The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 5

THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN. MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1942 WEST TO TRIPOLITANIA 23 NAZI 'PLANES GERMANS ADMIT RED ARMY HAS THE INITIATIVE SHOT DOWN Rouen Attack 9 FALL TO GUNS OF U.S. BOMBERS It was officially announced by ROMMEL'S FORCES IN RETREAT Driven from Agheila Positions THIS MORNING'S OFFICIAL NEWS FROM CAIRO Germans Checked in Tunisia Huge Losses in Stalingrad Fighting ENEMY "RELIEF FORCE" REPULSED SOUTH OF THE CITY The efforts of the Germans south of Stalingrad to help their armies trapped near city have suffered a set-back. The Russians announce that a powerful enemy blow launched in considerable strength was smashed, as were three subsequent counter-attacks. I lt ---e i I The Germans left many disabled and on the battlefield.

burnt-out tanks and 900 dead Southward the enemy had installed In the Stalingrad area the Russians advanced over the week-end and in a series of fierce attacks broke into the first and second line German trenches in the southern outskirts. From the high ground of Mersa Brega on which he was established with his artillery the enemy had a good view of the wide gap through which the road passes on its westward course to Tripoli There were two small bills due south on which we were installed, but it was the enemy who had the commandihz position. For .48 hours attempted German and 600 miles to the north before lost, ground or to check the steady are consolidating tne wedges oriven into tne enemy's formidable defence systems. STAMINA OF THE RED ARMY From our Special Correspondents THE TUNISIAN FRONT Enemy Infiltration Attempts Fail Rommel is in retreat before the Eighth Army. Early this morning it was officially announced in Cairo that Rommel had been turned out of his strong positions at Agheila and was in retreat to the west.

Neuter's correspondent in Cairo in giving the official news spoke of Rommel being thrown out of his strong positions by the sheer weight of the Eighth Army." The news came as a great surprise, as earlier German reports of a big British attack had been denied, and yesterday's British communique from Cairo reported only that our forward forces continued to probe the enemy's defences before Agheila." The scale of fighting is not yet known. An earlier report from ur corre8Pndent at Cairo had suggested that possibly Rommel would fight only a delaying action and that we might not have to fight a major battle. It now seems likely that the exaggerated German reports about the weight of the British attacks were meant to prepare the German public for Rommel's new retreat. In Tunisia, at the other end of the Mediterranean front, there has been only small activity. CAIRO EXPECTED A RETREAT The Alternatives Before Rommel Correspondent Moscow, December 13.

The pattern of the battles in the Stalingrad and central salients has not changed appreciably during the past forty-eight hours. It is still not clear whether the German forces which during the week have been attacking with in creasing weight are the vanguard of larger forces massing for an attempt to relieve the trapped divisions at Stalingrad or whether their activities are concerned to prevent the Russians from turning all their strength inwards and enveloping the remnants of those 21 or 22 German divisions, It is necessary to emphasise that they are all uerman. The latter is the more probable explanation, for the marshalling of an army and it would need to be a very large one to make any impression on the huge forces the Russians have now drawn across from the Middle Don to the Lower Don and again from the Lower Don to the Volga would be no simple operation for the Wehrmacnt Army GrouD B. All reports from the Stalingrad front testify to the high fettle in which the iea Army, under divisional generals From onr Special Cairo, Sunday Afternoon. Berlin and Vichy radios this morning announced that General Montgomery had launched a full-scale attack in the Agheila area.

Not only is there no confirmation whatever here of these stories but it can be stated that they are entirely inaccurate. Our ground activity is still restricted to patrols and reconnaissances are still probing the enemy positions, while the supply arrangements for the regrouped Eighth Army are perfected. The enemy reports were probably put out with the object of drawing from us some reactions from which information about our plans might be obtained. On the other hand, they again betray the enemy's marked nervousness, which mnv be taken as a measure of his uncer tainty Well-aualifled observers indeed doubt whether any major action will have to be fought at Agheila. With the threat to his remaining supply ports Tunis and Tripoli gradually increasing in severity the situation of the enemy troops in the Agheila area becomes more precarious unless Rommel sees a reasonably good chance of driving us back from Agheila.

And this with his present force is virtually impossible. Any action he fights there is at best calculated only to stave off an inevitable defeat. It is far more likely that he would attempt to withdraw at least his German troops to a place from which embarkation for Italy would be possible than that he would leave them in a position where, if our advance from both sides succeeded, they would be irretrievably Meanwhile our air offensive becomes daily stronger and more far-reaching. Palermo Sicily, an important supply port, was heavily bombed on Friday night, Naples received another pounding during the same night, and yesterday our medium bombers visited Tripoli. headquarters of the United States Eighth Ajir Force last night that in tneir daylight raid on Kouen on Saturday a single group of the American heavy bombers destroyed no fewer than is enemy ngnter 'planes.

Twelve of the total, it was stated, were credited to three bombers. With four bombers destroyed by our fighters, the Germans thus lost a total of 23 'planes in the operation. A force of 300 fiehter aircraft co-operated with the bombers, crossing ana recrossinB the Channel lor more than four hours, in their search for enemy fighters. In spite of their sweeps, however, the aerial battle was described as one of the fiercest yet fought by the American bombers. Enemy machines were met as the attacking force approached the French coast, and encounters continued until they were midway over the Channel on tneir return.

Tne Germans used -Me. 190's, 190's, and some Ju. 88's. FORTRESS CLAIMS FOUR One of the bombers, credited with four enemy aircraft destroyed, was piloted by First Lieut. Robert Riordan, of Houston.

Texas, who only recently brought his Fortress home so badly shot im that the King, on seeine it. told Riordan. I don't see how you did it." Three F.W.'s and one of the Ju. SB's fell to Riordan's guns on Saturday. It was the second time his 'plane had shot down four aircraft one fight.

thousht thev bad us once yester day." said Riordan. describing how his tnn-tnrrp runner. Staff Sergeant Raleigh W. Holloway, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, had area point manic uiio au onrushing Focke Wulf He burst into flames, but kent coming out of control. Finally, he went over the top of our nose so close that we couia see tne torn eases of his wines and the shot-up fins dangling in smoke.

Twn bnmhers and four escorting fighters are missing from the attack, but the pilot oi one oi me wtwuea usurers is safe All the American crews spoke in high praise of the protection afforded to them by the Allied ngnters. The weather over the Rouen area was bad and the results of the bombing were not seen by those taking part. In addition to the main operation. Fighter Command aircraft were engaged In small-scale raias over occupiea territory. An airfield and canal barges were attacked over nouand, wnere tne puot of a crippled Spitfire a 25-year-old South African shot down two P.W.

190s. He was latreine behind his squadron owing to engine trouble when he was attacked. Both the enemy machines were shot into the sea. One of our aircraft is missing from other patrols during the day. NAPLES ATTACKS Fires in Dock Area Italy was subjected to three attacks by Allied bombers on Friday.

During daylight United States heavy bombers raided the dock area of Naples, and a few hours later a night attack on the city was made by bombers from the Middle East Home-pased aircraft of the R.A.F. for the third time in the week bombed the arms city of Turin. In the daylight raid hits were scored on the moles, on merchant vessels, on warehouses, and on an oil- storage tank. Fires and explosions were caused along the entire waterfront. une column ot smoke rose 3,000 feet and was visible sixty miles away.

RAF. FLY LIBERATORS Enemy fighters which attacked the Allied formation were driven off after suffering damage and some were probably shot down. One Allied aircraft was disabled by A.A. fire and forced down to the sea near the coast about nity mues south oi Naples. The crew were picked up by a small boat The nieht attack, savs the Cairo mm, munique, was carried out with American' iioerator oomoers flown by K.A.F, crews, ana again large nres were reported.

Naples had been raid-free for six months- until on December A TTniterl States Liberators heavily attacked the port in daylight. TURIN AGAIN The attack on Turin was made by a small force in the most difficult weather conditions. The pilots who crossed the Alps found dense clouds up to more than 20,000 feet, and battled their way through snow and electric storms. Severe icing was experienced. The crews, however, found gaps in the clouds and fires were reported in the target area.

One pilot was certain that his bombs hit a large factory. Three of the bombers are missing. 100 DEAD IN FIRE St. John's, Newfoundland, December 13. A fire which broke out during a dance last night destroyed the Knights of Columbus Hotel, which was being used as a Canadian military, hostel.

The rooms were crowded with about 500 dancers. A panic took place 'in wbich at least 104 people were killed. Many Service men -were amone the victims, and 130 people were taken to nospitai. iteuter. GERMANS UNSHACKLED Britain unshackled German prisoners of war on Saturday.

This action was taken in accordance with the statement of the British. oreign omce, published on Wednesday; that it was the British Government's desire to respond fully to the proposal of the Swiss Government. The Canadian Government unshackled me prisoners on jmaay night. A Wilhelmstrasse spokesman' stated on Saturday that "the affair is still in toe diplomatic stage." Beater. STATION FOREMAN SHOT Station Foreman George Gardiner (about 45).

was shot dead at Kiibura i and Brondeabury Metropolitan fconann, aDout 12.30 am. yesterday. He surprised" two men who had broken into the bonkine-office and -three hht were- fired. Police arrived within a few minutes. Gardiner was having' a final look round the premises after the last train for the night had passed through.

Station employees state' that two or three weeks aao when 1 eirl was on duty alone late, at night in thehookfiig- away wnen tne girl screamed. a string of protective gun positions guarding the causeway through -the natural Darner ol marsn connecting Breaa with a line ox strong points. A cliff which formed the north margin of the Wadi Faregh was a most serious obstacle save for tracked vehicles and. of course, infantry rising as it does at its steepest point a neigm of zoo feet. Tunis railway and 30 miles south-west of Tunis, is expected at any moment.

At present tne Allied forces are maintaining a firm hold on the town and on the roads from the Tebburba area and Massicault which converge there. It was along these two roads that Nehring launched on Friday his twin tank and infantry drive, which was repulsed with, so far as can be estimated, the loss of about one-half of his mechanised force employed. The German losses, while not big enough to cause Nehring any marked uneasiness, were sufficient to make him change his tactics. His next approach was by way of attempted infiltration to the north and south of Medjez. Although these efforts were in some strength Allied patrols stopped them before they reached the First Army's main positions.

Future operations depend a great deal on the weather. Recent heavy rains have softened the sunbaked fields, but the roads are still usable. The nature of the country enables a column approaching Medjez from Massicault to move faster than its more northerly counterpart from Tebourba. On both approaches the First Army has sited batteries of Britain's proved battle-winner the 25-pounder and also of the famous French 75's. It was these two guns that inflicted the bulk of the tank losses on the German columns which threatened Medjez.

Reuter. BIG AIR RAIDS Tunis and Bizerta A report received last night from Allied H.Q., North Africa, via New York, said that yesterday American bombers, led by Flying Fortresses, rained destruction on the docks at Bizerta, Tunis, and Susa (south-east of Tunis) in their greatest sustained aerial blitz of the campaign." Beuter's correspondent at Allied Headquarters said in a message dated Sunday The raid on Tunis yesterday hv TTlvim Fortresses and Lightnings was one of the most successful of the North Airican campaign. An area in the citv ten blocks loni and two blocks wide was plastered with porous, ana tne wnoie district was left ablaze and covered with dust and smoke. Many hits were scorer) in dock area and a large section of ware- nouses was burning fiercely when the last raider left the target area. A ship in the harbour received a direct hit.

The weather was ideal when the raiders, led by Lieutenant Colnnr-l Sam Gormley, took off from their home 'base and remained favourable throuEhout thf trip. No fighter interference was met ana tne a.a. nre was only of moderate intensity. All the bombers returned to uieir oases. Spitfires have been effectively attant.

mg enemy vehicles and infantry in the iiunn. out mere nave oeen no air com- oats durine the nast two days Surmc by Lightnings have done some damage tu vciuuies ia ine soutnern sector. HITLER HOLLAND'S FUTURE "The year 1943 will be hard and diffi cult, but this Europe is such a grandiose anair mat it is well worth makinn efforts to earn successes." said sve inquart, tne Keich Commissar for the Netherlands, to a rally of Dutch Nazis yesterday, according to the Nazi-con trolled Hilversum radio. "We must be on the alert in this country, as we must be on the alert everywhere. Certain measures, such a evacuation, must be taken by us.

for which we ask your understanding." Buildings on the -to thpca positions, he said, would have to be demolished. He had even decided to move certain of his own departments, uu)u uuoseii stay at tne responsible key position at the Hague. Declaring "It depends on the Dutch whether they secure a free and equal place in the New Order," he added that he and Mussert (the Dutch Nazi leader) were at Hitler's, headquarters last week to discuss principles for the future status of the Netherlands; "Hitler's first declared. was that he does not want to treat the Dutch as a conquered The second was xnTyontPi? brought nearer to National Socialism Dutch Nazi movement etaiufe Tweivnno for this development in and Mussert. its leader, is leader ol the Dutch people." fno-t then quoted Hitler as having said The future order of Europe can wuy ucuueu once we nave suuxed us the frontiers of Europe.

hav-7Ht yet done so. At some points they' will to et far beyond." He; said; tuuer aowo, -1 sm inirucing of Africa and-of flnr ntlant-niiiH Only, when' alL European have teen settled'- will we deal' with the' proDiems oi tioiiand. Heuter. U.S. MISSION AT DAKAR Vichy radio said yesterday.

that an American military mission, headed by liraerai jntzgeraid. bad arrived at Dakar. British United Press. counter-strokes both on this front Moscow have failed either to resain process by which the Russians whose average age is in the middle thirties, is now righting, and to tne smoothness with which the campaign is being conducted. The Guards, divisions ot the infantry, which formed the spearhead of the armies wbich-moved south from Stalingrad to meet the enemy.

fought for twelve days without respite. jwery morning wis division oi stalwarts looked the enemy in the face and smashed in on frontal attacks, while others curled round and conducted a classic pincer squeezine-out- operation. xet at tne end ol twelve days the men of this division under their 34-year-old general were full of fleht and. what is perhaps of greater significance still, had several days' rations with them. mey nave also turned much of their attention inwards towards Stalingrad, driving the enemy gradually from the heights near the east bank of the Don and, what is perhaps more important in this phase, are disposing themselves densely over the broad corridor' 60 miles broad at its narrowest which now separates the Germans near Stalingrad from their main-forces.

Consolidation is the-word that has appeared frequently in recent communiques. This process is all the more necessary because of the devastation of the area now occupied by the Bed Army and the trying weather conditions. The Don has frozen firm. Allied-built trucks are understood to be standing up well to transport conditions in an almost roadless country. Yesterday north-west of Stalingrad the enemy was ousted from yet another of his strongly fortified positions in the heights east of the Don, and everywhere, Russian reports state, counter-attacks failed.

MUD REAPPEARS Stockholm, December Ding-dong 'fighting on both the main Russian battlefields is continuing without substantial territorial shifting or appreciable change of character. Ground conditions have radically changed, on the central front, however, and mobility has been greatly impeded by the reappearance of mud. As frequently happens in this area, the hard November frosts have now yielded to a spell of thaw. Such soft periods in December sometimes last until about Christmas before the winter becomes really settled, when the ground remains hard until March and sometimes April. The Goardlan'Service LOSSES AT STALINGRAD Moscow, December 13.

To-day's Soviet press stresses the fury of the battles on the Russian 'front, saying that 8,000,000 Axis soldiers and officers have been killed, wounded, and captured on Soviet soil. It is officially stated that 194,000 men have died trying-to capture Stalingrad. This includes 100,000 men which "Fravda," says the Germans lost in the first two months of the city's siege and 4.000 claimed in the week-end's special communique. "Pravda" also refers to an immense' number of wounded at Stalingrad, which "exceeds several times the number killed." Associated Press. abled and seven burned out.

The enemy lost about 900 omcers and men. On the central front our-forces consolidated the positions they had won and with part of their effectives continued to wage offensive engagements. West of Kzbev the enemy, about one regiment strong and supported by a large group of tanks, launched three counterattacks against our defending units. All of these were repulsed, the enemy losing 400 officers and men, four tanks, seven lorries, and two guns, and fell back to their initial positions. On another sector one unit destroyed seven German tanks and wiped out about 200 Hitlerites.

In the area of VeUJdye Iiukl an enemy battalion succeeded in slightly pre Ming back our advanced units. By skilful manoeuvre our forces surrounded this battalion and fighting is now proceeding for its annihilation. During December 12 our Air Force destroyed or damaged 19 German tanks and over 100 lorries with troops and supplies. They also silenced 10 artillery batteries, blew up three ammunition dumps, and dispersed and partly annihilated, about one battalion of enemy Infantry, Eariier report on thm nest pagel U.2. SUNK 4,000 Aboard: Casualties 4 The forme? United States President Coolidce (21,938 tons), which was being used as a troop transport, has sunk the South Pacific after striking a mine, the United States Navy Department announced in Washington, on Saturday.

She was fully loaded with about 4,000 troops and but casualties were limited' to four men. She is the tenth American troop transport' to. be-lost since the war Reuter. TRAINS ATTACKED When two Belgian pltbts attacked a train on- the Oatsnd-Bruges line it was at once brought to standstill and about sixty German soldiers, jumped from the carriages and ran for cover, states the llinistry News Service One-, pilot" who new down tn length Ot ttie tram firing among the. soldiers found' several yards of telegraph wire on bis, radiator when be landed.

One of our Tbthters Is missmg." Fighter, bomberand Army Co-opera tion aircraft made many attacks on rail way and canal targets in th Low' QnmtriesV and North-west; Ger-. many yesterday, states the-Air -Ministry. locomotive, i ana a troop train, wer From Tunisia the latest official news is of patrol activity and of the defeat of enemy attempts to infiltrate north and south of Medjez-el-Bab. Following is the text of yesterday's communique from Allied headquarters Our advance forces conducted patrols yesterday in forward areas. Enemy efforts to infiltrate north and south of Medjez-el-Bab were stopped.

Further reports of the engagement on Friday in which our troops repulsed a column advancing from the north shore indicate that a hundred of the enemy were killed and we captured more than 50 prisoners. Our casualties were comparatively low. Yesterday and on Friday Spitfires on patrol over the northern battlefield area attacked enemy tanks, motor-vehicles, and infantry with good effect. B17's (Fortresses), escorted by P38's (Lightnings) bombed the dock's at Tunis yesterday. Many hits were seen on the docks and large fires were started.

An enemy supply ship was also hit. In the southern area yesterday Lightnings carried out sweeps and offensive patrols in the course of which they destroyed one Italian bomber and one German fighter. They also attacked a railroad engine near Sfax and enemy vehicles on roads. One of our aircraft was lost. During the night of Friday-Saturday two enemy bombers were destroyed.

Saturday's communique had reported the beating off of two tank and infantry attacks, one in the northern (Mateur-Tebourba) sector and the other at Medjez-el-Bab. British and American air fnrpps and British submarines ar arHw Naples has been bombed twice, Turin jittu us inira atiacK or tne week on Friday night, and there have been more attacks on Tunis. Several supply ships have been sunk by our auumaiiiies. iwo particularly daring attacks have been carried out. One submarine shelled the Italian coast and another attacked Italian anchor ages in Tripolitania.

AWAITING NEW ATTACKS Tunisian Battle Front, December 13. A new battle for Medjez-el-Bab, vital communication centre on the NEW BLOW SOLOMONS IN Washington, December 13. In another attack on Japanese warships heading for Guadalcanal, in the Solomons. United States Navy bombers and surface forces have sunk one Japanese destroyer and damaged seven others (of which probably one was sunk), said a Navy Department communique to-night. The action occurred on Friday and Saturday.

Direct hits were scored by Douglas dive-bombers and Airacobra fighters on five of the 11 ships. Next day the same formation was attacked again by United States surface forces guarding the island, when the destroyer was suns. The communique says Douelas Dauntless dive-bombers, sun- ported by Army Airacobra fighters from Guadalcanal, attacked on Friday eleven Japanese destroyers heading for Guadalcanal, apparently for the purpose of reinforcing and supplying the Japanese troops on me lsiana. tfomo mts-were scored on five destroyers. On Saturday an enemy formation continuing towards Guadalcanal was attacked by United States surface forces guardin the island.

The enemy suffered the fo! lowing damage as a result of this attack One destroyer sunk, one destroyer set on fire and probably sunk, one destroyer damaged. One United States motor torpedo-boat was lost during this ecti6n. On Friday three Armv Marauders scored hits with two 5001b. bombs on a vessel in a lagoon of an island off Kiska and bombed and strafed tne snore installations. Raids on Japanese airfields at Munda.

on New Georgia Island, were also reported, many heavy bombs being dropped. Reuter. The total 'of Japanese snip losses in the Solomons is 53 vessels definitely sunk, five probably sunk, and 86 damaged. Reuter. FRENCHMEN TOR GERMANY Paris radio said last night that 110,000 specialised French workers' registered yesterday, for.

work "in Germany. DARING SUBMARINE ATTACKS LAST NIGHT'S REPORT FROM MOSCOW The weather continues poor qver the battle area, but this does not stop our fighters and fighter-bomber patrols from narassing the enemy. A TANK CLASH The only land activity of any note yesterday in the Agheila area was a strong reconnaissance, probably in the region of the coastal road, and a small- scale tank action to the south. Our patrol, which consisted of a few tanks and armoured cars and infantry, pene trated fairly deeply into enemy territory but was not engaged. A small-scale tank action was fought at long range, and after the enemy had suffered some losses he broke on the action.

The Guardian Service AXIS REPORTS The German radio said last night "Until nightfall yesterday strong British forces repeatedly harried Rommel's defence positions, endeavouring to find a weak spot in them. They were repulsed each time they came forward." The official German News Agency added The German and Italian tank armies were able to hold the battlefield against stubborn attacks of the Eighth Army. Since the beginning of their offensive operation the British have lost before and inside the German lines 57 tanks and armoured transport vehicles, as well as a considerable of guns." About the Tunisian front the German radio said last night that bad weather was responsible for there being no engagements south-west of Tebourba. An Allied flank attack, it was claimed, was repulsed and thirty tanks, some anti-tank guns, and some undamaged vehicles captured. German fighters were stated to have inflicted heavy damage "on strong enemy concentrations south of Medjez." tanlaa anchorages.

At Buerat 70 miles 0WU.il VI lUUUl U1UJ Ulll. lllk. vessels. Two were damaged. At Ras Ali a submarine torpedoes ammunition Barges lying alongside a pier.

A hit was followed by heavy explosions. The submarine successes reported in the Allied communique on Saturday in cluded hits on four vessels carrying supplies to the Axis forces in Tunisia. Another submarine carried out a darins attack on the Italian coast. It hit two trains as well as oil tanks. It sank an anti-submarine schooner.

Official report on next page AUSTRALIA'S MILITIA Queensland Opposes Curtin From our Special Correspondent Brisbane, December 13. The Queensland Labour party execu tive has voted by 19 to 12 against Mr. Curtin's proposed wider use of the Militia. The declaration of a Federal Labour policy now depends on Western Australia, as New South Wales, Southern Australia, and Tasmania support Mr. Curtin and Victoria and Queensland oppose.

Sht Times' 'Manchester Guardian Service BIG ALLIED CONVOY The German radio, quoting a Tangier report yesterday, said that a big Allied convoy, consisting of 36 freighters escorted by battleships and destroyers, left the Mediterranean, sailing towards the Atlantic, yesterday. At the same another -convoy entered the Mediterranean from the direction of the Atlantic. Heuter. About 10,000 inhabitants of the Bel gian coastal region have been comnelled by the Germans, to evacuate their homes ana go to, me interior, says, toe ttde- penacnt wigian juews Agency, The Admiralty last night issued the I following communique Further successes are reported by his Majesty's submarines operating in the Mediterranean against the enemy's supply lines to Northern Africa. These are in addition to the successful actions announced in the Allied force communique of Saturday.

In one of these engagements an armed merchant cruiser was torpedoed and sank. Another submarine found a large enemy tanker lying with her engines stopped ana -partly burned out following aaattack by aircraft of the Fleet Air Ann. The tanker was destroyed by torpedo from the submarine. Off the coast of Tripolitania two supply vessels were intercepted and attacked. One ship of medium size was torpedoed and blew up.

The other, a smaller vessel, was destroyed by gunfire. In addition to these known successes three torpedo hits ware scored on an enemy convoy of two supply ships and three destroyers which were attacked within thirty miles of Naples. It was not possible to observe the full results of this Hi?" Majesty's submarines have also attacked shipping in the enemy's Tripoli- QUICK SHIPBUILDING Dock Not Six Months Old Middle West City, December 13. The. first ocean-going tank-landing ship built in the Middle West, United States, was launched to-day from what less than six months ago was a strip of pasture-land.

Associated Press. BOMB-PRACTICE GALLANTRY A major "and a sergeant major commended in Western Command Orders for gallantry during incidents in hnmh.thmwimt riractice. They are Major W. Li. McGregor, of theTyneside Scottish fBlack Watch), and Company Sergeant Major A.

Ellison, of the 1st Battalion Lancashire Regiment, whose i at Wsrrinaton and Who is attached to the Malvern (Worcestershire) Home Guard as permanent staff instructor. DEPORTED FROM GUERNSEY At least 72a men were deported from Guernsey- In September, to information obtained from Guernsey newspapers and- published "in leaflet lormby the Channel Islands Refugees' Committee in London: of them nntires bv SeDtember 20. nrinfeter were among -the men sent to I Last night's Soviet communique said During December 13 our troops in the Stalingrad area and on the central front continued offensive engagements in the same directions as before. Duriris the week ended December 12 407 German aircraft (including 225 three- enginea transport pianesj were destroy ea In air combat, bv A -A. fire, and on the rground.

During the same period our Llosses were 156 aircraft. The supplement said In the factory area of Stalin rrad our troops were ensaeed in artillery duels and reconnaissance. Our assault detachments dislodged the Germans from eleven blockhouses and several buildings, killing 180 omcers ana-men ana capturing arms. On the southern outskirts of the citv our troops advanced and broke into the first and. second line trenches of the enemy.

North-west of Stalingrad our troops captured several importanet strategic heights. Four hundred of the enemy were killed and nine 14 machine-guns, and other arms captured. South of Stalingrad the enemy launched a powerful attack with considerable-forces but was repulsed, leaving many dead. Three subsequent counter-attacks were also repelled. uteen German tames were dis- THE MURDERED JEWS Litvinoff Sees Mr.

Welles From our own Correspondent New York, December 13. Mr. Litvinoff, the Soviet Ambassador, has conferred with Mr. Sumner -Welles, Under Secretary of State, regarding a joint declaration by the United Nations, concerning the mass murder of Jews and others by the Nazis. Presumably other nations have also been consulted, although no detailed information is available.

Central Americans especially are greatly exercised at the tragic fate of Hitlers victims. The President of Costa Rica is seeking to bring about, a joint protest by. all the Central American countries. -j, UewHh'Dsy-of-MoaniDg op: page Si DESTROYER LOST An Admiralty last night stated: The "Board ot Admiralty regrets to mmionrtfr that the Hcnt dais destroyer TT.MS. Fenylan CLieut.

Commander H. Wallace. RN.) haff been lost The next of kin of casualties have been informed. rj Penylan is hot; named in "Jane's Fighting Ships andrwould appear to be newPfomiaRe. Bjmt class destroyers havea displacement.