Pacific News-Review

Notes And Comment On

The Progress Of The War

October 15—November 13, 1939

October 15. —A German submarine en tered British naval base at Scapa Flow, torpedoed and sank British battleship “Royal Oak” (29,150 tons), with a loss of 786 lives, and escaped.

British Admiralty said afterwards that this was a singularly courageous ana skilful exploit. It appeared that the sub marine had hung around the entrance to Scapa Flow for days, and studied the dis position of the protecting minefields. It got out as successfully as it got in, and returned to Germany. British naval authorities held strict, far-reaching in quiry into carelessness which manifestly had made the disaster possible.

October 17.—Concensus of European opinion is that Hitler has “sold out to Russia”. In order to secure Russian Pact, Hitler abandoned his plans for colonial expansion eastwards. Russia now has seized half of Poland, has resumed con trol over Esthonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and is demanding concessions from Fin land —all part of her plan to displace Germany as the dominant power in the Baltic. Germany can only look on help lessly.

October 20.—Arrangements have been completed under which Japan will buy 300,000 bales of Australian wool.

German Air Raids

October 17-18. —German air squadrons have carried out series of raids over British air bases—especially Firth of Forth (Edinburgh) and Scapa Flow. The raiders were shot at by numerous anti aircraft defences, and engaged by British fighter squadrons. No British ship was seriously damaged (although the cruiser “Hampshire” and the training ship “Royal Duke” were slightly damaged, and 15 men were killed and several injured) and no British ’plane was lost. At least one quarter (12 to 16 ’planes) of the German ’planes participating in the raids were destroyed.

This series of raids, seen in retrospect, demonstrated the remarkable efficiency of the British defences, and the apparent fighting superiority of the British air forces. Nevertheless, the loss of 25 per cent, of an attacking air force always is antici pated, and these losses are not likely to discourage the enemy. He is more likely to be discouraged by the poor results of his raids.

October 18-19.—Kings of Sweden, Nor way and Denmark and President of Fin land met at Stockholm, to confer on posi tion created by Russian threat to Finland.

No announcement made: but generally believed that the Scandinavian nations will support Finland against Russia, if necessary.

October 18. —Britain’s purchase of Aus tralian wool clip for duration of war, and one clip thereafter, at 10|d. sterling per lb. (13.4 d. Australian) promises to stabi lise Australian industries and may bring about a boom in Australia.

Turkey Stands With Allies

October 19.—Turkish Foreign Minister is on his way back to Turkey, the talks in Moscow having broken down because of the excessive Soviet demands. Relations between the two countries remain friendly.

October 20.—Turkey has agreed to sign immediately pacts of mutual assistance with Britain and France. Automatic

mutual assistance in the eastern Mediter ranean, diplomatic consultation on Balkan questions and Turkish assistance if the Western Powers have to implement their guarantees to Greece and Roumania are provided for.

October 20. —Behind the bald statement that two army corps of the B.E.F. are in position in France, says “Sydney Morning Herald”, is the story of the biggest move ment of motorised troops ever carried out by an army.

October 20.—United States Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Grew, bluntly told an audience in Tokyo that Americans re sented some actions of the Japanese forces in China, and that there must be a change before the relations of Japan and the United States could be improved.

October 22. —Twelve German aircraft attacked a convoy in the North Sea, but were driven off by fighters and anti-air craft fire. Four German ’planes were destroyed. The British aircraft suffered no casualties or damage.

October 23. —Germany officially an nounces that attacks on all ships carrying contraband in all seas will be expanded and strengthened in order to imperil the British convoy system. It is asserted that German operations outside territorial waters have inflicted much higher losses of contraband and ships than the British admit.

October 24. —Hitler has held lengthy conferences with Nazi leaders in Berlin, and is reported to have decided to pro ceed with siege warfare (using air, naval and economic weapons) and to refrain from an offensive on the Western front.

Russian Pressure On Finland

October 24.—Russian pressure on Fin land continues. Russia demands various territory, including a place for a naval base to cover the Gulf of Finland. Fin land will not agree, as such a grant of territory would destroy the security of the capital, Helsinki.

October 25. —One of the most import ant developments in the re-grouping of European powers is indicated by Italy’s efforts to lead a Balkans bloc.

It is apparent that this bloc is being formed because, following Russia’s ad vance into Poland, and right onto the northern frontier of Roumania, there is danger of Russian influence permeating the Balkans. In other words, Italy is abandoning the Rome-Berlin Axis in order to organise a barrier against the advance of Germany’s new friend, Russia.

October 27. —Russia has informed Britain that the British contraband con trol violates the principles of international law, gravely impairs the interests of neut rals, and destroys international trade.

Russia refuses to recognise the validity of the British Notes, notifying the uni lateral institution of British control of neutral merchantmen.

October 28. —America has demanded that Russia forthwith release the freighter “City of Flint”, which was seized in the Atlantic, while en route to England, by the German battleship “Deutschland”, and taken by a German prize crew to a Russian port.

U.S.A. Decision

November 3.—Amendment of Neutral ity Act, pending the sale of ammunitions to the belligerents, which was passed by

United States Senate on October 26 by 63 to 30, was passed by Representatives to-day by 243 to 172.

This is one of the war’s most import ant developments up to date. It makes a limitless reservoir of arms available to Britain and France—and to Germany, too, but Germany, owing to the blockade, cannot get possession of them.

October 31. —Paris radio reports mut inies among troops in the Austrian cities of Vienna, Graz, and Klagenfurt. Ger mans are reported to have quelled the mutinies by shooting every tenth man.

November I.—Speech by Russian Foreign Minister, Molotov, which German press had forecast would mark turning point in the war, proved to be merely a long diatribe in which Britain was de clared the aggressor, and Germany as a nation striving for peace. No promises of help were given to Germany, where there was manifest disappointment with the speech.

November I.—Numerous changes in Italian Government are notable mostly for the displacement of Ministers known to be pro-German.

November 3.—Holland has proclaimed a state of siege in certain municipalities along the Dutch-German frontiers, in cluding the zones that may be flooded for defence. It is reported that a quantity of water has already been released into areas that would be immediately flooded if the country was attacked.

November 3.—German ambassadors in Moscow and Rome have been suddenly recalled and it is suggested that Hitler is casting about for a way of inducing Russia to support the Nazi cause with more than words and of breaking down Italy’s hostility to Bolshevism.

November 5. —Finnish Premier, in a broadcast, stated that Finland was pre pared to defend herself in all circum stances against Russia. Rome Radio re ports that 80,000 Soviet troops have been moved to the Karelian frontier of Fin land.

November s.—When a German prize crew, taking the captured American ship “City of Flint” from a Russian to a Ger man port, put into a Norwegian port, the Norwegian navy seized and released the vessel and interned the Germans. Ger many is protesting to Norway. Norway contends that the Germans violated Nor wegian neutrality by stopping at Hauge sund without permission, and with no valid reason.

Those who know anything of the tor tuous workings of the Nazi mind probably will believe that the “City of Flint” was taken into the Norwegian port deliber ately. TTie Nazis hoped that the Nor wegians would seize and release her.

What, otherwise, could they have done when the “City of Flint” arrived in a Ger man port, as a German prize, and the United States peremptorily demanded her release? The Nazis could see the awkward situation that was developing, so they saved their face quite cleverly by getting rid of the vessel into Norwegian hands.

November 7.—Another week has passed without any indications of the imminence of any large-scale operations on the Western Front.

November 7, —Germany’s irritation at the passage through the United States

Congress of the amending Neutrality Bill has given rise to insulting Press attacks on Mrs. Roosevelt, the wife of the Presi dent.

Allies’ Air Superiority

November 7.—The French routed the Germans in the most spectacular aerial “dog-fight” of the war. Nine French fighters attacked 27 German fighters and brought down nine of them, all the French planes returning safely.

There is no doubt now that the British and French airmen are superior to the Germans in spirit and skill, and are better equipped; but, that is not casting any reflections upon the Germans. Ger man airmen, in the last war and in this, have proved themselves clever and ex ceedingly brave; but all the information available to date shows that there has been produced in Britain and France, a class of young airman who is superb— high spirited, courageous, cool and clever.

They have been assisted in gaining an ascendancy in the air because of the definitely superior quality of the mach ines which they fly. For years, prior to this war, commentators speculated upon the relative quality of the British, French and German machines, and it was gen erally supposed—Mr. Lindbergh, of the United States, was one authority who spoke—that Germany’s aeroplanes were better than those produced by the Allies.

Well, the ultimate test of the stew lies in the eating of it. The events of the first 10 weeks of the war show not only that the young airmen of Britain and France are better than anything in the world, but so also are the aeroplanes which they control with such success.

November 7.—British shipping losses in September were 3.7 ships (155,636 tons) and in October 19 ships (83,159 tons). So far, there have been no losses in November.

Although it is clear that British ship ping losses have been reduced to a point that the British shipping industry can bear, it is not to be supposed that the German submarine campaign against British shipping has failed. There still are active in the Atlantic large numbers of German submarines and as a result of their operations, the feeding of Britain and the maintenance of British overseas trade is carried on under difficulties— which means considerable expense.

Britain can keep on building ships as fast as Germany destroys them. Germany can keep on building submarines nearly as fast as the Allies destroy them. There fore, the combatants can carry on this kind of war for a very long time. The British convoy system, however, seems to have provided Germany with a problem which she cannot solve.

November B.—United States ships will resume trading with Britain and France if permitted to transfer to a foreign registry. The United States Lines applied for permission to transfer eight vessels to the Panama registry. This procedure has stirred up a sharp division of public opinion in U.S.A.

November 8. —The King of the Belgians and the Queen of the Netherlands have offered to mediate in the war, and have sent joint telegrams to Britain, France and Germany.

Bomb For Hitler

November 9.—On Wednesday evening, November 8, eleven minutes after Hitler had unexpectedly left the famous Beer Hall, in Munich, 1o catch a train for Berlin, a bomb exploded in the Beer Hall, and 9 persons were killed and about 30 injured. Apparently, the bomb was in

tended for Hitler. The time of his speech had been advanced half an hour, be cause of pressure of business, and he spoke for only 50 minutes, instead of 90.

A wave of fury against the perpetrators swept through Nazi Germany, and the Nazi propaganda machine worked full time in ascribing the attempted assassina tion to British Secret Service agents.

November 9. —Neutral newspapers—in which it is noted that Russian newspapers are prominent—believe that the attempted assassination of Hitler was a Nazi propa ganda plot, carefully designed and timed to influence neutrals and to rally the German public behind Hitler. They lay emphasis on a number of very curious features, which give the occurrence a strong resemblance to the notorious

Reichstag fire.

Although civilised people do not ap prove of the method of assassination, re grets have been expressed everywhere that the bomb did not succeed in remov ing Hitler from this tortured world. Ap parently, it is believed generally that the death of Hitler would mean the immedi ate end of the war. As a matter of fact, it probably would. There is little doubt that if Germany were under the leader ship of Geering, for instance, Germany would immediately enter into negotiations with the Allies for: (1) Tiie establish ment of a system which would give some sort of guarantee to Germany’s national pledges; (2) The restoration of a measure of independence to the Czechs and Poles.

November 9. —While Britain and France are closely examining the Belgian-Dutch peace proposal, little hope is held out for success. “Events have shown that the stiff-necked men, to whom Germany has handed the guidance of her destinies, will be satisfied with nothing less than the forcible attainment of their desires”, commented the British Prime Minister.

“Upon them must lie responsibility for the consequences. Force is the only answer to those speaking the language of force.”

November 9. —American newspapers disclose that the German re-organisa tion of the population in the eastern portions of the existing Reich involves the greatest re-shuffle of population in modern history. A small Poland will be re-constituted under German control. The bulk of what was formerly western Poland will be annexed to Germany, and German populations which have been almost forcibly removed from the Baltic States, the Italian Tyrol and from other places will be settled there. Warsaw will not be re-built —the new capital of the recon stituted Poland will be Cracow. Ukrain ians and White Russians in German Poland are being exchanged for Germans from Russian areas. All the Jews in the eastern portion of the new Reich are be ing gathered together and settled in a special province of the reconstituted Poland.

November 9.—German aeroplanes to day flew over France and dropped large quantities of pamphlets appealing to the French to break away from Britain and make peace.

November 10. —The possibility of Hol land being involved in the war is caus ing Japan to display a lively interest in the future of the Dutch East Indies.

This is an outstanding example of the vicious kind of irresponsible newspaper comment which is one of the worst fea tures of the war —and which, owing to its confusing effect on public opinion, may possibly defeat the ultimate aims of the Allies. The screeching yellow press, dur

ing practically all the first half of Novem ber, insisted that Holland was in daily danger of invasion, and at one periou the newspapers actually had the Dutch and Germans fighting on the frontier.

Actually, all that has happened is that the Dutch have very wisely taken far reaching precautions to defend their neut rality, including the possibility of open ing the dykes and flooding their low-lying country; but, beyond large concentrations of German forces in Western Germany— which may quite conceivably be directed against the Western Front —there is noth ing to indicate that the Germans intend to invade Holland. The East Indies angle is mere newspaper “kite-flying”. Even if Holland were directly involved in the war, it may be taken as certain that the demo cratic nations—and especially Britain and the United States—would see that the Colonial Empire of Holland in the Pacific was not interfered with. Japan desires— and probably will attain, ultimately— special commercial concessions in the East Indies; but the seizure of the East Indies by Japan, which has been so persistently suggested lately by the hysterical news papers, will take place only with the con sent of Britain, France and the United States.

“All Quiet On Western Front”

November 12.—There still is a complete absence of all moves of military import ance on the Western Front. Indications are that the three armies—French, British and German —expect to spend the winter months immobilised in their forti fied lines, and they are proceeding to make themselves as comfortable as pos sible. The only notable development has been a marked increase in German aerial activity over Northern France. German air forces have made reconnaissance flights in all directions.

It has been apparent, since September, that the winter campaign on the Western Front would simply be one of “stand to arms”. It will, in a psychological sense, be a very difficult period, in which the intense boredom of the troops in their billets will be sharply reflected in public opinion in France, Britain and Germany.

It may be expected that the authorities in Britain and France will take extra ordinary measures to keep the huge, idle armies interested and cheerful. A break down of national morale might easily come from bored and discontented armies.

One thing that may break the monotony will be full-dress rehearsals of attacks.

Already there are indications that the Germans are giving their troops practice in frontal attacks on fortified lines, in which infantry co-operate closely with tanks and masses of aeroplanes. This is likely to be the technique of the really serious advances next spring—if the war lasts that long. It is likely that there will be many of these full-dress rehearsals on both sides in the winter—and that the sensation-mongering newspapers will present these incidents as “great battles on the Western Front”. Those who know the Western Front know that there can be no great movements of armies there, likely to affect the course of ihe war, un til winter is gone and the terrain has be come dry enough to permit the passage of mechanised armies.

November 13. —It appears that an im passe has been reached between Russia and Finland. Russia demands territory that the Finns will not give up. Negotia tions have been broken off—for the mo ment, at any rate—and politicians and newspapers on both sides are hurling de fiance at each other.