The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 6

PAGE SIX TAMPA MORNING TRIBUNE, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1942 U.S.AndR ers rwe Took Punch Out Of Rommel .1 Statute Japs Beat, Kicked, Jabbed And Knifed Marine But He's Alive 300 T. III till 1 1 miles liiaiH Jilili REDUCED HIS OFFENSIVE POWER 45 PCT. GERMANS GIVE UP THE SIEGE OF STALINGRAD ALASKA I'v yiiijiiiijii! illlgil; Berina Sea llilili Berina Sea IS! A IBPliHiifUltibfpiRiiillligl limiiHiqiSiilmalliMKQr a jr. the tank and started firing, but they cleared away. "Suddenly there was a terrific explosion and I saw the tank commander go down then I felt a burning pain in my neck and realized iiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHuiiiil iifillHHlW IHIIimHhiHniHlHlIHmilBI ii ANWUANOF lijijijiiiS they didn't seem to be getting to first base.

Finally one of them threw a hand grenade into the tank. I figured the marines were down after that, since there was a pretty big explosion, but I kept firing and they kcpC dropping. Set Tank Afire "They still couldn't get Inside, since the men were evidently alive, so they got some gasoline, threw it on tha tank and set fire to it. The tank: started burning, and throwing up big GROUP iiiliiiillilllllliilillliilil iiiliiiillils illiiiiii ijjjjgm Associated Press Wirephoto War Map JAPS REPORTED OUSTED FROM ALEUTIAN ISLANDS The navy announced yesterday that aerial reconaissance has failed to detect any signs of Japanese on Attu and Agartu islands (1) in the Aleutian chain and that army Liberator and fighter planes had scored direct hits on a seaplane hangar on the Jap-occupied Kiska island (Jap flog.) Presumably the U. S.

plants flew from bases in the Andreanof islands (circled), which U. S. forces occupied late in August. Dutch Harbor (flag) is the main U. S.

base. they must have thrown a grenade down the turret. A few moments later they set fire to the tank. The smoke and fumes were terrific, and the driver and I figured it was better to get outside the tank and get shot rather than burn to death. So the driver poked his head outside the front hatch.

They shot him. "I figured It was better to go out feet first. So I piled out the tank and one of them helped me along. remembered one of them climbed on my back and started walloping my head. They were banging me all around the place and I was bleeding and every one of them was trying either to kick me, punch me or knife me and about that time I passed out.

When I came to, they had me in the naval shack which served as a hospital. "I had a hole in my crash helmet so large that I couldn't get it back on my head I suppose It saved my life. "Incidentally, they stole $20 from me and it made me plenty mad." The Private's Story While Moore's tank was under sieged Pvt. Kenneth Koon, of Summitvllle, was some distance away srtiplng at the attackers. Private Koon, also among the wounded here, was an eyewitness to the entire action, and is credited with picking off more than 30 of the Japs.

This is his story: "Somehow I had gotten ahead of my platoon and was forced to take cover by snipers. Up ahead was a bomb shelter and beyond it a Jap pill box. I saw a marine corps tank come lumbering up from the 'beach, heading for the pill box, and at the same time a howling herd of Japs came pouring out of the bomb shelter. "They threw a brace in the wheels and stopped the tank and then swarmed all over it. During this time was banging away with my rifle and several times, I am convinced, I got two Japs with one shot.

They were so intent upon getting the guys in the tank that they didn't notice their men going down. "I could see one Jap on top of the tank with a pitchfork, jamming it down the turret and trying to get at the marines inside. Several others were brandishing long knives, but (Continued from Page 1) alive today, after being evacuated from the Solomons to this base with other marine wounded. He told his remarkable story from his cot in the mobile base hospital which the navy has stationed here. One of the first to visit it was Undersecretary of Navy James V.

Forrestal, who paid a visit to the hospital during a stop over on his tour of Pacific naval outposts. (While the fight at the tank was in progress another Marine, Pvt. Kenneth Koon, was shooting the Japs with his rifle from a position nearby. He was reported to have killed 31. This figure, if officially substantiated by the marine corps, will exceed In one respect the famous ex ploit of Alvin York, World war hero.

on the western front. York was credited with killing 20 Germans. York, however, in addition to the men he killed, captured 132. His achievement earned him several high decorations). Tells His Story "We were advancing up the beach In front of the Moore told the writer.

"They were moving very slow as a result of sniper fire, when we stopped to fire a shot with the cannon. It was my job to handle the radio and load the "We were firing at a pill box a couple of hundred yards away, when I heard our tank commander yell and fire his 45 up through the turret. I looked out one of the peep sights and saw what looked like an army of Japs. "We all drew 45's cocked them, and posted ourselves to keep the Japs from coming down the turret. One Jap rammed a pitchfork down the turret, and another started swinging a long knife, the tank1 commander shot him in the hand and they both withdrew.

"They were making a lot of noise and after looking out again I found that someone was firing at them. I got up next to the sergeant who was guarding the turret, and one of the Japs stuck his head down inside the turret. I know one of them would sooner or later, and was ready for him. I shot him right between the eyes "About this time the tank commander ordered the driver to move up the beach. The tank jumped ahead a few feet and we realized that they had put a brace between the wheels.

I poked a submachine gun outside Parents Of Their Son SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 8. (Associated Press.) If Eugene Oliver Moore of the U. S. marines could have peeped into his home today, he'd have had a tremendous tonic for a speedy recovery in the far-away south Pacific.

The modest downtown apartment which he left a year ago to enlist wavs a home no longer in mourning. The tall, handsome, 22-year-old first class private was alive. Since Sept. 24, his father, Charle3 R. (Ted) Moore, a husky shipyard worker, and his mother, Maude Beard Moore, attractive, young-looking but greying, had thought thir son dead.

They were he- died in the I I IMIKOLAEVSKAYV Don ft J) VV ORLOVKA akhtubaITv jT eAKSAI f( KOTELN IKOVSKI STATUTE MILES Marine Had Believed Dead Since Sept. 24 Associated Press Wirephoto War Map RUSSIANS. STAB AT GERMAN LEFT FLANK Red army tanks, breaking into the fortified German left flank northwest of Stalingrad (broken line) were reported yesterday in Moscow to have forced the enemy to divert veteran German units. Dark arrows indicate German drive on Stalingrad; light arrows indicate Russian attacks. INTERPRETING THE WAR NEWS: llilllEiif Be Shifting Stalingrad rest, reorganization and re-equipment before they can be used again.

Many Events Happen The very nature of the attack on Stalingrad as it has now raged more than 45 days without cessation indicates that Italian or other Axis forces have long ago been withdrawn from the main front for duty on the flanks. There seems no doubt that one German commander has been purged for his failure to smash Russian resistance and another of tougher mettle has been assigned to replace him. A new commander taking over the task, however, would be likely to demand that hardest-hitting Nazi troops, not Italian or other less dependable forces, be placed at his disposal for storming operations. And Hitler's need to take the Volga city is so urgent that any such condition by the man to whom he turned over the job would certainly be met. That Rome report of Russian crossings of the Don.

to accentuate the dangers facing the Nazi left flank in the Stalingrad bulge is, therefore, highly important. It means that the Nazi corridor protection is aflame with aggressive Russian action virtually throughout its whole length. The Nazi high command cannot long ignore the danger in which it stands of being caught out in the open by another Russian winter. A shift of front to meet the Soviet flanking threat in the corridor Inevitably must force upon Hitler the bitter prospect of admitting failure and a retreat to winter lines before the snow falls. That is the end Russian strategy Is aimed at and it cannot be very long before the evidence of its success or failure becomes too clear for question.

Verdun was the kaiser's high-water mark in the first World war. Stalingrad may be Hitler's in this greater conflict. Even his Japanese accomplice seems beset by rising doubt of Nazi invincibility. authorized course in technical training or demonstrate their capabilities as a trained technician in one or more of the 24 specialties for which the badge has been designated. The specialties for which the Insignia has been authorized are: Airplane armorer, airplane electrical, hydraulic, and instrument specialist airplane mechanic, machinist, metal worker, and welder; airplane power plant specialist; airplane propeller specialist; A.

C. S. radio specialist; bombsight mechanic, Link Trainer instructor, parachute rigger, photographer, photographic laboratory technician, power turret and gunsight specialist, radio V-I mechanic, radio observer, radio mechanic, radio operator, teletypewriter mechanic, weather forecaster, and weather observer. American Bombers Dam- ae 37 Axis Warshii ips WASHINGTON, Oct. 8.

(United Press.) American and British air forces pounding at German Marshal Erwin Rommel's Libyan and eastern Mediterranean supply lines during the last three months reduced his offensive power by 45 percent and "took the punch out" of his drive into Egypt, responsible military sources revealed tonight. This was disclosed after the war department announced American bombers alone had destroyed or badly damaged 37 Axis warships and auxiliaries In a 110-day period since June. During that time, American heavy and medium bombers dropped pounds of bombs on ships, harbor facilities, desert supply lines and enemy forces. There were no figures on the number of Axis ships accounted for by the RAP. But military sources said combined American-British aerial operations left Rommel with only 65 percent of his offensive power.

(Rommel reportedly has been short of air support since German plane strength was diverted to the Russian front. He is said to have made frequent but futile appeals to Hitler for aid.) Biggest Blow to Rommel Biggest blow was to Rommel's gasoline supplies the "life's blood" of his air fleet and famed Afrika tank corps. Evidence of this, the United Press was informed, was the fact that German aerial operations in that area were not in proportion to the number of planes available to Rommel. It also was noted that his tank drive suddenly bogged down In mid-summer after his forces had pushed into Egypt to within 65 miles of the big British naval base at Alexandria. Had this drive succeeded it might have carried the Germans through to the Middle East for a juncture with Nazi legions driving down the Caucasus toward Turkey.

Report fromv General MaJ. Gen. Russell American commander In the Middle East, reported on the bombing operations. The report was made public by Undersecretary of War Robert P. Patterson at a press conference.

The growing powef of U. S. air units operating under Ma j. Gen. Lewis H.

Brereton, chief of American air forces In the African theater, was demonstrated by the fact that they dropped 969,000 pounds of bombs during September alone. A total of 90 bombing missions were carried out by American planes during the past three months 77 of them by Consolidated B-24 Liberator four-motored bombers which attacked the Italian fleet In the Mediterranean June 15, and 13 by medium North American B-25 bombers, the type used In the raid on Tokyo. Attacks ranged from Libya in the west to Suda bay, Crete and Nava-rino bay, Greece in the east. Total American combat losses, Including anti-aircraft fire, were five B-24 and six B-25 bombers. Eight P-40 fighters also were lost.

Nazis Warn They May Put Roosevelt On Trial, Too LONDON, Oct. 8 (A.P.) The Germans took Immediate notice today of Allied concurrence on a. policy or calculated retribution. The German radio shouted back: "These gentlemen should take heed lest one day "Germany should adopt this decision for its own purposes and apply it to Mr. Roosevelt and other war mongers." Yesterday the British lord chancellor.

Lord Simon, announced that the British government had proposed creation of a United Nations commission to investigate war crimes with the object of fixing responsibility on "enemy individuals" who ought to be dealt with as criminals. President Roosevelt, announcing American agreement with the proposal, said Allied victory terms would call for. punishment of "ringleaders" responsible for organized murder and other atrocities. Tribute Paid U. S.

Newspapers for Telling War Aims WASHINGTON, Oct. 8. (AP.) The nation's newspapers won today a tribute from Elmer Davis, director of the Office of War Information, for their "whole-hearted cooperation" in the work of spreading the truth about United States war aims and accom plishments. Davis' openlon was expressed earlier this week before the house appropriations committee when he asked for $26,990,000 to finance the OWI's use of propaganda-psychology to help win the war. His testimony was made pub lie today as the committee approved a flat $25,000,000 for OWI.

"Are you finding that you are get ting the wholehearted cooperation of the newspapers of the country?" inquired Rep. Ludlow "Yes, indeed," Davis responded. "It is almost embarrassing, because they make us look as good as we would like to be, but I am afraid occasionally better than we really are." Ludlow then inquired whether Davis observed any trend developing which might "ultimately Impinge on the freedem of speech?" "I do not," replied Davis. Say They'll Pulverize City With Big Guns (Continued from Page 1) Stalingrad, the lower Volga and the Caucasus has collapsed in the face of ferocious Russian resistance, the Berlin radio quoted German military circles as saying that "the Germans have reached their strategical objectives." The announcement was In stark contrast to Hitler's winter relief speech last Wednesday saying that "Stalingrad will be taken you can be sure of that." The broadcast was made over the station operated by DNB, official German news agency. Says Objectives Reached It said that the Nazi objectives were reached "with the capture of the heart of the city and the breakthrough to the Volga" and that "it is no longer necessary that the rest of the city be captured by storm by infantry and engineers, but it will be sufficient to destroy the rest of the city systematically by the heaviest artillery that has been already brought up to the front." A turn In the tide of the battle, now raging through Its 47th day, has been indicated in Moscow dispatches all week.

A Russian relief army has been bearing down steadily on Stalingrad from the Don-Volga corridor to the northwest; the Russian inside the city have regained lost ground in persistent counterattacks, and German casualties have piled up at an enormous rate. A dispatch from Henry Shapiro, United Press correspondent in Moscow, estimated yesterday that 200,000 Germans have been slain in the Stalingrad battle a fatality rate exceeding 3000 a day. "It is a matter of Indifference when the moment will come when the resistance of the last big Soviet plant at Stalingrad will be destroyed," the Berlin radio said today. Germans Claim Initiative It said that the initiative "in the finish of the battle of Stalingrad" is in German hands, as it is "in all other parts of the eastern front where rectifications of the front are carried through in greater scale." The spokesmen said that progressive German attacks had been made possible by the tactic of allowing the Russians to attack until they were exhausted, and then counterattacking. Building up to this declaration in earlier broadcasts, Berlin said that Soviet- troops were repeatedly attacking "bolt" positions, anchoring the German line north and south of Stalingrad, but it said all these attacks were repulsed.

The same broadcast said that inside Stalingrad the heaviest fighting was in progress, particularly In a northern sector where the Russians were hold ing grimly to factory ruins. Another Berlin broadcast quoted a war correspondent on the Stalingrad front as saying the German troops admitted that some days they were unable to advance at all, and only a few yards on others, while "what we have gained one day we must fight for all over again the next day." The German-controlled Oslo radio said the Germans fighting in the industrial area of north Stalingrad complained of stubborn Soviet resistance from all sides after the Russian defenses "seemed completely destroyed." A Stockholm dispatch quoting Italian reports said the Russians have re-crossed the Don northwest of Stalingrad. They threw pontoon bridges across the river and then poured across during the night, it said. U. S.

Says Nazi Losses 'Enormous' WASHINGTON, 8. (UP.) Competent military observers tonight viewed Adolf Hitler's sudden change of tactics in the Stalingrad sector as tacit confirmation of his concern over the Russian flank offensive to the northwest and of reports that German losses have been "enormous" during the 48-day siege. These experts said there Is no doubt the Nazis had counted heavily on taking Stalingrad, not only to secure quarters for the approaching winter but for the propaganda value that would come from taking a city bearing Josef Stalin's name. By resorting to artillery bombardment of the beleaguered city, it was said, the Germans can withdraw troops from the street-by-street, house-by-house fighting that has proved so costly and send them out either against the Russians in the northwest or in an effort to by-pass Stalingrad and reach Astrakhan before winter. U.

S. Fortress Raid Completely Razes Nazi Plane Plant LONDON, Oct. 9 (Friday) (A.P.) The Daily Mall said today that photographic reconnaissance showed that American flying fortresses in their last raid last Saturday had completely destroyed the airframe factory at Meaulte, near Albert, in northern France. The German air force has been using the factory as an airplane maintenance and repair base. NAZI MOVIE BOMBED -LONDON, Oct.

8. (A.P.) The Free Belgian news agency said today that one person was killed and several were injured when a bomb exploded while members of the Nazi-minded Rexist and Flemish nationalist parties were watching a movie, in a theater requisitioned by the Germans in Brussels. ciouas oi smoke, and I was wondering whether the guys Inside were dead or supermen. "I saw one of them come out. nit they promptly shot him.

Another marine, unis was Moore, later learned), came out the front hatch. and in all my -life I have never seen one man take such a beating. "They kicked him in the face and stomach, they pulled his hair, smashed mm witn their lists, jabbed him with a pitchfork, knifed him, and one of them got him by the arms and another by the legs, and bounced him oft the tank. They finally moved away from the tank and let him lav whera he was. Counted 31 Dead Japs "After I was brought back to the naval shack that night, my lieutenant Informed me that he personally counted 31 dead Japs around the tank.

"After the Japs left the tank they took off toward the pill box," Private Koon went on, "I headed for the bomb shelter. I took two steps and one of the snipers nailed me in tha leg. "I finally made the bomb shelter If there had been anyone inside I wouldn't be here today. I lay there for six hours until some marines found me. We lay there all that night with bullets whipping through the shack and let me tell you, brother, iS was hell.

My pal over there was wounded while crawling up on tha roof to get a shot at the snipers. "Jap snipers with rifles and machine guns were strapped in the trees and hiding in empty oil drums and caves, and they caused more trouble than anything else. "We were the first wave to hit Gavutu, and went zig-zagging up tha beach to form a skirmish line. A buddy of mine was running beside me, and just before we hit the deck, they got him in the chest. "From that point on I was so mad I couldn't see straight." carefully.

"My goodness, he was the only one that wasn't killed. No won- uci j. ic uecu wumea. lu just a miracle." She didn't smile just then. Perhaps she was thinking of other mothers.

Father Moore read it rapidly and couldn't hold back any longer; "So they jabbed him with a pitchfork!" He jerked off his glasses. "The dirty They'd better not shnw mp nnnt.hpt- Mn trnrrfo. he couldn't write, Mother." His voice broke. "I don't see how we could raise such A fellow. He's got more guts than ha father ever had." him quiet to prevent upsetting the boat.

The boat overturned three times, twice in one night in rough weather. "De Amour broke loose the last night and jumped over the side, pulling into the ocean with him Sergeant Anderson (Richard Paul Anderson, 23, radioman, Brookline, Mass.) who was custodian of the chocolate, (Anderson clambered back on). "Then Hosegood (Corp. James Hose-good, 33, assistant gunner, Riverside, who seemed as well as any of us, suddenly took sick and died the same night. Gagnon rigged up a hook and line, using tinfoil for bait, and caught a small flying fish.

We cut it into seven pieces and ate it raw, head, tails and fins. "We saw planes all the next morning and thought we were close ta something. We felt so good we all started' bawling from relief when a scouting plane dipped low to show it had sighted us. The last drop of water was gone and the chocolate also was gone." The other two survivors are Sgt. Constantine Rusesky, 23.

engineer, Shenandoah, and Private Virgit L. Murray, side-gunner, St. Regis, Mont. even a small trench or a misplaced board shows up like a sore thumb In an aerial photograph. This Is a territory where a trail through the tall grass lasts for days.

A wrecked plane, which catches fire, hopelessly shows up its fate for weeks afterward. Nevertheless, the Japanese have made desperate efforts. They made a beach look like a runway and it had United States airmen fooled for a little while. They set dummy planes In rows that fooled nobody. But, most of all, they've attempted to get underground; sinking building! into pits and then putting grass roots over them; putting dirt roofs on their structures: filling in parts of the, island and cutting out others.

U. S. Airmen Tell Of 7-Day Fight With Sharks On Raft In Pacific GERMANY SEEN AS READY TO ABSORB DANES Nazis Want Denmark To War on Russia LONDON, Oct. 8. (Associated Press.) Evidence was accumulating tonight that Germany is about to make Denmark a completely subjugated German-occupied for two years and a half, yet nominally self-governed and maintained as a show-piece of Nazi influence at Its best," Denmark was believed marked down now for forced nazification for these purposes: 1.

Suppression of rising rebellion against so-called German benevolence; 2. Tight defense, against Allied Invasion; 3. Crystallization of a "Germanic federation" project which is to be used for Nazi home propaganda this winter. It was reported that the Germans will Insist that Denmark also declare war against Russia, rearm and hand over to the Germans control of what Danish ships remain in Danish waters. Efforts to obtain the consent of King Christian for the idea of a so-called Germanic confederation of Denmark, Norway and The Netherlands having failed, it was reported In a roundabout way that Hitler has summoned Herr Kanstein, the gestapo chief for Norway, in order to make him reichscommissioner and impose the full collaboration which the Nazis Within the kingdom, Monday Is likely to be a critical day.

Then a new group of Danish Nazis is due to depart for the Russian front to fight for Germany. -But recently returned puppet troops of this nature have been treated with scorn by patriotic Danes, and the new contingent may be kept at home to help in nazification on the kingdom. From London meanwhile powerful radio transmitters carried to the subjugated continental peoples the news of Anglo-American planning for the post-war punishment of tyrants, big and petty. British Reaffirm Stand in Dealing With India Problem LONDON, Oct. 8.

(A.P.) The government repeated its determination today to deal with the Indian problem only within the framework of the independence proposals made by Sir Stafford Cripps, and the. house of commons gave it support by a lopsided 360 to 17 votes. S. Amery, secretary for India, and Clement Attlee, dominions secretary, had led a debate on a bill to continue the life of the Indian government and he frankly told parliament the Indian picture is still "dark and confused In parts with sporadic disturbances" daily, which already have resulted in 846 deaths and the wounding of 2024. Of these, 60 killed and 648 wounded were British soldiers, police or government employes.

The house approval of the government's firm stand came on defeating a motion of James Maxton, Independent Labor member, to sidetrack the bill. Few voices were raised in support of Maxton's motion, the most influential was that of Arthur Greenwood, Labor leader, whp criticized Prime Minister Churchill's earlier announcement that the Cripps proposals must stand unaltered in their essentials. Amery promised that the problem provoked by Mohandas K. Gandi's demands for Immediate independence would be overcome and that Britain was pledged to see "India's destiny directed by Indian hands free of all external control." Canadian Warships Aided U.S. Force in AleutianOccupation OTTAWA, Oct.

8. (D.P.) Five warships of the Royal Canadian navy cooperated with the United States force which effected the recent occupation of the Andreanof islands In the Aleutians southwest of Alaska, Navy Minister Angus MacDonald announced tonight. MacDonald said that in making this announcement he could give no further details because of security Solomons Aug. 8. Yet there was a doubt.

They had a card dated Aug. 12, on which was the almost-unrecognizable signature of their son saying he was all right. Yesterday, there came an official letter expressing regret. Hope was gone. But less than 10 minutes later came a telegram "we were afraid to open." It said Gene was all right.

Today there was an Associated Press story from the marines saying Gene beaten, stabbed and left, for dead had survived an attack of 65 Japanese on an American tank. Mother Moore, standing in a doorway of the apartment, read the story "All nine men were forced to crowd on one four-man raft. We were unable to inflate the two-man raft and another four-man float went down with the plane. We sat shoulder to shoulder around the edge. "The only food wajs chocolate.

It was rationed one-ninth of a bar daily and accepted in the best of spirits. No one asked for more at any time. "The first day we saw a PBY plane and fired four flares but it did not see us. "We were attacked by a tiger shark but fought him off with a paddle. The shark returned and I shot him between the eyes when he was close to the boat.

'Another followed the raft all of the fourth day and night, licking at the paddles. I shot him in the belly. "Gagnon (Sgt. Joe Gagnon, 23, bombardier, Lake, N. ruined the aluminum paddle beating off another shark.

"De Amour (Corp. Lucien de Amour), gunner, of Beverly, Mass.) complained for three days of a head bump which he had received when the plane landed. He thought he was still on the plane and wanted to go down and check the guns. Darden (First Lieut. Sidney L.

Darden, 26, navigator, Waco, Tex.) tried to keep Nazis May Men From By KIRKE L. SIMPSON Wide World War Analyst A growing impression that the crux of the fighting in Russia is shifting from Stalingrad itself to the Soviet counter attack in the Don-Volga corridor finds its most specific support to date in a broadcast relayed from London and credited, of all places, to Rome. It told of Russian bridgeheads established on the west bank of the Don. If that is true, the Nazi "barrier" position across the 40-mile Don-Volga corridor, vital to the siege of Stalingrad, is in grave Jeopardy. It could be turned from the west, thus exposing Nazi supply routes across the Don bend, far in the rear of the Stalingrad siege lines, to Red raiding.

Has Some Meaning Italian reports from the Russian front are subject to suspicion, the authority on which the Rome broadcast was based, if any, was not stated. However, it certainly reflects something less than chagrin in Italy that Hitler is finding the going increasingly tough in Russia. And it is within the range of possibility that it is Italian troops which are bearing the brunt of the Russian relief attack at the west end of the Don-Volga corridor. In effect, at any rate, Italian reports of Soviet advances there sound like urgent demands for the shifting of Nazi shock forces from Stalingrad attack to back up wavering Axis lines on the Don. And that is exactly what Moscow says is happening.

Reserves which the Nazis intended to throw into the stalled Stalingrad drive, including picked first line units, are being moved, it says, to the northwest front due to intensifying Soviet pressure against the corridor barrier. If that is true, it must result soon in a lessening of the non-stop German attack on Stalingrad. It depends on the availability of succeeding waves of reserves to replace the physically exhausted survivors of previous attacks. They must be withdrawn for By CHARLES McMURTRY WITH THE PACIFIC FLEEr. Sept.

27. (Delayed.) (Associated Press.) They called it a close brush with death those seven days on a rubber raft in shark-infested waters. Today they learned it was even closer than they realized. Their flying fortress forced down In the Coral sea by a blown engine cylinder head and depleted fuel, nine United States fliers crowded onto the four-man raft. Two died of exposure.

The rest subsisted on a bite of chocolate a day, shot two tiger sharks, fought off a third and waved frantically as high flying planes passed them by. Today as they told of their harrowing experiences, they learned for the first time that a shark had ripped the bottom of their raft from end to end, narrowly missing piercing the air compartment. The Associated Press had been told about that in a ship-to-ship telephone interview three days ago with an officer of the destroyer which rescued them Sept. 19. "'Van Haur (First LieUt.

James P. Van Haur, 24, pilot, Missoula, Mont.) made a honey of a crash landing," Co-pilot Arvid- W.V (Bud) Anderson, 26, of Bremerton, said in describing how their fortress bomber "The Spider" was forced down in darkness. U. S. Army Slaphappy By WILLIAM L.

WORDEN AN ALASKAN BASE, Oct. 8. (Associated Press.) Tut-tut, Togo, what housekeeping! You didn't finish the. grass roof on that hut, and, even when you do, it's going to leak. You've left lumber just thrown around anywhere.

And those holes In the ground are downright ugly. In fact, they're nof only ugly; they're obvious. And whoever told you that anybody on Kiska planted gardens in straight rows? You must have thought they did, else you wouldn't have bothered to make that little building look like a nice, straight-rowed vegetable garden from the air. Shows Up Something' Awful Togo's housekeeping 6hows up something awful in recent pictures taken of Air Forces Technicians Will Wear Skill Badses Photos Show Japs In Mess On Kiska Island Enlisted technicians and mechanics of the army air forces have been authorized to wear a distinctive silver badge Indicating the skills in which they are qualified, the commanding officer at MacDill field announced yesterday. The badges will be issued as soon as manufacturing arrangements can be completed.

The design is a gear wheel, encircled by a wreath and surrounded by. a four-bladed propeller. Suspended from it, in the manner of a marksman's medal, are one or more silver bars with the inscription note-tag the technical skill for which the wearer has qualified. Only enlisted men in the army air forces will be awarded the new badge. To qualify, they must have served at least six months with the air force and either have graduated from an Kiska island by United States airmen now in almost daily raids and pushing their plane-a-day record hard.

The pictures were taken during raids, and they give a good Idea of what is to be seen when the weather is clear enough for a photographer to see anything at all over that Japanese-occupied island in the Aleutians. They demonstrate that the Japanese certainly have not abandoned Kiska. In fact, apparently they are bending every effort to make the base stronger and to get as much as possible of It underground. Some of these underground efforis are a little laughable fisom a camouflage standpoint of course it would not be so laughable if our own forces were trying to hide an installation because Kiska 's landscape is such that.