Pacific News-Review

Notes And Comment On

The Progress Of The War

From Nov. 12 To Dec. 11

Nov. 12: The Italian forces in the mountains of southern Albania, having been severely defeated by the Greeks, are now struggling back in retreat, through the various mountain valleys, and are being harassed on the land by the Greek infantry and by British and Greek airmen.

Nov. 12: “I do not believe that the era of Democracy can or will be crushed out in our lifetime”, declared President Roosevelt, in one of the first speeches he has made since his re-election. Signs all over USA indicate a growing organised effort to give assistance to Britain.

Nov. 12: The Russian Premier, Molotof, is now in Berlin having consultations with Hitler. There is much speculation as to the purpose and outcome of these talks.

Nov. 13: A dozen mines have been swept up in Bass Strait. Southern Aus tralia, where they were released by an enemy raider, and which caused the sinkings of two ships.

Nov. 13: The British Fleet air arm, on Monday night, made a smashing attack on Taranto, one of Italy’s main naval bases, and, with aerial torpedoes, sank or crippled three battleships, two cruisers and two auxiliary ships.

This is the most striking naval success in the war to date. It is pointed out, by experts, that it completely alters the balance of naval power in the Mediter ranean—half the heavy units of the Italian Fleet are now out of action. Dur ing the succeeding days, British aero planes took photographs of Taranto, which confirm the damage done in the action. It is also seen that Italy has hurriedly moved practically the whole of her strong fleet, which she had assembled at Taranto, to more distant bases.

Nov. 13: The German claim that a pocket-battleship had destroyed a British convoy of 36 ships in the North ern Atlantic is now proved wrong. A pocket-battleship attacked the convoy, and was herself immediately and most heroically attacked by the British armed merchant cruiser “Jervis Bay” which, although out-gunned and out ranged, kept the enemy battleship busy until she was herself blown to pieces.

By that time the convoy had scattered widely, and the German battleship was able only to find a few individual ships.

Through the self-sacrifice of the “Jervis Bay”—described as one of the finest ex ploits in the glorious history of the British navy—no less than 31 out of 36 ships in the convoy escaped safely into port.

Nov. 13: There are heavy concentrations of Japanese naval and military forces in and about Hainan Island. It is believed that Japan has planned a major south wards operation, probably against Indo- China and possibly against the Dutch East Indies; but is hesitating until she knows: (1) the probable reaction of America, and (2) the result of the talks in Berlin between Hitler and Molotof.

Nov. 14: Night after night, during this moonlight period, German air flotillas are raiding districts in Britain, and heavy and growing forces of RAF bombers are attacking important industrial centres throughout Germany.

Nov 15: The German air attack against Britain has taken a new form, called “one-town-blitz”. There is an enormous concentration of German machines against one particular town, which is virtually wiped out. This happened last night to Coventry, a well-known town in the Midlands. Practically the whole of the centre of the city was destroyed.

Deaths 200; injured 800.

Nov. 15; An important statement by Tass, Soviet official newsagency, is that Japan and the Soviet have not agreed on respective spheres of influence in the Far East, and that the Soviet has not promised to cease to give aid to the Chinese National Government. This is represented as a great disappointment to Japan, who has her forces all ready for a southwards thrust, which she dare not make, unless she is reasonably sure of the attitude of Russia.

Nov. 17: Smashing attacks on Ham burg by the RAF are regarded as ven geance for the German destruction of Coventry.

The captain of the “Jervis Bay”, who went down with his ship, was awarded posthumously the Victoria Cross, “for valour in challenging hopeless odds and giving his life to save many ships”.

Nov. 18: The Greeks are fighting magnificently along the whole front and are steadily driving the Italians back everywhere. Important developments are expected soon.

Nov. 18: The Russian Premier has re turned to Moscow and there still is no indication of results of his talk with Hitler. The belief is growing, however, that failure has attended Hitler’s frantic efforts —seen in his consultation with Central European powers, with France, Spain and finally with Russia—to organ ise his “new order irt Europe”. It would appear that Russia is as aloof and incal culable as ever. This is borne out by the attitude of Turkey, which continues to make military preparations, and pro fesses herself satisfied with the inter national situation and her treaty with Britain.

Nov. 18; In a blustering speech, Musso lini declared that the Italian defeat on the south Albanian front by the Greeks would be terribly avenged. Although the Italo-Greek war commenced with the sudden unprovoked invasion of Greece by the Italians, he blamed Greece, “on the instigation of Britain”, for the com mencement of the war.

Nov. 18: The Japanese Imperial Con ference has decided to give the Chinese National Government (Chiang Kai Shek) “a last chance” to consider its attitude towards Japan and make a sat isfactory peace.

Nov. 19: The Greek army has cap tured Koritza, an important Italian base in southern Albania, with many prisoners and much war material.

Nov. 19: It is reported that King Boris of Bulgaria made a secret visit to Berlin to interview Hitler. This has given rise to the belief that Bulgaria may open a way for German armies to come to the assistance of the Italians, by attacking the Greeks through Thrace.

Nov. 20: Germans carried out their second “one-town-blitz” last night, when they made a concentrated air attack upon Birmingham and did great damage.

Nov. 21: There now are indications that Hitler has failed seriously in his plan to create in Europe a “new order” with which he could oppose Britain, and offer a peace conference.

Up to the present, apart from Ger many, Italy arid Japan, the only nations which have formally joined up with the Axis-bloc are Roumania (which is virtu ally under Hitler’s thumb) and Hungary (which has been obeying his orders for some time). Prance, under Retain, has so far resisted his arguments (although Laval is in favour) for reasons that are not clear. Spain and Bulgaria, nominally very friendly to the Axis, have not joined up. Russia remains still aloof.

Piquancy is given to this virtual stale

mate in Europe by a growing belief that there is motion between Hitler and Mussolini. Germany shows no sign of going to Italy’s assistance against Greece.

It is stated confidently that Mussolini embarked on the attack on Greece in de fiance of Hitler’s wishes.

It is clear that Italy’s attack upon Greece, making Greece a belligerent, allowed Britain immediately to take pos session of Crete as an important naval and air base; and this, together with the de struction of half of the heavy units of the Italian navy, has altered the strate gical situation in the Mediterranean, to Italy’s disadvantage. It can be under stood that this development has greatly angered Germany.

Nov. 21: United States Army has re leased to Britain 26, four-engmed Con solidated Bombers, each of which has a range of 3,000 miles. It is expected that America will also give Britain 20 of the latest type of “Flying Fortresses’’.

Nov. z 2: Seeking revenge for Taranto, Italian bombers for ten nights in suc cession have attacked units of the British fleet in Alexandria, but they have failed to do any damage to warships or fortifi cations.

Nov. 22: Koritza, the main Italian ad vance base in Albania, actually was oc cupied by the Greeks to-day after bitter fighting around the mountainous out skirts of the town. Greeks appear also to have broken the Italian lines in Epirus, on the coastal section. British planes are constantly attacking the Italian columns, which appear to be in retreat all along the front.

Nov. 22: The arrogance and the vaunting ambitions of the Axis Powers are well illustrated in an article just published in a Japanese Army newspaper, m Shanghai, named “Sin Shun Pao’’, which says that the scope of the pact between Japan and the Axis envisages stabilisation of Europe, of Africa, of the Far East, and of Australia. This is the first time that any Japanese newspaper, anywhere, has openly included Australia by name within the framework of Japan’s southward expansion programme.

It is officially announced that Japan is still offering the Chinese National Gov ernment a final chance to participate in direct peace negotiations.

Meanwhile Japan—apparently owing to her uncertainty of the probable attitude of USA and Russia, has not committed herself definitely to the southwards ex pedition. Nevertheless Japanese forces, economic and military, are gradually tak ing possession of sections of the late French Colony of Indo-China.

Nov. 24: The German “one-town blitz’’ was last night directed against the city and port of Southampton. There was a great concentration of German machines. Extensive damage and many casualties were caused.

No attempt is being made by the British authorities to deny that these successive raids against important Eng lish cities represent a serious problem.

Nevertheless, on the balance of damage caused, the advantage probably lies with the RAF, which night after night, with monotonous regularity, despite very bad weather, is making concentrated attacks on German industrial centres practically all over the Reich.

Nov. 25: Troops from Thailand (Siam) are reported to have clashed with French Indo-China troops. Thailand is claiming the restoration of certain territories taken by Indo-China some 30 or 40 years ago. It is suggested in some quarters that

the Thailand move is anti-Japanese; but it is well to remember that Thailand is honeycombed with Japanese and per meated by Japanese influences, and if Japan eventually takes all Indo-China, as evidently she plans to do, Thailand undoubtedly will become actually, if not officially, part of the Japanese Empire.

Nov. 25: The Greek Army is continuing its advance into Albania along the whole of the 160 miles front, Italians retreat ing rapidly everywhere. So swiftly has the position changed in the past few days that it is possible the disorganised Italian forces will not be able to stand along the defence line they recently attempted to establish in southern Albania.

Nov. 26: Chinese experts believe that the two things which are likely to stop Japan from expanding southwards are her inability to reach an understanding with Russia and her failure to effect a peace settlement with General Chiang Kai Shek. Japan now is planning recogni tion of the puppet Government set up in Nanking under Wang Ching-Wei as the Official Government of China; but this will not affect the National Govern ment’s determination to fight on for the independence of China.

Nov. 26: At the close of the conference held during the past month in Delhi, India, it was announced that the east ern group of British Empire countries re presented there will shortly, under the plan of organisation that has been initi ated, give an ever-increasing volume of substantial aid to Britain.

This development obviously is of great importance. As long as the Red Sea route can be kept open—and the ability of the Italian forces, in Somaliland and Abys sinia, to interfere with it, is steadily decreasing—the Fastern, African and Pacific countries of the British Empire, can unaided provide the British Armies in the Mediterranean area with all neces sary reinforcements and supplies.

Nov. 27: The British Mediterranean fleet to-day again caught sight of an Italian fleet, comprising two battleships and various cruisers and destroyers, and attacked immediately. But the Italians fled at high speed towards their bases in Sardinia and, although they were pur sued for some distance, and engaged at extreme range, it is not thought that much damage was done.

Nov. 27: An enemy raider in the south Indian Ocean has sunk two large British freighters, “Port Brisbane” 8,000 tons and “Maimoa” 8.700 tons. Both have been en gaged in carrying important cargo be tween Britain and Australasia.

Nov. 27; Britain has announced offici ally that if Bulgaria does not directly or indirectly assist the enemies of Britain to attack her allies, Britain intends to ensure that at any peace conference, the integrity and independence of Bulgaria will be respected. This apparently is hav ing a good effect. There are several in dications that, for the present. Bulgaria does not intend to abandon her neutral ity.

Nov. 27: The Greek Army, advancing steadily along the coast, is now expected to seize from the Italians two important points in southern Albania —the port of Saranda and important base of Argyro kastron.

Nov. 27: It is frankly acknowledged that Britain’s most serious problem now is that of replacing the merchant shipping which is being destroyed by the enemy at the rate of not less than 60,000 tons per week.

It appears that the Germans have adopted a new technique, and send their submarines far out into the Atlantic to hunt in “packs”, with a view to paralys ing the important traffic between the United States and Britain.

It is recognised that the only way of solving this problem, if a new means of checking the submarines cannot be de vised, is to reinforce Britain’s shipbuilding efforts with a mighty and concerted ship building programme in the United States.

Conversations between Britain and United States are proceeding, with this end in view.

Nov. 28: 'Die German’s “one-town blitz” last night was directed against the English city of Plymouth. It was a prolonged attack in which much material damage and many casualties were caused.

The Germans in these “one-town-blitzes” do not seek out military objectives—they simply use a great concentration of aero planes to pour an enormous mass of ex plosives upon the centre of the cities.

Nov. 29: The Iron Guard of Roumania, a Fascist organisation, has assassinated hundreds of political personages, in the most cruel manner, on the grounds that their execution is necessary for the good order and government of the country.

Nov. 30: M. Chiappe, a ruthless French bureaucrat who had just been appointed Governor of Syria, by the Vichy Govern ment, with instructions to stop the drift in Syria towards Britain, was on his way to Syria in a large French aeroplane when he inadvertently flew over the scene of the British-Italian naval en gagement on November 27. Fighting planes—whether British or Italian is not clear —attacked and destroyed the French plane, and M. Chiappe and another high French official were drowned. The Vichy Government says that Britain is to blame.

Nov. 30: Japan, having failed to in duce the Chinese National Government to enter peace negotiations, to-day formally recognised the “puppet admini stration” formed by Wang Ching-Wei, at Nanking, as “The National Government of the Republic of China”, and asked other nations to similarly recognise it.

Chiang Kai Shek’s Government, at Chungking, declares Wang Ching-Wei to be a traitor and says that if any other country recognises the puppet govern ment it will be regarded by Chungking as an “unfriendly act”.

Nov. 30: President Roosevelt announced to-day that the United States was im mediately making a loan to China (the Chiang Kai Shek Administration at Chungking) of 50,000,000 dollars for gen eral purposes, and would probably make an early allocation of a further 50,000,000 dollars for the stabilisation of China’s currency.

This is one of the most startling developments of the war. It is a formal intimation to Japan that the United States will not recognise the so-called “New Order in the East”. It is a stag gering blow to the plans of Japan who, now, can make no progress southwards unless (1) the Axis Powers become domin ant over Britain, the United States and China, or (2) Japan defeats the United States in the Pacific in a separate war.

Dec. 2: A new Greek thrust on the northern front, in which 5,000 Italians were captured, has started a general re treat by adjacent Italian forces, leaving a huge gap in the Italian centre. Greek advance is continuing slowly in snow storms.

Dec. 2: Mr. Kennedy, lately United States Ambassador in London, has re signed. His activities in the United States indicate that while he is sym pathetic to Britain, he is an active agent of those who favour a policy of appease ment—it is believed that there are a con siderable number of them in Britain and the United States, working for peace negotiations with Hitler.

Dec. 2: Germans, on Monday night, directed their against Bristol. Considerable damage, but casual ties not numerous. The raids on

Southampton on Saturday and Sunday night caused 370 deaths, Dec. 4: The Germans are boasting that a new phase has opened in the attack on Britain, in that submarines are now hunt ing in “packs”, and crippling Britain's merchant shipping. Meanwhile, the United States is making plans to release to Britain every merchant ship she can spare.

Dec. 4: The United States is about to release old-type planes for China to assist her in the war against Japan.

Dec. 5: Germany and Roumania have signed an agreement, effective for 10 years, for “the economic re-construction of Roumania”.

Dec. 6: While the Greeks are still at tacking and the Italian armies generally in Albania are in full retreat, a start ling development has occurred in the re signation of Marshal Badoglio. Italy’s Chief of Staff, and probably the most im portant man in Italy next to Mussolini.

A large number of prominent military and naval officers are also resigning, and this development is clearly the result of marked discontent with Mussolini’s con duct of the war.

Dec. 6: The Greeks have captured Saranda, Albania’s third seaport.

Dec. 6: The peace moves of the “ap peasement gang” in Britain were scotched effectively when the House of Commons rejected, by 341 votes to 4, a motion urg ing the Government to set forth Britain’s terms and call a peace conference.

Dec. 8: It is announced that, following on the high officers’ resignations, serious internal disturbances have broken out in the principal Italian cities.

Dec. 8: It is believed that Bulgaria has been holding secret conferences with emissaries from Russia, and Bulgaria has been urged by Russia to maintain neu trality.

Dec. 8: The announcement that Russia will continue to recognise the Chiang Kai Shek regime as China’s National Gov ernment is a sharp reverse to the Axis, and a pleasant surprise to the United States.

Dec. 9: The Greeks have occupied the important town of Argyrokastron (prin cipal Italian base in southern Albania) and are pursuing the retreating Italians towards central Albania.

Dec. 9: London on Saturday night ex perienced one of the most serious raids the Germans have yet made on Britain.

Very extensive damage was countered by the heroic work of the volunteer defence force.

Dec. 10: Although there are large concentrations of Japanese military and naval forces at Hainan Island, the Japanese still are hesitating in their southwards thrust. The support of United States and Russia to the anti-Japanese Government of China has seriously checked Japanese war-mongers. It is thought that the latter will not strike southwards unless Britain receives a seri ous reverse or the United States influence weakens.

Meanwhile, there is an extraordinary quietness about Germany’s political oper ations. Hitler, who was racing about Europe, interviewing the leaders of Spain, France, Hungary, Russia, Roumania, etc., a month ago, is now seldom mentioned.

Germany, apparently, is making no move to assist Italy—the impression is growing that there is serious friction between the German and Italian dictators.

Dec. 11: The announcement that British forces in Western Egypt are in contact with Italians all along the Libyan front, and have taken 4,000 prisoners, is accepted in London as an indication that Britain has launched an offensive against the Italian Army in Libya.