Pacific News-Review

Notes And Comment On

The Progress Of The War

From July 14 To August 13

July 14: While fighting continues with great intensity between the Germans and the Russians, along 1,800 miles of eastern front, from the Aictic to the Black Sea, the continually growing air forces of Britain are striking ceaselessly at military objectives in western Ger many and occupied France. The RAF apparently makes two attacks eveiy 24 hours a davlight sweep over northern France, in which everything German found in the air is attacked and sav agely fought, while at night RAF bomb ers raid selected industrial towns in Germany. , , , , There have been few bombs dropped on Berlin —the explanation being that Berlin is so far from the English coast that it is not possible for British bomb ers to fly there and back within the darkness of the short north-European night. As the autumn advances, and darkness increases, the attacks on Ber lin will increase.

July 14: Military commentators gener ally emphasise that Germany, after three weeks of intense war, has nowhere broken through the Russian front. There have been three thrusts—northwards towards Leningrad, eastwards towards Moscow and south-east towards Kiev.

In each case, the Germans have been defeated by the same Russian tactics.

The Russians have organised defence lines in great depth. The Panzer divi sions, which so quickly over-ran Hol land, Belgium. France, Greece, etc., are permitted to penetrate deeply into these defence lines; and then the Russians close in behind them and exterminate them. As a consequence, the first Ger man offensive has definitely failed and it would appear that a second is being organised.

July 14: German propagandists in Iran and Afghanistan are suggesting that Britain and Russia have designs there and that they will occupy those countries as Britain occupied Syria.

July 14: To-day—France’s National Day—the terms of an armistice between Vichy France and Britain in Syria were finally settled.

July 15: British Prime Minister announced that new Anglo-Russian agreement really constitutes an alliance between the two countries, the purpose of which is to destroy Hitlerism.

July 15: British and Australian troops to-day entered Beirut, in Syria, follow ing the signing of the armistice.

July 15: Officially announced that mercantile shipping losses in June were 79 ships, representing 329,296 tons —the lowest since January.

July 16: As part of its campaign against a German spy ring operating throughout North America, the United States Government has indicted 33 per sons, and named the German Reich as participants.

July 17: The Japanese Cabinet has resigned and Prince Konoye, who formed his second cabinet a year ago, has been ordered by the Emperor to form a third cabinet.

The belief is held in the Democracies that the new Japanese Cabinet will take a more definite line —it will either go towards more friendly relations with Britain and the United States, or will become more sharply hostile.

July 17: Strong United States naval forces are reported in Manila, and it is officially announced that Manila Bay and adjacent ports have been mined.

July 17: The German armies on the eastern front, apparently as part of their second offensive, are thrusting north

towards Leningrad and in a southerly direction into the Ukraine. The Russian armies are taking the shock steadily and the Russian commanders express com plete confidence in the result.

July 18: Prince Konoye has formed a new "cabinet in Japan and announces that the nation is to be placed on a com plete war footing. The most notable change is that the former Foreign Minister Matsuoka has disappeared.

The changes in Tokyo are variously interpreted but the most authoritative comments suggest that Japan is now going to take a stronger and more direct line against Britain and USA. A move by Japan into Indo-China is regarded as a certainty.

July 18: German bombers .heavily attacked Hull last night—the first big raid on Britain for a considerable time.

July 18: The German and Italian forces in Libya are still standing along Egypt’s western frontier. They are being constantly harassed by sorties of increasing boldness by British and Aus tralian forces from Tobruk.

July 20: The German armies to-day entered on the fifth week of their attack upon Russia. In no place are they very far inside the Russian frontier, and it is now claimed with increasing confidence that the German High Command, for the first time, has gravely miscalculated its opponent’s strength and is seriously embarrassed. The Russian commenta tors insist that the second offensive already is slowing down.

July 20: The RAF smashed a German convoy off the Dutch coast, and 8 ships, totalling 48,000 tons, were damaged and probably -destroyed.

July 20: President Roosevelt on Friday declared that it was the unwavering policy of the USA to protect the Atlan tic sea-lanes to Iceland, and other out lying defence bases, against any attack or threat of attack. USA would defend Iceland and protect the garrison there.

The early report that American troops had landed at a port in Ulster, to do garrison duty, apparently was incorrect.

July 21: The Germans, after one month of fighting, are still 100 miles from Leningrad, 200 miles from Moscow and 120 miles from Kiev. The Russian Army expresses complete confidence in the issue of the struggle.

The guerilla tactics and “scorched earth” policy being followed by the Russians are seriously embarrassing the Germans. Russian guerilla bands are carrying out great destruction and slaughter at points up to 100 miles in the rear of the German front.

July 21: The “V for Victory” cam paign has been enthusiastically adopted in Britain and reports from Europe emphasise its growth throughout all the countries occupied by Germany.

July 21: American authorities have refused permission to 10 Japanese steam ers homeward bound from Atlantic ports to make use of the Panama Canal.

Japanese authorities express resentment, because their vessels now will have to sail around South America.

The position, however, is that one enemy agent with a few bombs could render the Panama Canal useless for a considerable time. If the United States were at war—especially against Japan — it would be of vital importance to keep the Canal open so as to permit quick communication between the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets.

July 21: In an attempt to prevent the enormous damage being done to western German cities by the nightly attacks of

RAF bombers the Germans are embark ing on large-scale camouflage. Photo graphs indicate that representations of cities are being quickly built of flimsy material in positions near the real cities, with a view to deceiving and con fusing the British bomber pilots.

July 22: Moscow last night experienced mass raids from 200 German bombers.

The Russians claim that the raid failed, in that no military target was hit.

Seventeen raiders were shot down.

July 22: The second German offensive on the eastern front has slowed down, and comparatively little activity is reported.

July 22: All reports from Japan indi cate that important developments are pending. The Japanese are expected to move southward, rather than northward against Russia.

July 22; The RAF on Sunday night heavily raided Naples and started large fires.

July 23: Moscow experienced its second mass raid last night. Only single raid ers penetrated the city’s defences, and damage was not serious.

July 23: Japan has sent an ultimatum to Indo-China demanding the right to protect the former French Colony against aggression. It is expected that the Vichy Government, under instructions from Germany, will agree.

July 24: Japanese warships have appeared off the coast of Indo-China and 12 Japanese transports are on their way from Hainan Island to Saigon.

July 24: Hitler is using every diplo matic means at his command to induce Japan to defy the United States and occupy Indo-China. He has promised Japan that he will complete the con quest of Russia by the end of August; that he will invade and conquer Britain in September; and that the war will end with a German victory before the win ter, It is believed that this desperate attempt to embroil Japan and the United States is Hitler’s last throw.

It is presumed that Hitler dare not throw in his final reserves against Rus sia while there is a possibility of a Brit ish attack on his western front. This is increasingly possible while America is supplying Britain with growing quanti ties of munitions and food. But if American strength can be diverted against Japan, Hitler’s hand may be freed for a major effort against Russia —more especially against the Russian oilfields, for it is apparent that this long drawn-out battle on the eastern front is using up immense quantities of Germany’s vital oil. Therefore, now that the Russians appear to be holding the Germans on the eastern front, the eyes of the world are turning with increasing anxiety to the policy of Japan and the reaction of the United States.

July 25: Night after night, and day after day, the RAF continues its heavy attacks on German cities and enemy establishments in occupied France. The terms of the reports are almost monoto nous in their lack of variety—but the importance of what is being done can not be exaggerated.

July 26: Japanese forces to-day form ally began the occupation of Indo- China. Japanese military, naval and air forces are systematically taking posses sion of the former French colony.

July 27: Swift and simultaneous reta liatory economic measures against Japan have been taken by Britain and United States. America has established a

United States Army of the Far East, and has brought the military and naval forces of the Philippines under the com mand of USA. The Singapore garrison and defences have been strengthened.

July 27: Britain and USA have issued orders freezing Japanese assets in the respective countries, and similar action has been taken by the British Domin ions. This means that Japanese trade with all British and American countries has been paralysed. Britain has given notice of her intention to denounce her commercial treaties with Japan. Japan has retaliated by freezing British and American assets in Japan, All this represents a definite and very rapid deterioration of the relationship between Japan and the Democracies. If there is to be war, it should come now.

July 27: Following the breakdown of the second German offensive on the east ern front, the Russian armies have com menced strong counter-attacks in a number of sectors.

July 27: The Italians launched a new form of attack on Malta by means of E-boats and similar fast surface .craft, carrying torpedoes. The attack was completely beaten off by the Malta defences, and a dozen E-boats destroyed.

July 27: Discovering that the German battleship, “Scharnhorst”, had departed from Brest, where she had been shelter ing with the “Gneisenau” for months, the RAF made a swift search and located her at a French port 230 miles south.

Thereupon masses of British planes came into action, and both the “Scharn horst” and the “Gneisenau” were attacked and damaged. “Scharnhorst” later returned to Brest.

July 28; Dutch East Indies Govern ment is supporting Britain and America by applying economic measures against Japan. All monetary and trade trans actions with Japan in future will depend upon special permits.

July 30: The British Prime Minister says "that the “invasion season” is at hand and that all armed forces in Bri tain have been warned to be at concert pitch by September 1. Mr. Churchill also said that the Battle of the Atlantic was moving slowly but impressively in Bri tain’s favour.

July 30: Military commentators agree that the second great German offensive on the eastern front has petered out, and the Germans are now preparing a third offensive.

July 30: It is expected that the next move by Japan will be an attempt to penetrate Thailand economically, or to occupy certain bases in Thailand, so as to “protect” Thailand against aggression or invasion.

July 31; British and Russian aircraft simultaneously attacked German estab lishments in the Norwegian Arctic port of Kirkenes and Petsamo, in northern Finland. In two attacks, 16 British air craft were lost.

Aug. 4; Developments in the Far Eastern situation include action by the United States in cutting off the export of aviation petrol—a move clearly aimed at Japan. Commentators insist that Japan’s next move will be against Thailand. There are reports of consid erable troop movements from Japan to Manchukuo —which are regarded as menacing the Russians.

Aug. 4: United States has warned French Vichy Government that Ameri can relations with France will be gov erned by the degree of effectiveness with which "France defends its territories against Axis aggression. The failure of France to resist Japan’s invasion of Indo-China has menaced American security. . . , , Aug. 4: The RAF on Saturday night

inflicted on Berlin the heaviest raid of the war. Smashing attacks also were made on Hamburg and Kiel.

Aug. 4: All Japanese ships have inde finitely suspended their sailings to the United States.

Aug. 4: Britain is reported to have sent 100,000 troops, including Australians and Indians, to the border of Burma and Thailand.

Aug. 5; The third German offensive against the Russians appears to be tak ing the form of a sharp thrust in the Ukraine in an attempt to secure Kiev.

Aug. 5: Relations between France and Germany are again approaching a crisis, as the result of German demands that the French Fleet be made available for German use, and that bases be granted to Germany at Dakar and Casablanca, on the West Coast of Africa, and at Algiers, in the Mediterranean.

Aug. 5: British forces have been active in the Mediterranean, where they have torpedoed an Italian cruiser of 2,700 tons and two supply ships of 8,600 tons.

Aug. 5: USA is reported to be favour ably considering the extension of ship ping facilities to send substantial aid to Russia through Vladivostok. This use of the Pacific route to assist Russia does, of course, open up further prospect of conflict between Japan and USA.

Aug. 6: Bitter and intense fighting is proceeding all along the eastern front and Germany continues to make fantas tic claims of successes. But, actually, there appear to be few changes in the general situation.

Aug. 6: There are insistent reports from British and American sources that a meeting is about to take place between President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill.

The President is away at sea in his yacht, on a summer cruise, and Mr.

Churchill has disappeared from London; and it is believed that they are holding a very important conference on the Pre sident’s yacht, or on a British warship, off the coast of Canada.

Aug. 7; US Secretary of State an nounced that any Japanese move into Thailand would be regarded by USA as menacing American security and endan gering American Pacific interests.

Aug. 8: Persistent reports of an Atlan tic meeting between Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill are not believed in Washington.

Aug. 9: British officials in Washington do not believe that USA would take mili tary action asrainst Japan if Japan moves against Thailand.

This probably explains the Austra lian Government’s alarm. Australia per haps visualises a war in which Britain and Netherlands Indies alone would have to meet Japan. It must not be forgotten that USA cannot declare war without a majority in both houses of Congress: and. at the moment, there apparently is an anti-war majority in both Senate and Representatives.

Aug 11: London commentators, declar ing that the war is moving to its supreme crisis, say that far-reaching decisions are being taken by the Demo cracies. about which no hint is given, and the results of which may be momentous.

Aug. 12: The Russians are holding the German armies on the north and cen tral fronts, but the Germans are mak ing alarming progress in the Ukraine- Black Sea area.

Aug. 13: Germany is strongly pressing France for North African bases and other help, and it is believed the Vichy Government has virtually surrendered to Germany.