beyond Lebedin-
skaya to capture strongly forti-
fied German defense positions.
In fighting for a town in the
vicinity, Soviet tank crews kil-
led 300 Germans, and captured
eight anti-tank guns, 37 trucks
and a large ammunition dump.
The Nazis threw 30 tanks into,
the fight near Krasnoarmei-
skaya in a desperate attempt to
halt the Red Army which is
gradually closing around the
pocket of German troops remain-
ing in the eastern part of the
Donets Basin. Firing point
blank alt the attackers, Soviet
artillery destroyed seven enemy
tanks, while anti-tank riflemen
put four others out of action.
The Russians also moved for-
ward in a sedtor southwest of
Voroshilovgrad, taking several
populated places and killing 200
Axis troops. The Germans tried
to slow the drive by putting
large forces of aircraft inlto act-
ion, but the effort failed when
the Russians destroyed 35 planes
in aerial duels and raids on
German . airdromes.
German headquarters, mean-
while, announced that the Rus-
sians had opened another drive
“somewhere between Moscow
and Leningrad,” but had been
repulsed. Moscow7, however, has
never indicated that a new as-,
saidj has been smarted.