Nazis Answer Serb Threats to Hostages with Dive Bombers

[Globalization41]

The International Situation, The New York
Times, Through Saturday, October 4, 1941:
Berlin declared that vast new operations were
in progress on the Eastern Front, and it hinted
that they were aimed at Moscow. ... Reports
from Russia had an optimistic tone. The
Soviet forces were said to be on the offensive
from one end of the line to the other. ...
Resistance to the Nazis throughout occupied
Europe reached its high point in Serbia, where
guerrillas were said to threaten 650 captured
German hostages with death. The Nazis used
dive bombers against these irregulars. ...
Apparently reacting to the controversy in this
country, Moscow reaffirmed the Constitutional
guarantees of freedom for anti-religious
activities, charging that the issue had been
raised in the United States by those opposing
President Roosevelt or favoring Adolf Hitler.
... Secretary of State Hull lashed out at the
Nazis in commenting on the sinking of the
American-owned tanker I.C. White. He called
the attack "another act of lawlessness and
piracy," branded the Germans as outlaws, and
invoked the right of self-defense. Rio de
Janeiro reported that 17 more members of the
tanker's crew had been rescued by an
American ship.

The International Situation, The New York
Times, Through Sunday, October 5, 1941:
Russian troops are still on the offensive all
along the line, Moscow declared Sunday.
Counter-attacks in the Ukraine were said to
have made substantial gains and the Leningrad
defenders were declared to be driving the
Nazis back. ... Berlin reports confirmed the
hard fighting of the Russians, particularly at
the approach to the Crimean peninsula.
Minor successes and extensive air activity by
the Nazis were reported. ... Moscow's
reiteration of the Constitutional provisions in
respect to freedom of worship and freedom of
anti-religious activity appeared to have
brought disappointment to United States
Government quarters. ... In Washington,
President Roosevelt was expected to take up
some move in respect to the Neutrality Act
with Congressional leaders Tuesday.
Modification rather than repeal was thought to
be likely Administration ground and there
were signs that Congressional opposition was
preparing for a fight. ... On the Far Eastern
scene, conversations were concluded in
Manilla between Sir Robert Brook-Popham,
Britain's commander in the Orient, and United
States defense officers there. A clarification
of the United States position was believed to
have resulted.

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... Globalization41.]