The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 5

5 THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, MAY 28. 1942 THE DESERT BATTLEGROUND HEYDRICH WOUNDED IN PRAGUE State of Emergency" Proclaimed Over the Entire "Protectorate" COMPULSORY FOR CZECHS GERMANS OPEN ATTACK IN LIBYA Armoured Forces' Battle ROMMEL LAUNCHING BIG NEW OFFENSIVE Several Axis Columns Moving Up security service was working satisfactorily." Hevdrich has a bie share of the ftCatMMom XZmmm FtyFSS hi I ilS A totowF ET.a 6TPT Sciaat 1 FtHladdalenh BlrShegga Heydrich, chief of the Gestapo in the occupied countries, was wounded when an attempt was made on his life in Prague. This is announced by the Germans. A state of emergency has been proclaimed over the entire Czech "protectorate." The Germans state that Heydrich's life is not in danger. He was wounded on the high road from Prague to Berlin within the limits of Greater Prague.

The train services to and from Prague have been stopped. It is not explained how he was wounded. The German radio last night broadcast the following announcement signed by Karl Hermann Franck, on behalf of "Deputy Reichleader Heydrich." It said At 3 32 p.m. to-day in Prague an attempt was made on the life of Heydrich. A reward of ten million crowns is offered for information leading to the apprehension of the perpetrators.

Whoever hopes to hide the guilty person, or who gives them any kind of help or withholds any knowledge of the crime, will be executed. No civilian is permitted to leave his house between 9 p.m. to-night and six o'clock in the morning. All public bars, cinemas, theatres, and public entertainments will be closed and all public transport stopped. Whoever is found on the streets during these hours and does not stop when challenged will be shot immediately.

Further orders are being drafted and will be announced by radio. Later Prague radio announced Whoever hides the criminals or gives them any help, or has any knowledge of their identity or description of their appearance and does not inform the authorities, will be shot with his whole family. The advancing German force In Libya Is being engaged south of Bir Hacheim. No-man's-land stretches to a southwesterly curve from a point west of Gazala to the Tengeder area. An attack by Rommel opened in Libya yesterday morning, when a large armoured force advancing across the wide strip of no-man's-land east of Tengeder met British armoured units south of Bir Hacheim.

A special communique early last evening stated: During the night a large enemy armoured force advanced from the west to the south of our positions round Bir Hacheim. Early this morning the enemy were being engaged by our armoured forces. No details of the fighting are yet available. No mention of the attack was made in yesterday's German High Command report, but the Italian communique spoke of intense Axis air activity," and yesterday morning's British report, which first announced the attack, referred to dive-bombing attacks on our forward troops. Whether the fighting which is now opening is the beginning of a large-scale offensive it is too early yet to say, but Cairo messages last night assumed that it was.

NAZI CHECK SOUTH OF KHARKOV Soviet Counter-Attack on River Sector night paying tribute to the "brave, tough, and well-organised Russian troops." 82 NAZI 'PLANES DESTROYED The Soviet midnight communique last night stated: During May 27 in the Kharkov direction our troops consolidated positions occupied by them and continued fighting. In the Izyum-Barvenkova direction our troops repelled fierce enemy attacks. On other sectors nothing of importance took place. GENERAL RITCHIE'S FORCES From our Special Correspondent was successful when, taking advantage of the dispatch of our troops to Greece, he recovered ground after Graziani's army had been routed and driven back. Then the main enemy advance was by way of Tengeder and El Adem up to Tobruk.

ITBRR AtfE A NS EM NfeMiA, I MILES I responsibility for the practice of taking and snooting hostages, in ranee ne intensified this and similar practices in the hopes of intimidating tne irencn. MOSCOW ON HEYDRICH Moscow radio (quoted by Reuter)' said last night "All the peoples of Europe greet the people ot Prague, greet the champion of liberty who translated the tears and curses of innumerable mothers, wives, and children, and the sacred hatred of a subjugated nation. The shots fired in Prague means that the hangmen of Europe nave to wauc in rear 01 tneir lives. This deed done by one man must rouse us to mass action." "200 TO 1" RETALIATION Four hundred persons have been shot in Lithuania on the orders of General von Rintelen, the country's German Governor, for the killing of two German officials. It is learned in Stockholm (says the British United Press) that the official German announcement reporting the executions claims that the men killed were saboteurs and Communists, most of them Poles.

The 200-to-l retaliation is stated in the announcement to have been ordered to deter the "irresponsible elements in Lithuania who are trying to stir ud unrest." A frank admission of the Danes' hatred for Danish Nazis is made by tha bookseller Lemvigh Muller in the Copenhagen paper i'aedrelandet." As quoted by Reuter he complained In spite of our being just as good Danes as any others they spit at us, persecute our children, and devote long newspaper articles to disparaging us in the eyes of our countrymen. Reports of severe blows being struck against German railway communications and an armament works in Belgium were reneived yesterday by the Free Belgian News Agency. Thirty-two locomotives were sabotaged in the station at Kinkempois, a suburb of Liege. Fires broke out in eight other stations, and machines were put out of action at the Herstal armament works, where a store of rifle butts was also destroyed by tire. A Berlin report says that a Belgian has been sentenced to death by the Germans at Liege oh a charge of having printed and circulated thousands of tracts advocating sabotage and opposition to the Germans.

ITALIANS KILLED The official Italian News Agency reports (says Reuter) an armed conflict on Tuesday with a group of rebels near the border between the Italian province of Zara and Croatia, the Yugo-Slav province, which the Axis has been unsuccessfully trying to absorb. The Prefect of Zara, the commander of the Zara Carabiniers (armed police), and several Italian soldiers were killed. The fighting broke out when the prefect and the officer went to yisit advanced posts in the demarcation line. They were attacked with intense rifle and machine-gun fire and hand grenades. R.A.F.

SUCCESSES Again'st Minesweepers An Air Ministry communique issued late last night states Our fighters were over Northern France and the Dutch coast on' offeniive operations to'-day. Off Flushing enemy minesweepers were attacked and two were severely damaged- Two enemy fighters were destroyed. One of our fighters is missing In a daring attack against enemy minesweepers off Flushing yesterday afternoon (says the Air Ministry News Service) of Fighter Command destroyed an Me. set on fire one minesweeper, and caused an explosion in another. Nearly 100 miles of sea was covered each way.

A small force of Spitfires carried out the attack and as thev annroached their objective a few appeared. The enemy turned tail, however, and dashed inland. In the face of heavv fire from shore batteries our fighters attacked the two minesweenerx. Al. though an escorting destroyer put up a neavv protecting "naK" an explosion was caused in one vessel.

The other was set on fire and belched smoke after withering fire from the Spitfires, which flew in at mast level. Two Eagle pilots were attacked by five Me. 109 and a pilot officer shot pieces from an enemv fighter from 300 vards A colleague saw the aircraft crash into the sea. TWO NAZIS DOWN Bomber and Fighter Caught by three Spitfires of Fighter Command before it had time to drop its bombs, an Me. 109 was shot down off the South Coast yesterday afternoon, states the Air Ministry News Service.

All three i Spitfires fired at the and as bits began to fly off it the pilot let go nis bombs. He tried to escape out to sea but soon turned back and baled out. The enemy machine burst into flames. Another bomb-carrying Me. 109 escaped into cloud as it was being chased by another Spitfire.

An enemy fighter was destroyed in offensive operations yesterday morning. DISASTER AVERTED Sabotage in South Africa A serious accident was averted in South yesterday when it was discovered that several fishplates had been removed from the main railway line between Pretoria and Lourencb Marques, about seventy miles from Pretoria. '-Healer. ITALY'S, BLACK MARKET Bjerhe, Mat 27. Italy Is expected to follow Germany's example and introduce the death penalty for black market offences, reports the Rome correspondent of "Die Tat to-day.

Many, famous Rome restaurants have been shut and their owners arrested for selling food above me maximum prices. Numerous fruit shops and vegetable snops nave biso, oeen cioteo. The- ascut Tradesmen's Federations has issued to. its members the "Giornale d'ltalia" describes a a "last warning." Reuter. -V 7 FASCIST PURGE Duce and Home Front Rome, May 27.

A new Fascist party purge is to begin. Members of the party directory, Mussolini presiding, decided to call for a rigorous examination of. members of the party to eliminate all those who, for whatever reason, do not deserve the honour of belonging to the party." The directory unanimously approved a declaration reaffirming that the fundamental task of the party is the defence and development of the Fascist revolution and the organisation and political education of tne Italian people according to the principles of Fascism." The Popolo d'ltalia," commenting on the purge, declares that the Fascist party is a steel sword in the hand of Mussolini." adding in moments of vital importance for the nation, as to-day, Mussolini himself controls the leader ship of the party. The party is resolved to prevent remorselessly and powerfully all disturbances on the home front, especially in the economic field." Reuter. ITALY'S DEMANDS Flat Rejection Likely Dispatches from the French frontier indicate that Vichy will flatly reject Italy's territorial claims, though Laval may consent to discuss the status of Italians in Tunis, says Reuter.

Laval had a long talk yesterday with Petain. The length of it suggested that Mussolini's reported second Note to France pressing Italy's claims was discussed. The conversation was followed by an announcement that the Vichy Cabinet would meet to-morrow. Laval "also continued his conversations with Admiral Esteva, Resident General in Tunisia. Reports from the Italian frontier indicate that neutral observers regard the present Italian clamour as mere sabre-rattling designed to divert attention from the internal situation.

Following King Victor Emmanuel's week-end review of Italian troops in French frontier districts, Marshal Petain yesterday announced his intention of reviewing Vichy forces at Chateauroux to-dav. Military reviews in Vichy France are rare, and how far to-day's ceremony can be regarded as a reply to renewed Italian clamour for Nice, Corsica, and Tunis is not at present known. Unlike the King of Italy, who carried his tour almost to the frontier line, Petain has chosen to hold his review at a railway and industrial centre only just south of the demarcation line between the unoccupied and occupied zones. General Weygand. formerly Petain's proconsul in French Africa, was reported in informed diplomatic quarters in Berne yesterday to be taking an active part to preveni me nanaing over or, Tunis or other French territory to Italy, says the Associated Press.

He is said to have seen Petain and to have urged against the yielding of any territory. 1,500 IN CITY FIGHT About 1,500 people were involved in a fight when a parade of French Fascists at Beziers, in South-east France, on the Gulf of Lyons, was broken, un bv Allien sympathisers yesterday, says an Associated Press Berne dispatch. It was ended by police intervention. The Fascists were marching down the main street wnen jeers irom persons on tne pavements started the fighting. QUISLING PLAN DROPPED The Quisling plan to introduce com pulsory labour service for Norwegian women has been postponed until next year, says a Stockholm dispatch to Vichy.

This (says Reuter) has been announced in Oslo bv the head of the Quislmg labour service. FIVE LIBYA CAMPAIGNS This is the sixth Libyan campaign since the war began. The earlier ones were September 13. 1940 Italians crossed Egyptian border and reached Sidi Baram. December 6.

1940 General Wavell's advance opened, ending on March, 21, 1941. with' the capture of Giarabub, the Italians last foothold in Cvrenaica. March 25, 1941 Germans' first appearance. Occupied El Aghefla. coastal town lou roues souin-west ox wngnTi and rapidlv advanced to Fort Camran.

by-passing Tobruk, which held out fox eight November, 1941: British advance began siege of Tobruk raised December 9. Bingha7t reached mnsxmas jsve. January zz, 1342 Germans re- assumed offensive and in February with British advanced line at Gazala and Germans on nearly 60- mue jroni xrom 4 nmnra wecnin, un May 26 82 enemy aircraft were destroyed; our losses were 23. A battle on the Kharkov front, in which one Soviet unit withstood repeated attacks by a Nazi force of 70 tanks, was described by Moscow radio last night. Twenty-six were destroyed and 30 disabled.

Marshal Timoshenko is reported to be bringing more and more of his tanks into action to combat the Nazi attacks. ON 45-MILE FRONT Undoubtedly their forces consist of first-class soldiers imbued with the spirit of attack and well organised." A Finnish communique last night claimed that after a month of fighting near Louhi, in the White Sea area, the German-Finnish forces had won a total victory." The extravagant claim was added that the Russians "lost 15,000 killed, while the Germans and Finns together lost 418 men." Reuter, Associated Press, and British United Press. "ENCIRCLEMENT" Nazis' Expectations From our Special Correspondent Stockholm, May 27. News of the great Ukrainian battle to-day does not reflect any appreciable slackening in its intensity, but the most significant aspect is perhaps that it also does not indicate any territorial gains or change of ground on either side since the week-end. This means, as Russian and independent information showed yesterday, that the German claim to have surrounded three Russian armies has no foundation.

What the German High Command envisaged" when Von Bock started his tremendous and supposedly irresistible attack appears more clearly to-day. It expected him to drive a wedge quickly to the River Donets and continue roughly along it in order to join Axis forces pressing south-east from the Merefa region (ten miles south of Kharkov), thus enveloping the whole Russian forces south of Kharkov and west of the Donets. The Russians stopped the wedge apparently before it reached the Donets, and there is no evidence to show that the Merefa pincer has even moved from its base. Thus nothing resembling a bottleneck or encirclement (announced by the German High Command as accomplished fact) has yet been created. The tone of statements made in Moscow remains confident, and to-day's information reflects the Russians' belief in their nower to withstand Von Bock's drive into their flank until its intensity subsides, enabling Marshal Timoshenko to continue his own offensive operations.

These include a nush westwards and south-westwards through Lozovaya and Krasnograd in order to cut important railways and compel the whole German Army group south of Kharkov to adont defensive measures or withdraw. Marshal Timoshenko is scarcely strong enough to pursue this purpose while simultaneously beating on von sours xanss. 1 "The Ttmes' it 'Manchester GuanJlan'Serrlce MORE PLOUGHING UP Changes in Allied Strategy" Mr. R. S.

Hudson, Minister of Agri culture, told a farming demonstration at Fonthill Bishop, near Salisbury, yesterday: "Owing to changes in Allied strategy we have to make further demands on the farming community. I am going back to London to discuss the final details and I hope to let you have particulars next week. It is going to mean a still further increase in ploughing up. The MTifc- Marketing Board was to be Messages from Moscow last night reported that the Red Army has started a counter-attack in the great flank battle south of Kharkov and is advancing on one sector. The general position in the Kharkov operation is still confused, no detailed information navinc been given of where the fighting is taking place.

in iront ot tne city the Ked Army is still consolidating its newly occupied positions. To the south the Germans yesterday improved on their claims to have encircled the bulk of three Soviet armies. The annihilation of these armies, it was claimed, was making rapid progress their powers of resistance had been broken the units herded together" were in a "chaotic condition." This picture was drawn in the German High Command communique, but Nazi military spokesmen were last BITTER STRUGGLE The scene of the Red Army counterattack was described in last night's Moscow messages as "an important sector of the front from Barvenkova to Izyum, twenty miles to the north. Red Star said that the counterattack had succeeded in stopping the German offensive in this area. Soviet troops, the paper added, have considerably improved their positions and have established themselves astride a curve in a certain river." and are pushing ahead, enlarging the bridgehead on the right bank.

One dispatch the front -received in Moscow said that in an attempt to check the Soviet advance the Germans launched two counter-attacks but were stopped with heavy losses. German dive-bombing has ceased, their aircraft being compelled to jettison bombs from high altitudes. According to unofficial reports received in Stockholm Marshal Timoshenko has broken through on the flank of tne German wedge on the izyum Barvenkova front. Soviet troops have thus cut off the spearhead of the mam German thrust," it is stated. Other Stockholm reports on the fighting south of Kharkov say the Germans and Russians are locked in a bitter struggle at all points of a 45-mile front, withViolent hand-to-hand fighting taking place in several sectors.

The German version of this struggle, as reported by Berlin correspondents of Swedish newspapers, is that a quarter of Marshal Timoshenko's army is fighting to break out of the Nazi encircling movement. Berlin military quarters are quoted as saying "The Russians are putting up brave and tough defence. STAFF TALKS U.S. Supply Chief Here One of the most distinguished engineers in the American Army has arrived in Britain. He is Lieutenant General Brehon B.

Somervell. Chief of the United States Army Services of Suooly. who will consult with British officials on problems relating to the Anglo-American war effort. -stated the headquarters of the United States Army forces in Britain yesterday. With him were Brigadier General Leroy Lutes, Brigadier General Charles P.

Gross, and Brigadier General William Lee. In the last war -General Somervell became Assistant Chief of United States Staff at the age of 26. NAZIS SEARCH FOR AIRMEN When an BJLF. aeroplane made, a forced lanriinn in occupied Belgium the Germans captured two of the crew and they are searching for the others, says the Belgian News Agency. A communique published in Brussels tnreatenea severe reprisals 10 who gave shelter, lodging, food, and clothing to airmen and protected them from imprisonment Reuter.

Qr" Kharkov DnepfopetrovsKjiS. Dneprogesjf The reward of 10,000,000 crowns is equivalent to between 60,000 and 70,000 at the pre-war rate of exchange. Ud to midnight the German medium and long wave broadcasts intended for home listeners had not mentioned the aiiacK on neyaricn. COMPULSORY SERVICE The German-controlled Prague radio announced that Heydrich, as deputy "protector," had received members of the Protectorate Government during the day to tell them that a complete reconstruction of the administration of Bohemia ana Moravia was to be carried out during the coming weeks "in accordance with Hitler's decree of May 7." This decree has not so far been published. Heydrich also told the Czech Ministers that Czech youth was verv shortly to be conscripted for compulsory war service.

The Nazis have lately introduced compulsory service for Poles. Heydrich. who is 37 years of age, is next to Himmler, the chief Nazi terrorist. He has been called the "butcher of Moravia" for his harsh treatment of the Czechs. Some 250 Czechs were executed in his first fort night of office as "protector.1 Two weeks ago he was appointed Gestapo Commissioner General in the German-occupied territories.

He made a tour of inspection in Paris, Brussels, and the Hague to "see that the ELECTORAL TRUCE Labour's Endorsement The National Executive's resolution for the maintenance of the electoral truce was endorsed by a narrow majority at the Labour Party Conference in London yesterday. Mr. Herbert Morrison, the Home Secretary, who replied on the debate, said: "If you are participating in a Government vou cannot give aid to that Government and support candidates who are running in opposition to it." Mr. Aneurin Bevan. described the resolution as "merely political jugglery to.

meet a very serious situation." An amendment to refer back the resolution to the executive was defeated on a card vote by 1.275,000 to 1.209,000. Report on page 3 CLEARING COAST AREA Nazis Fear Norway Invasion Stockholm, May 27. A mass evacuation of the whole Norwegian coastal district is being planned by the Germans, according to reports reaching here. This is interpreted as yet another illustration of German fears and precautions against Allied invasion. As part of this evacuation plan an inventory is being made of all accommodation in Eastern Norway.

The Germans' explanation," apparently inspired from Berlin, is that evacuation would guard against air raids (which have been few on Norwegian coastal towns) and would help to provide labour for agriculture. Actually Germany wants to clear all likely battle zones of unreliable elements, which in mis case consist of virtually the entire population. In recent months Norwegians ham been forced to work on building- the tuuttcie casemates ana extra aerodromes which the Germans ne hurriedly preparing as their "northwestern wall." Big German reinforcements, including Panzer units, have been poured into Tromso and otner towns on the north-west coast. In usio many scnoois nave been taken over for barracks. Long-range coastal eun have hwn up and all possible landing-places barricaded against amphibious tanfcg or invasion barges.

Mines- have been set in many electric power stations; All these precautions nave oeen marked bv a coming and going of German staff otneers and commanders, such "Blitzkreig" specialists as Field Marshal List Reuter. LLANDAFF BY-ELECTION To avoid a three-cornered fight in the 3. E. Emlvn-Jones vesterdar announced his retirement as a prospective Independent candidate. He said "A three-cornered fight would complicate the issue, revive party strife, and possibly produce a result which the majority of the electorj would not desire." A straight contest between the Government candidate.

Mr. Cyril LaMn. and Mr. Ronald W. G.

Msckay. Independent-Labour, is now expected. The nomination day Is Monday. The figures at the 1935 election were Patrick Monro (C.) 29,099 E. Lloyd 27,577 maj.

22 Cairo, May 27. The Germans have opened a new offensive in Libya. Earlier to-day it became known that enemy columns, including tanks, had moved forward at dawn yesterday from several points along the enemy's lines. They were preceded tne previous night by far more enemy air activity than has occurred for weeks, and accompanied, particularly in the northern sector around Gazala, by dive-bombing which was ineffective but costly to him, several Stukas being shot down. A special communique" issued later in the day shows that a large enemy armoured force is being engaged by our armoured forces in the parched, desolate region south of Bir Hacheim.

This is probably the largest of the enemy columns which set out at dawn yesterday, and the fact that they were engaged by nightfall shows How well General Ritchie has arranged the positions of his armoured forces. There is so far no news of other engagements, but there is certain activity in the northern sector. While it would be inaccurate to describe our positions as a line," our forward posts stretch roughly from Gazala to Bir Hacheim, with defences in considerable depth behind them. For several days our patrols and reconnaissances have brought back news of considerable activity in the enemy's rear, a large amount of motor transport being reported on roads and great activity both at Benghazi, where he had made strenuous efforts to repair installations sufficiently to allow the landing of supplies, and at Derna, where other supplies had been brought in. A certain number of troops had also been landed from troop-carrying aircraft.

While the R.A.F. attacks have taken considerable toll of enemy material and men, large reinforcements undoubtedly have been brought up, and General Ritchie, commanding the Eighth Army, is facing a large and strongly equipped army. On our side we have certainly not been idle. After the German failure to achieve victory in Russia defeat in Libya would have far-reaching effects upon German moral. General Ritchie's Eighth Army is composed of British, Indian, South African, and Free French troops, fighting fit and in the highest spirits.

Twice they have fought across the Libyan sands and twice complete victory has been in their grasp, only to slip away at the last minute. If the time has come, they are determined not to make any mistake. It will be necessary to wait a few days before it is clear whether this early thrust is indeed the main enemy attack. Other columns are on the move, especially in the northern sector. Indeed, it appears that the is following the plan which RA.F.

BOMB First news of the enemy attack had been given in yesterday morning's Cairo communique, which reported During Monday night there was increased enemy air activity over our rear areas. Damage was negligible Yesterday enemy columns, including tanks in some strength, advanced eastwards, but by nightfall had not reached our main positions. In the northern sector dive-bombing attacks on our forward troops resulted in the loss to the enemy ot several Stukas. The Middle East communique from headquarters yesterday said Air activity over Cyrenalca has been on an increased scale by day and by night In daylight on Tuesday. May 28, our aircraft attacked the landing-ground at TmimI and effectively "shot up" enemy transport vehicles in the Maraua region.

A Ju. 88 was shot down in the El Adem area. During Monday night enemy landing-grounds at Martuba were again bombed, direct hits being obtained on three enemy aircraft on the ground. Motor transport the road between Derna and Bomba were- also attacked. Duringthe same night two Ju.

88's were shot down by anti-aircraft gunfire in the forward area. flAlWAVS The four months which have elapsed since the last campaign have been put to fruitful use in intensive training, wherein advantage has been taken of the lessons learned in the earlier battles, notably the necessity of the co-ordination of all arms and of using tanks in masses. It will undoubtedly be a tremendous and awe-inspiring battle, into which our men are going with confidence and determination. The weather is reported fine and not esoeciallv hot. The Times' 'Manchester Guardian'Servlce AXIS AIM A SOUTHWARD DRIVE With the Eighth Army, May 27.

The general aim of Rommel's forces seems to be to hold our forces in the north while sweeping from the south. The Axis drive is likely to be held by our strong tank, armoured, and infantry forces, but if the enemy pierces our front line he will find our defences more solid than ever, we have so arranged our positions that we have now an immense mobile perimeter far from the exterior defence line. The Axis is now attacking at uoints which nre not included on maps and are merely outposts built up into strong points. These attacks are in addition to the main fighting around Bir Hacheim. The' Germans have brought in a revised type of tank with turret armour strengthened, in view of the experience gained in November when our 25-pounders found effective targets smashing against the weak point in the bolts.

As I drove to the front we weaved off the main roads alone a track among convoys of reinforcements 100 miles long. In two years of desert warfare I have never seen so many tanks moving up. British United Press Special Correspondent. Cairo. May 27.

There are no American troops in the battle, but American observers are there and American-built tanks and aircraft form an important part of Allied equipment. Military quarters in Cairo last night described the terrain over which the present battle is being fought as "not bad for tanks," though it is not completely flat The Allied forward positions consist of a fluid line run-nine southwards from Gazala. Renter and Associated Press. ENEMY BASES The landing-grounds at Martuba were again raided on Tuesday night, and other bomber aircraft operated over wnghnT; In the course of enemy raids on Malta from Monday noon to Tuesday noon our aircraft shot down three Italian fighters and damaged a number of others. Targets at Messina were raided by our bomber aircraft during Monday night From operations four of our aircraft are missing, but two fighter pilots are safe.

The Italian High Command report yesterday spoke of "intense Axis air activity in Cyrenaica, where several centres in the enemy's rear lines were violently bombed." It continued At Tobruk squadrons of Stukas dropped bombs of every type on the defence installations there. in air fights two enemy "planes were destroyed by German A strong formation of our fighters made a successful surprise attack on an aerodrome in Gambut, where 26 Curtiss "planes were ready to take off. Several of these machines set on fire. All the remainder were badly damaged. The Italian News Agency (says Reuter) claims that seven British fighters were brought down during an air battle in Libya yesterday without loss to the Italians.

"The British it says, "were attemntine to intercept Italian bombers attacking eon. centrations of British forces east of Gazala." new function." The board would nodf and Barry by-election, Mr. have been entrusted with it, he said, unless we were confident that it would carry it out with its known efficiency and sense of Mr. Hudson in a statement last sight said that when he spoke of "an extremely important new function bpnff entrusted to the Milk Marketing Board he was referring to -Lord Woolton's scheme for rationalising the milk industry. Negotiations in detail were progressing satisfactorily and a statement, may be made next week.

"The new organisation." be said, "is coming into operation on October It win apply only to the rationalisation of the collection of raiTk.".