The Wrangell sentinel., 1941-07-04

Continue War
OF Contradiction
fBy# Associated Press

~
ternoon that the British have
occupied Palmyra 100 miles
northeast of Damascus.
ON of a Welter of propaganda, as
Isertions and denials emanating from
the eastern war-frout concerning the
German-Soyiet Russian war, the rest
of the world is left In confusion at
the conflicting reports
From Berlin come announcements
of uiumphs. from Moscow reports
of gallant fighting of the Red army
I'm stemming the Nazi horde on all
fronts
One significant feature, however,
came in Stains speech made to his
people this week when he appealed
for even greater effort on the part
of his armies and people in crushing
their Fascist foe.
Also significant was the order
issued Immediately following. by
the Soviet cabinet. summoning all
male civilians between 16 and so
and all women from Is to 30 for
instruction against air and gas at
tacks and even arranged special
training for children from eight to
16 years of age. The Red commune
que suggested that while the main
German army thrusts at the central
front. toward Moscow, and in the
Baltic region. toward Leningrad. had
been slowed in the latest operations,
it added that nowhere had the Ger
man offensive been wholly broken.
1t reported that fighting was con
tinuing in the direction of Muir
mansk. key Arctic port, against
which the Nazis loosed new often
sive via the Sredni peninsula. and
also in the regions of Dyinsk. Minsk
and Luck The official story again
was one of violent Russian resis-
lance which cost the invading Ger
mans heavily in men and machines.
Sea battles took place in the Gulf of
Finland and Black seas, resulting in
more conflicting claims.
Berlin, on the other hand. an
nounced the destruction Of 40o,-
600 Russian soldiers trapped for
several days in the Bialystok area
with prisoners counted in the humid
reds of thousands. Germany was
again asserting the capture of Minsk
on the highway to Moscow.
Vigilance Is Wasteland
In Japan, the Imperial Cabinet
continued to sit on its decision,
made day before yesterday, as to
it's Imperial war policy. Matsuoka,
Foreign Minister, called for calm
and eomposure on the part of the
Japanese people and pointed out the
necessity of guarding against mis-
takes. appealing, at the same time,
for continued unity. vigilance is
the watchword," the foreign minis
ter declared. vigilance, with eau
ton and preparation AS the war
develops. such action as Japan takes
will reveal the wisdom of this de-
cision." Strong indications PERSIST
ed throughout most of Japan's Ma
tionalists quarters that Imperial pol
icy still has its eyes on the oil, tin
and rubber producing regions of
southeastern Asia and the East In
dies.
AAOLdOl4 NldlllIC " bN LpAaAAiEs lAIi
own and giving the Germans increas-
ed doses of bombing in occupied
France and Germany despite the
added strength of German aerial
forces in the last few days. The
American Eagle squadron, now in
the fray, lost one man but account
ed for three German planes.
Shifts Generals
Most startling news from London
was a shake-up in the middle east
front.
Lieut., General Sir Robert Hadden
Haining, Vice Chief of the Imperial
general staff. has been sent to the
middle east ON military administra
tive duty and General Sir Archibald
WayeIl. who conquered the Italians
in Cirenaica only to be rolled back
into Egypt when the Germans came.
has been shifted to India. Taking his
place. General Sir Claude Auchin-
leck, about whom the average Bri-
ton knows little, has come from In
dia to take over the middle east
forces.
The reason for Hainings appoint
ment was said to be the need for a
senior officer to deal with the COM
plicated administration problems on
both sides of Suez. Although Chur-
chill, in the House of Commons, re-
fused to explain the Wavell-Auchin-
leck shift, it was asserted in Aus
tralian quarters that the prime fac
tor was Australian dissatisfaction
in Wavell's conduct fthe Ciren-
aican and Greek campaigns.