STOP PRESS NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21584, 21 November 1941, Page 4

STOP PRESS NEWS

NAVV BOMBARDMENT LIBYAN CAMPAIGN LONDON Nov. 20 The Eastern Mediterranean Fleet is out *n full for the Libyan offensive, says the American Press corresoondent aboard the Barham. The battle fleet covered the bombarding force, but Cd not encounter Axis warships. Most of the shelling was directed against Halfaya, where the Axis had largo ammunition dumps and supply bases, in addition to thousands of troops. The Navy's shells are believed to have hit several dumps, causing violent explosions Ttir' bombardment occurred shortly before midnight last n.ght. The corners manned every gun in the fleet when Axis bombers shadowed the warships, keeping just beyond effective gunrange. Then Royal Air Force planes came over and drove off the bombers. A single enemy plane roared over at night at a height of 300 feet and dropped Hares, but did not attempt to attack. The military spokesman at Berlin said: "We agree with the British that they will have no military walkover m Libya. The military situation there is different from that a year ago. We await developments calmly." The Rome radio announced that the German and Italian watchword in Libya is: "They shall not pass." General Cunningham has an arduous task. FREE FRENCHMEN PROPOSAL IN AMERICA WASHINGTON. Nov. 20 A member of the House of Representatives. Mr Stearns, announced that he is introducing a resolution proposing United States recognition of General de Gaulle’s Free French Government. GERM WARFARE JAPANESE BARBARITY , CHUNGKING. Nov. 20 The army spokesman accused the Japanese of germ warfare. He said that on November 4 Japanese planes dropped foodstuffs and clothing at Changte, in the Northern Hunan Province. Many persons who ate the food and used the clothes which were dropped later developed symptoms of Bubonic plague and died The Chinese Government, is fully investigating.