THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 87, 5 August 1942, Page 3

THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

BATTLE FOR FOOD

RUSSIA MOBILISES VAST ARMY TO MAINTAIN HER SUPPLY LINES SWi:i:]Mi\ r G DECREE Russia Ims mobilised 1 ,">0,000,000 men, Avomen and children to fight the summer's battle for food. Attacking the food supply lines as realistically as they treated the l'ac- [ torics, calling upon workers to remain at their jobs in time of war, the Peoples' Commissars decreed : Collective farmers must work a minimum of 102 to 150 working days tliis season; children from 14 to 16 must work in the fields 5 0 days a year: city high schools must be suspended so students can lend a hand. The sweeping decree affects all males from 1-1 to 55 and all: women from 11 to 50 not already engaged in war work. Exceptions are such women and voung girls deemed unfit lor wor j Persons mobilised from the cities will be fed, sheltered and paid a! prevailing collective farm rates. The decree supersedes one which required a minimum of 50 farm working days a year. Children will have 1 a limited work days, from six to e:ight hours. But there is no limit on the number or days an adult may work.

During the last harvest, with the Germans advancing, the Russian farmers worked day and night. It is to be assumed that if necessary the same will be true this year. Violation of the decree is punishable by six months of forced farm labour and fines of 25 per cent of earnings. Penalties also will include loss of collective farm advantages, which include an individual strip of land.

CAPTURED ITALIANS MAN BRITISH "ACK-ACKS"

A British hero ol' the Libyan campaign told of cap tared Italians manning British anti-aircralt guns against German rj<:d ! ers "and doing all right." The story was related by Wing Commander AL Loudon, senior (jirije" or 10 British war heroes en route to New York, where they will be paid triubutc along with live United State:; heroes.

"Sonic of our boys," he sard, hoar i,ng there were crack Italian anti

aircraft gunners in a loit of prisoners we had taken, asked them if thev would like to try their skill

at popping Jerry planes. Ihcj f, limped at the opportunity and were put on guns guarding our rear Mne aerodromes—under close observa-

tion, of course. They were good too. I don't know 'their official ac count, but they did all right.