MARTYRED SERBS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1941, Page 6

MARTYRED SERBS

MURDERED IN THOUSANDS BY NAZIS

MOVING APPEAL BY PREMIER. ALLIES URGED TO THREATEN REPRISALS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, November 20. The execution of hostages had nowhere reached such proportions as in occupied Serbia, said the Yugoslav Premier, General Simovich, in a statement today. The newspapers in Belgrade revealed that 2100 citizens had been shot at Shabac, 2540 at Kraljevo, and 2300 at Belgrade. It was now known that 4576 were executed at Kragujevic as a reprisal for the killing of 26 German soldiers which was reported on November 15. General Simovich said, “The martyrdom of the Serbs evokes deep compas-

sion in every man bred in the spirit of Christian civilisation, but it is questionable whether condemnation by public opinion is enough to make the Germans discontinue the butchery of innocent* Serbs. A threat of reprisals would have far greater effect. If such assistance is not given without delay Serbian towns, even Belgrade, will become heaps of rubble and our finest representatives will be shot as hostages.” At the inauguration of the second session of the Czechoslovak State Council in London today, M. Benes and his 40 State councillors rose to their feet to pay a tribute to the victims of the Heydrich terror. Among the audience were Czech soldiers, airmen, and State officials, as well as the British, Russian and American Ministers to Czechoslovakia.

ON LARGE SCALE GERMAN CAMPAIGN. AGAINST GUERILLA FORCES. (Received This ay, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON. November 27. /The British United Press Berlin correspondent reports that strongly reinforced German troops, with units under Neditch, are carrying out a largescale offensive against organised Serb guerillas.