MASS EXECUTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 24328, 17 October 1942, Page 5

MASS EXECUTIONS

REVOLT IN BELGRADE . PATRIOT ARMY IN PITCHED BATTLE ISTANBUL, October 16. _ Mass executions followed the publication of a communique in Belgrade on October 10 disclosing that numerous arrests had been made after the discovery of “ a widespread insurrectionary movement.” Five hundred people of Belgrade are believed to have been executed. It is revealed from Sarajevo that General Mikhailovitch’s Yugoslav “patriots” in July were engaged in a see-saw battle which centred in the mining town of Kupres, with a population of 25.000 and also Forcha, on the south bank of the Drina, with a .population of 20,000. Both towns were severely battered as the result of artillery fire from both sides. The entire mining installations of Kunres were destroyed, including the Zenica steelworks. which were manufacturing for the Axis. FOUR CARGO SHIPS DAILY TRANSPORT PROBLEM SOLVED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, October 16. An assurance that the United Nations could count on an average of four new United States cargo ships daily by January was given by Admiral Vickery, addressing the American Merchant Marine Conference He said this was not the maximum potential shipyard capacity, and 24,000,000 tons deadweight of new shipping would be delivered by the end of 1943. This figure could be substantially exceeded if the necessary materials were available. Although we had still a long way to go before we had enough ships for victory, the probem of shipyard productivity was as good as solved. Last month the shipyards built 89 per cent, of the whole of the 1941 output. BRITAIN'S SHIPBUILDING RECORDS LONDON, October 15. Britain is building ships faster than ever, and a 10,000-ton vessel was recently launched and ready for sea nine weeks after the first plates were laid. A slightly smaller vessel was completed! in seven weeks. One shipyard is launching a 10,000-ton ship every three weeks. These records have been attained in spite of the “ blackout ” handicap. Some marine engineering firms are turning out a complete engine set every fortnight. The pre-fabrication method of construction has been employed in Britain for more than a year, and engineering works throughout the country are making standardised ship parts for assembly in shipyards. American yards are increasingly following the British ship-welding methods. Seventy-five per cent, of British ships are now welded. Some of Britain’s largest tankers are now almost completely welded. BRITISH WAR CABINET (Rec. 8 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 16. Mr Churchill, when asked in the House of Commons whether he had yet come to a final decision on the advisability of having a War Cabinet composed of Ministers without other departmental responsibilities, replied that he was opposed to such an arrangement. LINER RENAMED (Rec. 8 a.m.) MONTREAL, Oct. 16. To rid so fine a ship of the unfortunate name of Japan, the Canadian Pacific liner has been rechristened Empress of .Scotland. Holder of all speed records for Pacific crossings, the Empress of Scotland has been transporting troops to all parts of the globe since tie outbreak,, *