MIDDLE EAST HOSTILITIES

Evening Star, Issue 24286, 29 August 1942, Page 5

MIDDLE EAST HOSTILITIES

PATROLS AND ARTILLERY ACTIVITY

AXIS TRANSPORT ATTACKED

(British Official Wireless.)

(Bee. 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug. pA Cairo communique states; During the night of August 26-27 our patroi activity continued. Kneray working parties were engaged and harassed by our patrols and artillery in the northern and central sectors. Yesterday land operations were confined to artillery exchanges. Our fighters and bombers again attacked concentrations ofenemy transport in the southern sector. An enemy vessel which had previously been attacked by our torpedo-carrying aircraft was sighted and observed to be on fire north-west of Crete. An enemy aircraft which attempted to fly over the delta landing ground was attacked by fighters and was last seen on firo and losing height.

FIGHTING IN CHINA

JAPANESE WITHDRAWALS

(British Official Wireless.)

: (Bec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 28. The Japanese are withdrawing from the vital bases of Chuhsien and Lishui, in Chekiang, according to a message from Chungking. The Chinese have thus reoccupied great air bases from which Japan could be bombed. The High Command indicated that a similar Japanese withdrawal is progressing in Kwangtung province, and that the Chinese have captured Suichang and Tuchang.

SUB. HUNTING

R.A.F. IN WEST ATLANTIC

(Rec. 11.45 a.m.) WASHINGTON, August 28. A navy official stated that the R.A.F. Coastal Command was co-operating with United States naval and army aircraft in anti-submarine operations in the Western Atlantic, and had already engaged the enemy.

MEATLESS DAYS

FOOD SHIPS RELEASED FOR MUNITIONS CARRYING

NO ILL-EFFECT ON DOMINION'S ECONOMY

(Rec. 11.45 a.in.) WASHINGTON, August 28. Mr Roosevelt told a Press conference that the Government was considering instituting one meatless day weekly in addition to Fridays, which the Catholics already observed. He said the meatless day would release 30 or 40 cargo ships now transporting meat from Australia, Now Zealand, and Argentina. These could be diverted to the transportation of tanks, planes, and munitions if meatless days were instituted. Asked if this would have any ill-effect on the economy of Australia and New Zealand, Mr Roosevelt replied in the negative. He explained that he had discussed with Mr Fraser methods which might be employed in bringing food supplies. Many of the ships carrying military supplies to Australia and New Zealand might bring back a larger amount of food, or, alternatively, more food might be stored.

CHOICE FOR AUSTRALIANS

“ KILL OR BE KILLED "

SYDNEY, August 28. “We must get fighting mau;-it .s a matter of kill or be killed,” declared Sir 'Earle Page, the newest member of the Australian War Cabinet, to-day. The v iew that this might prove a 10years war, for which he had been criticised, was realistic, he said. “We must fight as a nation on land and sei!', in the air, on the farms, in the workshops, in the morning, at noon, and at night. We must 1 match the Japanese cult of bushido with the crusading determination to blot the Japanese off the map in the Southern Pacific.”

While the United Nations’ production was' outstripping the Axis, Sir Earle gave a warning that it would be a mistake to dismiss Japan’s shipping position too lightly, though the losses had been heavy. She had seized 500,000 tons of Allied shipping since entering the war.

TREATMENT BY JAPANESE

EXPERIENCES IN SHANGHAI

OTTAWA, August 27

Not being allowed to sing ‘ God Save the King ’ was one of the things that most annoyed Jean Duclos. aged 15, and her sister Susan, aged 12, who were among a party of repatriated Canadians just returned from the Orient. They are the daughters of Mr Duclos who was Canadian Trade Commissioner in Shanghai. “ They would give us ‘ heck ’ if they caught us singing 1 God Save the King,' ” Susan complained. “ Nobody bothered ns in Shanghai. Wo went to school with 150 other children, but wo heard of other people outside the settlement being treated badly.”

SHIPPING RISKS

SOME REDUCTION ANNOUNCED

NEW YORK, August 27

Marine unaei writers announced a 5 per cent, decrease in cargo war risk rates on all routes previously affected by the recent increase. Shipments via Panama between Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canadian Atlantic ports have been reduced to the former 20 per cent. rate, while the transpacific 7i per cent, rate is maintained. The announcement said that Brazil’s declaration of war was expected to reduce war risk hazards. The ‘ Journal of Commerce ’ ascribed the change to the increasingly effective anti-submar-ine measures.