STOP PRESS

Evening Star, Issue 24326, 15 October 1942, Page 8

STOP PRESS

SPANISH INTRIGUE, NEW YORK, October 14.—Spain is offering: promises of continued neutrality and increasing co-opera-tion with the United States while simultaneously thrusting; the proAxis knife deeper into the back of South America, says the Montevideo correspondent of, the newspaper 1 P.M.’ franco is •merely a puppet acting on Hitler's orders. Spanish agents are carrying out Nazi instructions in South America. No La tin American country has yet broken diplomatic, relations with Spain, .leaving Franco's representatives. under the cloak of diplomatic immunity, free to assist tho Axis. Some of the United States good neighbours, particularly. Uruguay. Cuba, and .Mexico, are Upcoming ted up with Spain's actions)/but hesitate to move in face of the ’British and American tendency to string along with Franco. Many Latin Americans underrate Spanish influence and effort, which is just what Goebbeis wants. Spanish ships are arriving regularly untroubled by submarines, bringing mure and more diplomatic, aides. • “ lil'lli columnists,'’ and plenty of propaganda.

B.N.Z. DIVIDENDS. Thu directors oi the Bank of New Zealand announce an.interim dividend of 3 pci cunt, on ordinary shams payable on December 5, and a half-yearly dividend, at tii.o rate of 71 per cent, per annum, reduced by Id for every yd for social and national security on the D long-term mortgage shares.—Press Assn.

JAP. SHIPPING LOSSES. WASHINGTON, October 15. The Japanese sinkings, based ou United .States .Navy figures, are;. One heavy cruiser, six. destroyers, one transport, with one heavy cruiser, six destroyers, and one transport probably sunk. The enemy ships damaged include two aircraft carriers, one battleship, three heavy cruisers, 12 light cruisers, six destroyers, three aircraft. tenders, four transports, two cargo, and miscellaneous ships. American ship sinkings are: Three cruiser's, three destroyers, and four transports. American vessels also suffered some dayjage in this week's naval action in the Solomons, but particulars of the ships aud the extent of the damage have not been officially reported.