STILL A FIGHTING FORCE

Evening Star, Issue 24289, 2 September 1942, Page 5

STILL A FIGHTING FORCE

RUSSIAN BLACK SEA FLEET SMASHING UP GERMAN LANDING PARTIES (Rec. 11.50 a.m.) MOSCOW, Sept. 1. The Black Sea fleet, without loss, raided by night a port in which the Germans had accumulated a small fleet apparently intended for use in landing in the Northern Caucasus. Planes dropped flares, after which Russian warships launched a bombardment and sank a number of vessels and destroyed a big oil dump. The Black Sea fleet is still a fighting force, valiantly aiding the Red Army in the Caucasus, and has carried out raid after raid on enemy-held ports. The fleet’s guns are smashing up German landing parties attempting to cut in behind the Russian forces, barring the way to Tuapse and Novorossisk. DEMAND BY HINDUS INDEPENDENT STATUS FOR INDIA NEW DELHI, August 31. The Hindu Mahasabha Working Com. mittee,’ in a lengthy resolution, demands the immediate declaration of independent status for India, and also immediate negotiation between the British Government and India’s principal political parties in order to solve the present deadlock. The resolution further demands the formation of an All-Indian Government which, the committee asserts, will declare its determination to fight the common enemy. The committee states that if Britain fails to respond to these demands the Mahasabha will be compelled to devise means by which Britain and the Allies will realise that India as a self-respect-ing nation can no longer be suppressed. The committee appointed seven members to organise _ a campaign to mobilise public opinion in support of the national demand, and, if possible, , to negotiate with the leaders of the principal parties and representatives of the British Government. The resolution lays it down that if any party is unwilling to co-operate in the formation of a National Government, the other party should be invited to form such a Government. The Hindus would never accept a Government formed by the Moslem League. DAMAGE IN HELSINKI HEAVY RUSSIAN RAID LONDON, September 1. The Stockholm correspondent of the ‘ Daily Telegraph ‘ says that the main food and clothing depot of the Finnish army, occupying a whole block at Helsinki, was burned down with masses of supplies during a Russian air raid on the night of August 28. A big railway goods yard was also wiped out, and terrific damage was done to the centre of the city. QUEEN WILHELMINA CELEBRATIONS IN BRITISH FORT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 31. A' certain British port became “Little Holland” to-day when the crews of a minesweeping flotilla of the Royal Netherlands Navy went ashore to celebrate Queen Wilhelmina’s sixtysecond birthday. The crews marched through the streets of the town, which was nag-bedecked, and later the officers entertained officers of the British and other Allied services. NEWS IN BRIEF LONDON, August 31.—The Berlin ■radio says 11 Dutchmen were sentenced at The Hague, three to death and the others to long terms of imprisonment for stealing a large number of food, cards from the issuing office at Bverwijk and selling them for large sums. WASHINGTON, August 31. The Navy Department will celebrate Labour Day on September 7 by launching or laying the keels of 150 vessels, which is an all-time record. WASHINGTON, August 31. The Secretary of Agriculture (Mr Claude R. Wickard) announced that nation-wide consumer meat rationing will be instituted about January. Meanwhile he suggested that civilians should voluntarily reduce their meat consumption, especially of beef, veal, and pork. SYDNEY, September 1-—Coal pro-; duction in New South Wales during the last fortnight in August for which : figures are available was more than; 500,000 tons, smashing all previous records. LONDON, August 31.—The Moscow radio reports that the Germans in Warsaw are using Poles as rickshaw-, men. The Poles are also forbidden to use the pavement. NEW YORK, September I.—A' War Production Board official has announced! that the manufacture of alcoholic beverages will cease on- November 1, after; which distilleries will produce only in- , dustrial alcohol. Present supplies of, liquors are' expected to last_ four to; five years, at the end of which brew-' ing will be resumed. ANKARA, September _ I.—Neutral military observers returning from a visit to the Crimea state that isolated Russian units are still holding out in several fortified underground positions around Sebastopol. RUGBY, September I.—Citizens of London are being asked to reduce water consumption by 60,000,000 gallons daily, and thus save 32,000 toni of coal yearly. BIG ARMS DUMP LONDON, September 1. The police, when raiding a farm ori a mountain side near Belfast, discovered a big I.R.A. arms dump, including rifles, revolvers, tommy guns, ammunition, hand grenades, detonators, fuses, and tear gas and explosives. . A man with a tommy gun challenged the police as they approached the farm, and they shot him dead. REVIVAL OF " CORPSE THROWN FROM BOAT AFTER DIEPPE RAID (Rec. 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 1. Two Canadian soldiers returning from the Dieppe raid, thinking their boat was in danger of sinking, threw out the body of a comrade to lighten, the load. \Vhen they awoke in hospital “ the corpse ” was lyin<* in bed between them. The dipping had revived tli© apparently dead man, and he was picked up by a rescue ship. The “corpse” is now spending his time explaining to his two comrades jnst what he intends to do to them when he recovers.