The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 6

6 THE -MANCHESTER GUARDIAN, TUESDAY. JULY 14. 1942 STOP-PRESS NEWS i MORE HOSTAGES Holland, Belgium; and France AUCHINLECK'S THRUST How Our Columns Consolidated the Australians' Advance From an Australian Correspondent SWEDISH BRIDGE SABOTAGED The important Svinesund bridge, which crosses the Swedish-Norwegian frontier near Sarbsborg. has been damaged by an explosion on the Swedish side, Stockholm radio announced last night. Saboteurs are blamed.

Swedish troops are searching for them. Prisoners were soon streaming back. I am told that the prisoners captured in the early phases of to-day's fighting included about 20 per cent Germans, who had apparently been blended with the Italians here to stimulate the never overdaring fighting spirit of Mussolini's men. The total cumber of enemy soldiers taken prisoner up to midday was about 400. I met nine or ten truckloads of Italians coming back on the road this morning.

They were the same old Italians we have grown accustomed to meeting in the desert war1 unshaved. PUBLIC ENEMY NO. I (By arrangement with the "Evening Western Desert, July 11. Like a boxer who has staggered his opponent with one punch, the Eighth Army to-day slammed home fresh blows on the Axis forces on the El Alamein line. A strong mobile column composed of British tanks, British and Australian manned field guns and anti-tank guns, and a detachment of Australian infantry moved out from the El Alamein box at dawn.

It struck at enemy concentrations some miles south of the coastal line along which Australian infantry advanced yesterday. It was still fighting far beyond the wire late this afternoon, meeting fire from enemy guns and enemy tanks. The thump of guns has been continuous since four o'clock this afternoon, and the ridges and wadis along the whole line are vibrating with the concussion of their detonations. Stukas also have been operating briskly. A formation came over in the fading light and dive-bombed a mile or two ahead.

They paid for the raid. British fighters pounced on them and one Stuka went hurtling down in flames. SOUTH AFRICANS MOP UP South Africans have come into the picture to-day. They went forward mopping up enemy positions on the left of the coastal strip which the Australians captured yesterday. Another South African column moved out later in the day south of the British and Australian mobile column towards which its head was swinging this afternoon.

The enemy had already suffered at the hands of the British and Australian column, which, as it advanced, engaged and mopped up successive German and Italian strong posts. These were manned by small well-armed forces dug in on features from which they, could bring down a punishing Are on our line. i Jbaft i i i tiiim 0fUft JraAi feasts COMING CLASH IN DONETS Big Forces Arrayed on Both Sides From our Special Correspondent AXIS EASTWARD MOVEMENT STOPPED NAZIS AND SABOTAGE The Germans yesterday seized a large number of new hostages in Holland, said the German-controlled Dutch radio last night, and in Bel gium and Northern France, according to reports from -Berlin. General von Falkenhausen, Nazi announced that the move was a measure to check sabotage. The Allies, he said, were trying to stir up the population by radio and leaflet propa ganda.

General Christiansen, of the Luftwaffe, who commands the Nazi forces in the Netherlands, states in a proclamation that their lives will be forfeit if acts of sabotage continue. The population holds the safety of these comnatriots in its own hands." it savs. The enemy, in view of his dangerous defeats on the Eastern Front, has incited tne people ot German-occupied coun tries western Europe by wireless and pamphlet. I have to warn irresponsible elements that the hostages I have now taken will suffer whenever sabotage is eommmea. PEOPLE'S PARTY" AGAIN On the eve of Bastille Day tonlay came news of two more "outrages'1 against the offices of the Tricolour Anti-Bolshevist Legion and Doriot's "People's Party" at Bourges, in the centre of France.

There, was great damage, but no casualties have been reported. "De Gaullists and Communists are blamed. The bridge at St. Ghislauv over the canal connecting Moris with the River Scheldt has been wrecked bv saboteurs. say reports reaching the Independent Belgian Agency.

Movements of barges transporting industrial coal were stopped lor several uays. The Dutch, according to the first pamphlet issued by the United States Office of War Information, are nlantine tulip fields which resemble huge Dutch wags wneu viewed irom tne air by the A Dutchman now in Eneland tells when two Dutch workmen were killed in a recent k.a.f. sweep, a German officer and his adjutant went to the home of one to express sympathy. A woman answered their knock. When they oeeuii 10 Diame ine wicked British she cut them short, saying in perfect German We never hiamo tho British." Then she slammed the door in uieir xaces.

SECRET QUISLING REGISTERS Secret registers and documents of the Quisling party have fallen into the hands of the Norwegian patriots and extracts have been published in clandestine newspapers. The result has been that many members of the party have taken fright and resigned, fearing that they may find their names on the Allies' black-list. Some of the extracts published are from documents "lost" at the Agder party office in Kristiansund, says the Swedish "Dagens Nyheter." They reveal the co-operation between the Germans and the Quisling party and the information passed on by the Quislings to the security police. They also snow tnat many well-known persons in the district were arrested by the direct orders of nrominent Quislings who later took their jobs and salaries. Another Stockholm message says that Rosenberg, Hitler's racial -adviser, now Nazi Commissar for the occupied Eastern territories, has extended the death penalty in his area to include people who do not register at their nearest police station or with the military commandant, escaped prisoners ot war.

and people who aid them by providing lodging, clothes, or other help. According to German, newspapers published in occupied Poland and quoted in quarters in London 21 Poles were executed on July 10 at Bydtoszcz. They were the members of the Polish army tried for alleged maltreatment of German residents in Poland in 1939. Seven hostages were shot by the Italians at Ljubljana for the murder by Communists of a Fascist official, according to the latest copy of the Slovene paper Ljubljana Jutro reach ing Istanbul. MANY BULGARIAN ARRESTS Six hundred workers, fanners, and soldiers in Shumen and Popov, Bulgaria, have been arrested for anti-Fascist activity, according to the Ankara cor respondent of the Stockholm Ny Dag." At Plevna and the surrounding district 5,500 people were said to have been arrested, including 200 soldiers.

Twenty- six workers were arrested in Plovdiv accused of agitating in the barracks, A violent epidemic of typhus in Bul garia is feared following outbreaks in several districts, it is reported in Stockholm from Sofia Bulgarian bread will in future contain" 30 per cent of potato flour to conserve wneat stocks, it is announced by Mr. Petroff, the Bulgarian Minister of Agri culture, according to a Sofia dispatch to the Vichy News Agency. More maize is to be used iniread in Austria because of the damage to crops during the severe winter. says the Swedish "Svenska Dagbladet." There is to be a further reduction in the food ration in HuneaVv due to the late harvest and other diffi culties, according to a Budapest dispatch to Stockholm. Reports from Macedonia say that relations between the Bulgarian and Italian authorities are coming to a head owing to an Italian intention to occupy Macedonia for themselves.

Reuter and Kxcnange. BOMBING JAPANESE Japanese troop concentrations in the Kalewa area of Burma were bombed by tne on ryinday. A communique issued yesterday' said that hazardous weather conditions were encountered on the way and AA fire over the target was accurate. "Our 'planes. dropped their bombs in the eastern and northern districts and huts along the river bank were machine-gunned.

An our aircraft returned saieiy. "BRITAIN REFUSED 88 GUN The Swiss "La Nation" says that the inventor of the new German 88mm. Sun. a German living in Switzerland, submitted bis invention to British and American military authorities, who rerusea it The average daily Government expenditure for war purposes in the United States rose during June. to 158,000,000 dollars approximately 39,650,000, the War Production Board announces.

This represents an increase of 6.3 per cent as compared with May. Straits weather last night Cloudy and less settled; strong southwesterly wind, moderating jo breeze; sea still choppy; excellent visibility, with French coast clear at times; cool. SENTENCES REDUCED Gerrard Grundy (19) and William Hammond (22) appealed before the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday aeainst a sentence of two vpnrs' hnrrl labour passed on each of them at Man4 caesier Assizes. Holding that matters in mitigation of tVlf cantOTir'ne Vl rsrl Tirtm Vtaan nf KnfAm uw uvyy UUVIG the Court, their lordships altered Grundy's term to nine months' imprisonment and Hammond's tu" fifteen months'. Both men, it was stated, had pleaded guilty Grundy to stealing electric-light uuius aim umer gooas vaiuea at 24, and Hammond to receiving 5 worth of the goods.

Neither had been convicted before and they pleaded that they had been tempted by bad companions BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS Is. 6i. per line. CMlntmum two llnei.I BIRTHS PIHHELL. On Julj 12.

at Lorna Lodte Nurslm Home, to BSrTB, vita of JOSEPH PENNELL. a dauthter. (Botfi well.) tCHOLE. On July li. to LOIS (ne Sandlfordj.

vile of ROBERT HAMEK SCHOLES. a son. 'alio survived only two days. No letters, please. IMETHUnST.

On July 12. 1942. to MAROARET Into Worsley), wife of JOHN SMKTHUR3T, Downs-way. Ketheme Lane. Mersthara.

Surrey, a daughter. WHITEHEAD. On July 12. at Burr Infirmary Maternity Home, to MURIEL (nee Teasdale), wile of OBOROG WHITEHEAD, the lift of a dauxhter. Lyndale.

20. Park Road. Waterfoot. YOUATT. On July 5.

to ItAROARET (S6e Om. wife of S. ALAN YOTJATT. a dauafater. 15.

Stuart Road. Barnenden. Herts. MARRIAGES BBAOBURV ST0N. On July 11.

1942, CHARLES ARNOLD, son of Uu late Mr and Mrs. Thomas Burton BRADBURY, ot Cnorlton-cum-Herdy. to GLADYS, elder daughter of Mr. Edwin and lbs late STONE, of Watreney, Wllbraham Road. Choritoa-cum-Hardy.

HALLMARK ASHTON On July 10. at Llakwrd garish Church. JOHN OLIVER, younrsr son of Urs. T. E.

HAT. T.MARK, of He ton Uoor. Stockport, and the late am Allen Hallmark, to MARY SKID, younier daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oeorio T.

ASHTON. of Lbkeard. Cornwall. LATHAM WILMOT. The marrlace took place on tuu7.

"ui; ii, ai raurs murcn, Hale Bams, of RONALD P. LATHAM (R.A.r.1. second son of Mr. and Mrs. TO.

Latham. 20. Arthof Drive. Hal, to MARGARET O. WILMOT (L.A.).

youtlter daujhter of Mr. and Mra. E. WUmot, Hlllcrest, Hlih Elm Road Bale Barns. MA0N LONCLEY.

On Saturday. July 11, 1942, at Buxworth Parish church, by the vicar. Or. Towers, ANDREW TEMPLE MASON, elder son of the late Andrew Smith Mason and Mrs. Mason, ot Chin ley, to BARBARA KSME LONOLXY.

dauxhter ot Mr. and Mra. J. Loniley. of Chlnley WHITWOBTH JOHSI.

On July 11. 1942. at St. Ann cnurcn. aiancaester, ROY FRANCIS, son of Mr.

and Mrs. Harold WHITWORTH. of Wallasey, to JOYCE DIMELOW, daughter of the late Mr. Anoro JON923 and of Mra. Andro' Jones.

Orosvenar Court Whalley Ranas, Manchester. Silver Wedding 1 M00HE KHOTT. On July 14. 1917. at at.

5MSSf Wthlnttorj, Manchester. JOHN FRANCIS MOORE, of York and Nottlnihem. to MARGARET, second daughter ot the late John and Rose KNOTT, ot Whlteneld and Broadheath. 9. Orove Terrace.

Burton Road, Wlthlntton SO. MISSINf? LEE. lieutenant JACK LEES. Cheshire ReUment, la Mrs. Will em Lees, Whlteholme.

BEamhall. Any Information cretefulty received. DEATHS BARLOW. On July 12. JESSIE, the dearly cherished ana oajoved wire of Emm BARLOW, of 191.

Klni'a Road, died at her sisters' residence, 16, Knott Lane, Hyde. Cremation at the Manchester Crematorium Wednesday, July 15, B'V-On July 12. at Wrentham. S3. Lockwood Albert Edward BERRY, Bowerby Bridie ad CTheadle Hulme, in her 75th year.

No flowers. "-ACKEURWE. on July 11, at her residence. Orchard House. Loatton.

near Preston. KATE, the loved wile of Harry Oletf BLACKBURNE, 1st of Oldham. Interment at at Cuthbert'a Church. Southport, on Wednesday next at 2 pm. BUCKLEY.

On July 11. at Blackpool, ELIZABETH, widow of H. BUCKLEY, late of Chorltonura-Hardv Interrr-mt at the Southern Cemetery al 1 15 this day (Tuesday). DOWKES- On July 10. at 48, Murray street.

Hither Brourhton LUCY FARRlKGTOff DOWnrS. scond daoSter of the lata William ramnston Downed Service at St. James's Church. Hlthefi Brohton7 this day Tueaday). at 2 pi.

prior Interment at St. Paul's. KtrsaL DRUnv. on July 13. suddenly, at 65.

Linden arrive. Woodjracor Stockport, CHARLES BEDVStB huibarm of Constance nrun'. Med 41 years. Service at the Stockport Crematorium on Thursday at twelve o'clock, nirmlrles to Messrs. Oeorte Meredith.

StorJrportTr IVORr. On July 11, 1942. at his zasidsnce (Mean Requiem Mass at St. Mary's. Shaw Strcetl Oldham, on Wednesday the 15th at eleven 4AKMn.LjS:19i?- Manchester An'- JS beloved wtfe of the late James Turner JACKSON, late of Oldham, aaad 81 rears.

Interment Chadderton cemettrr Thursday, twelve noon. Inardrtet to it CccSaod Sods. Olrfham T.l w.h. wuw buu chares. South Reddish, on Thursdsy, July 16.

at 11 aja, prior to Interment TTesste Cemeterr at twelve nan. Iriartrrles- Mr. AtatnsrmVlKcctaort Ocwmerativa owczpon On iu-'T at Blackpool. THOMAS LAYNE Osta tt 73. lower Seedier Boad.

Pendleton). te hS 79m rear Interment SL John's Chiixefc PerseS-burr. this day (Tuesday), twelvn XnmurS On Wfl', at 42a, acarttbricic New Road, Paneral service at Princes Street Baptist CnapeL ffffiiffifr, day rruejdjj) at 5 pja. Interment oy request. wlB friend please accept this Tthe SSi.

fNlHCTOHv -On Saturday, July 11. at 5. Stanley goadJWjlideri. ISaictiesiir. H.

nal 26. late Manchester UniMr-altT and after sv loox illness endured; with mttence and fortltade. flsTSder ofSdltB and Jjaeph Penntastop-ServScs aadasnromal at tSS acancheacer Crematoriam on Wectaesdsy, jury 15 1 bjb. So nsournmc, no Jncnbhes to WaJkden Oo-operatlvs Sorety. TeL BOSj1 On Job; IS.

eaddenl at 6. Dcusht7 jVt Funeral munugitijmt. toouirtes, Coop and Sons. rl fortified by ta rite ot Funeral uraruements later. 4.

Craruser Road. Didsburr. 'JfSrrSSrih -1942. MART APPt. mLTm tt.

7i 7 jui HES. UWrOSSa, Ifygf" bus of 4, Crasley ri' triataitas). treasured raereories ct BXATBICE, jgyj. cs r.nmma aibot ttcqajttftaalTO tana, ud Stater, of tusxsur: JAMES BBOOWS- rHaetH DirtcterT and 'Marpie. fJttw MABCEEarSK OTAMJLulA r-- mutant.

Reuter's correspondent, cabling from Cairo last night, says that on the rim of the Qattara Depression the enemy is once again on the defensive. The movement eastwards which he was developing four or five days ago (before the "limited offensive" which placed' the British in control of the Tel el Eisa ridge) has apparently died down. Following are yesterday's official reports on operations in the Middle East BRITISH In the northern sector yesterday (Sunday our troops drove off an attack by the enemy on the north-western area of the position occupied during our recent advance. Our artillery was active on the El Alamein front and in the central sector. In the southern sector our battle groups and artillery harassed the enemy.

Although dust interfered with air operations, our fighters carried out protective sweeps and fighter-bombers, attacked targets in the battle area. Two enemy aircraft were shot down. meek, rather pathetic little men. I saw a truckload of Germans too. Their sunburned faces were unsmiling, and they spoKe little even among themselves.

Meanwhile the Australians who advanced along the coast yesterday were not only holding but were extend ing their positions. They stormed two more features south of Tel el Eisa railway station this morning, and now the whole of the Tel el Eisa area is in their hands. ROMMEL SENDS IN TANKS It is clear that Rommel attaches con siderable importance to the ground the Axis has lost and the Australians have won. He sent an undetermined number of tanks to try to smash our advance yesterday afternoon. The enemy tanks were first engaged by a British tank regiment south of Tel el Eisa.

A furious battle raged for nearly three hours in the blazing afternoon sun. It is claimed that nineteen Italo-German tanks were knocked out or disabled and the enemy finally drew off. They came back again after nightfall with six tanks, which launched a direct attack against the Australians' advanced positions. Two tanks were hit and halted by the Australian guns. The four others came on and got right among the infantry.

But these seasoned men know how to deal with tanks at close quarters. They went with stick-type bombs and soon the tanks were smoking shattered hulks. And the Australians naa not yielded a single inch. Guardian Service Copyright BestTVi-d The enemy continued air attacks on Malta, losing three fighters. From the operations reviewed above one of our aircraft is missing.

GERMAN In Egypt fresh British attacks in the area of El Alamein were repelled with heavy casualties. Formations of German and Italian aircraft continued the destruction of British air bases at Malta. ITALIAN: Lively fighting continued in the El Alamein area, where Axis troops repulsed renewed enemy attacks and inflicted losses in men and material. In repeated actions our Air Force started fires behind the enemy lines and put a large number of motor vehicles out of use. In air combat two Curtiss machines were destroyed by German fighters.

Our units escorlinesone of our convoys navigating in the Mediterranean beat off an attack by British 'planes. During the action one British bomber and two torpedo-carrying 'planes were shot down. No damage was done to our ships. Reuter. more evident became the signs of mixed feelings among the nationalist groups.

They began to question whether a German occupation would really suit their book and whether it would not be preferable to bear those ills we have than fly to others that we know not of." No doubt the stories told by numerous Greek and Yugoslav refugees scattered up and down these countries have done something to educate local populations to a more realistic appreciation of the Nazi New Order." Another factor which has also weighed in favour of the Allies is the appearance of American uniforms airmen, military observers, Red Cross workers here, there, and everywhere The United States enjoys a high prestige the Middle East, partly owing to the excellent educational 'work of American missionaries, partly owing to the tales brought aback by returned emigrants. This concrete evidence of American association with the Allies has possibly done more than anything else to convince the Middle East that "Abu Ali the Arab name for Hitler is a false god. The Times' "Manchester Guardlan'Serrice REFUGEES IN EGYPT A Drastic Order Cairo, July 13. An 'Egyptian military proclamation signed here prohibits the employment of refugees from Axis-invaded countries and forbids them to ensase in anv finan cial, commercial, industrial) or agricul tural activities. Employers are required to dismiss refugees within forty-eight hours under threat of fine or Unless parents or friends are able to pay for their upkeep the- refugees must live in special camps which, are being prepared.

Refugees must leave Egypt "if the circumstances leading to their admission to Egypt cease to exist," and no -refugee may remain in Egypt after the war. Henceforth no refugee will be allowed to enter Egypt unless an agreement has been negotiated, with the Power concerned, and the entrance of refugees will be allowed only, by groups through channels fixed 4y the Egyptian Government, Eeuter. HOLLOWAY PRISON INCIDENT Women Detainees' Reply Woman detainees at Holloway have issued a statement through their legal representative about recent incidents in the prison which were the subject of reports in some papers (not in the Manchester Guardian On July 1 at 12 30 p.m., it states, three detainees. Mrs. Kraaft, aged 67.

the Duchess of Chateau-Thierry, aged 63, and Mrs. Lonsdale, aged 29, were notified that they were to be transferred to Aylesbury Prison at three o'clock that afternoon. Their request to be allowed to communicate with solicitors by telephone was refused by the Governor, who would not allow the prison telephone to be used. He said they could write or telegraph. As the time was so short a telegram or letter would have been ineffective.

Thev maflo a written protest and intimated that it was impossible get together the collection of belongings arising from two years' internment in so short a time. They did not ask the wardresses to pack for them. When the time came for the departure Mrs. Lonsdale, who was not in the best of health, passively resisted and was carried out. Mrs.

Kraaft and the Duchess walked out. The other detainees did not sit in a ring to prevent the officers taking the ones who had to go. There was no fight and no reason for any Since the incident things have been normal and the same harmonious atmosphere has prevailed between the detainees and officers as before the incident. The detainees realise that the officers were only doing their duty. The whole story has been grossly exaggerated and the detainees feel that they have enough to bear in the fact that they have been in prison without trial for -two years or more without having to bear the oblouuv that aricpi: frnm nmal stories that have been circulated about mem aurmg me past, two days.

"A CRAZY FLIGHT." Airmen's Escape from Jungle Sydney, July 13. A crazy flight over the wildc of New Guinea in a 1914-model biplane helped a oomoer crew to return home after their machine had crashed in a forced landing owing to shortage of fuel. The old "crate" was with another one a 1917 model which the crew found at a desert trading post near where they had come down. The crew worked for a week patching up the older machine from bits and pieces of the other. The wings were made airworthy by patching them with sheets and canvas from a stretcher.

In this 'plane the pilot, Captain Felt-ham, set out to climb an mountain to get help. Within fifteen feet of the summit a down current of air drove the 'plane crashing against the rocky mountain side. Both Feltham's legs were broken and he was imprisoned in the wreckage for five hours. TT ffnt nut srtrt lv machine until the next day, when his ticw jLuuna mm. iviaKing bamboo SDlmis.

thev rarrtA1 him vk.iuugu nic jungle until they were spotted by an Allied 'plane, which flew them back to their base one at a time. Reuter. MINISTRY'S REPLY To Aircraft Workers' Protest --i auc uuiuiu vesterdav saw Pnrnnol Minister of Aircraft Production, Air. Alexander Dunbar, Controller General, Mr. Ben Smith.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry, and Mr. Jack Stenhenson. fiahnur ahtticot- iu Ji, LV LiO L- "saiubi stopping production at a South' Ul UCIilIlU HirfTaTT laPfftrv tVn nfamn type of machine and the transfer of aoine worKers to another factory some miles away. It was alleged that this would entail loss of production and was io i iie national interest. It is lparnpri That ir juauc ucdl to the deputation that the change would not decrease outDut and that, as con- iuutuim at me new iactory was continuing, there should actually be an increase.

Thoro ks the situation. it was stated at the Ministry last night that this move of workers from one factorv to annW mill uuvidte tne necessity for additional buildings and all ouuunries wmcn arise ntn new aircraft enterprises are necessary." The deputation was- informed that the factorv at whinh roi-toin be stopped is urgently required for utuu imuuiwut aireran production. GERMAN SABOTEURS More American Arrests r--t iZr rtuesea associates of tne euht German saboteurs who were landed in the TTnitori waabca UY OCjatS was announced Washington yesterday by Mr. Biddle, United States are Sen" says Reuter. Four Mr.

Biddle described the arrested persons as immediate contacts." Mr. Hoover, of the Federated Bureau of Investigation (the said that the arrestshad been made in Chicago and New 'York within the last three weeks. One of the suspects concealed part of take into the country, by trw saboteurs anrl z. for use moving explosives. me saboteurs is taKing place in Washington before a military tribunal.

Stockholm, July 13. Except on the sector near the mouth of the River Voronezh the Germans annear nowhere to have gained a footing on the Don's left bank. The Germans have not broken through the Russian Army chain or separated the southern forces from the northern, although they have broken into the front positions, compelling a Russian withdrawal in the direction of the LiOwer Don. The Germans are now showing a strong tendency to lengthen the active front southwards from Lisichansk, being already cJose to the important towns of Artemovsk. Gorlovka, Makeyevka.

apd Voroshilovgrad, in the Donets industrial basin, a part of which they have held since November. Immense forces on both sides are arrayed in this region, which ends near Taganrog on the Sea of Azov. It is uncertain whether the Russians will make a firm stand in the positions they now occupy, but so far there have been no signs of a withdrawal from the Donets Basin to the Don line ending in Rostov which the Germans captured last year and quickly lost. Though the Upper Don battle has reached a critical stage and the Russians have yielded a large and valuable region, the Russians do not DON DRIVE Oil, Coal, and Wheat Moscow, July 13. Russia's war economy, as well as the purely military situation, is closely anected by the final outcome, yet to be decided, of the present German offensive in the Donets and Don region.

Consolidation of the German advance to or beyond the Don. with the possi bility of a thrust towards Rostov or eastwards to Stalinerad with the object of cutting off the Caucasus, would be a triple blow to the Soviet Union's resources for waging war. First, there is the Caucasus oil secondly, tne coal and iron ore of the Donets Basin and. thirdly, the precious harvest of a big par.t of the central black- earth district and possibly the harvest the South Don area. Hundreds of thousands of acres of wheat, oats, rye, and maize must soon be harvested to safeguard food supplies for the winter.

Last year the harvest in some of the provinces and republics of the Union was started late, and the Soviet authorities are already taking steps to prevent a simUar delay this year Tractors are being overhauled and repaired and other preparations taken in hand in good time. Every available peasant and millions of people from the cities will be mobilised for harvesting. Far greater recourse than in peace-time will be had to horse-drawn reapers. Last year the most valuable agricultural province, the Ukraine, was lost. Now part of the central black-earth -rpffion which is.

rouehlv. contained in a circle with a radius of 170 to 200 miles around Voronezh, has gone. On the other hand, the area under cultivation in the Union has been extended and more intensified methods have been employed Keuter. SECOND FRONT Call for United Strategy Moscow, July 13. A strong call for a second front in Europe and the establishment of a grand strategy between the Red Army and the armies of other United Nations was made to-day by Mr.

Alexandrov, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. Resources and the possibilities for victory were not enough, he said they must be exploited in time and with the necessary skill. jHe emphasised that the Soviet people's faith in victory is growing stronger' in spite of the "desperata offensive pressure of the The; time is not far when victory over the hated foe will become a reality." he said. "The problem now facing the U.S-S.R. Britain, and the United and other countries allied with us is the timely, skilful, and, decisive utilisation of our possibilities for achieving victory," said.

Mr. Alexandrov, who stressed the following points 1- Putting effect the complete agreement reached between the Britain, and the United States on the opening of a second front in Eurone in 2542." 2. Working out and carrying out the strategic plans of the Red Army High Command and the armies of other freedom-loving nations. 3. Concentration of the armed forces of the anti-Hitler coalition in decisive directions, choosing the right moment for striking the enemy hard.

Reuter. appear very dissatisfied with the way the great clash is developing. They know that the Germans have staked everything available not on winning this or that battle but on completely smashing and disintegrating Marshal Timoshenko's armies, and unless this is achieved they are doomed to final defeat, beaten by their own costly victories. Indications from the Taganrog sector suggest that the sector from Lisichansk to the Sea of Azov may break into battle any day, indeed anv hour. The Russians are almost silent about their own offensive near Orel, but German reports say the Russians resumed this "diversion on a great ecale during the week-end with fresh forces which advanced appreciably before they were checked Referring to the Don battle, a military spokesman in Berlin has emphatically proclaimed that it is now certain that complete victory against Russia, with the destruction of all her organised armed forces, will be achieved before the winter.

The German press is now busy expatiating on this grateful theme, not reminding its readers that the supreme German military spokesman promised the same result in 1941. 'The Manchester Guardian' Service OFFICIAL REPORTS The latest Russian front communiques are RUSSIA During the night of July 12 our troops fcught the enemy on the approaches to Voronezh and in the area of Boguchar. No material changes on the other sectors of the front. The supplement says: Tbe Germans are suffering heavy losses In the Intense which is continuing on tta spprcscbes to Voronezh. Hundreds of Germans were klLed by gunfire when they attacked a Eor.tt artt.lerv Unit.

In th nf mi. tmnn touEht heavy defensive engarements with the auvMucuitf enemy troops strong enemy unit wmcn had succeeded In breaking through our defences was wiped out. Having withdrawn from Lisichansk to new defence pos'tlons our troops continued fighting enemy tanks and infantry. In one of the sectors the Oermans launched several attacks on our positions, suffering heavy losses. In one encasement alone the Germans loat nine tanks and over 250 officers and men; 35 German tanks were destroyed in another tank battle.

On the Kal'nln front one of our tank units fought a battle lasting several hours with German tanks and infantry. In spite of their numerical superiority the Oermans did not succeed In breaking through our defence. The enemy lost In this engagement about 6O0 In killed and wounded. Three enemy tanks and two guns were destroyed. Leningrad gaerrlllae wrecked two enemy military trains and wiped out several Oerman garrisons.

GERMANY A special announcement from Hitler's headquarters yesterday said In the area south-west of Rzhev (130 miles west of Moscow) the outflanking attack begun on July 2 by German troops, effectively supported by air formations, has led to the encircling and annihilation of several rifle divisions, cavalry divisions, and a tank brigade, after the breaching of the enemy fortifications system in violent forest fighting. In these eleven days of fighting more than 30.000 prisoners have been taken and 218 tanks, 591 guns and 1.301 machine-guns, and mine-throwers, and large quantities of other weapons of war and materials of all sorts captured or destroyed. The enemy has suffered heavy casualties. The number of prisoners and amount of booty are still increasing. The ordinary communique stated The.

enemy is being pursued on a broad Front Strong air formations supported attacks destroyed further passages of the I Inn TYniinlii On the Caucasus coast bomber aircraft scored direct hits with heavy bombs on two floating docks in the harbour of Novorossisk. North and north-west of Voronezh, in the repelling of enemy diversionary attacks were destroyed. Ou be Volkhov front a strong enemy unuaeiieaa was repulsed. A group of enemy forces which landed on 2" Volkhov was anm" Gulf of Finland rnine-sweepers sank a Soviet submarine. In the Far North jhve-bombers attacked the harbour installations of RostaTnear Murmansk several fires were observed; MASS-PRODUCED SHIPS A Umtbj States West Coast Port, July 13.

American shinbuildine nn iukk. production principles by use of the assembly line is the latest the speeding up of launehings, says -an announcement made to-day by the United States Navy. It says that the West (Truef shn. quantity one tanker and three-auarters ul ouvuKi i mirtg OlillLll tistitrousiy on the same launching The other quarter of the second tanker, including the bow, has already been constructed. Sections are assembled in other parts of the shipyard "and then set in place for the-' final assembly after "the first tanfcer has been launched.

Reuter. The Bishop of Dover disclosed at the Canterbury Diocesan Conference yesterday that the 97 churches, 40 parsonages. fi6 churrh schools, and 24 church halls in the diocese bad been damaged by enemy-action. Of these the number destroyed were Aurcfaes four, parsonages two, church schools three, church balls nine. RECENT REACTIONS IN IRAN, IRAQ, SYRIA U.S.

Uniforms Worth a Lot of Propaganda From our Special Correspondent Beirut, July 13. While Rommel is hammering at the gates of Egypt the rest of the Middle Eastern area has given the Allied staffs less cause for anxiety than might have been expected. They had been prepared for the possibility of corresponding move by the enemy against Cyprus and Syria, if only in the nature of a feint, to immobilise Allied forces in these areas. There has not been any sign of such a movement so far, and the moment when pressure at this point might have been most helpful to enemy strategy seems to have passed. It seems reasonable to infer that the Axis Powers do not dispose of sufficient strength at sea and in the air to make the attempt.

Another form of enemy activity which had been expected was a recrudescence of subversive propaganda and sabotage in the areas occupied by British troops with a view to embarrassing the stalls and causing anxiety on the lines of communication. Curiously enough, such activity has been most noticeable in the most distant area namely, Iran. Here a fresh "drive" of ttnemy propaganda synchronised with the opening of the Axis offensives in Russia and Libya. Some acts of sabotage, mostly insignificant, were also noted on the Trans-Caspian railway. Of all the countries in the Middle East Iran probably presents the most fertile ground for Axis machinations owing to the long-standing prejudice there 'against the British and the Russians.

In Iraq, Syria, and Palestine evidences of Fifth Column activity are less apparent. The successful coup in' May by the British Field Security Service had something to do with this. Four key members of a German spy organisation three Syrians and. one Palestinian were rounded up and shot. The broadcasting of this news throughout the Arab- countries had an excellent effect.

In Ira a- the early Japanese successes made a. great impression; their more recent reverses have produced a corresponding reaction to the Allies. In Pales-line and Syria- the -advance of the German forces- into Egypt naturally created great excitement. In Syria, curiously enough, the nearer the Germans approached the CATHEDRAL SEctTCS 3 '30. Sctr CMJwinlms Saaom as -S us.

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