Pacific News-Review
pp. 3-4 · Read in the full issue
Notes And Comment On
The Progress Of The War
From Oct. 16 To Nov. 13
Oct. 16: Since US warships began es corting convoys across North Atlantic to Iceland, not a single ship has been lost by enemy action. Tms is a clear indication tnat the vital Battle of Atlantic has taken a favourable turn.
Oct. 16: British and Axis tanks, outside the Australian-held post of Tobruk (Libya), engaged in a close range battle yesterday, at times within 50 yards of each other. Observers believe that increased enemy tank patrols on the Egyptian bor der and near Tobruk are aue to Axis anxiety to discover whether British forces intend starting an early offensive in North Africa.
Oct. 16: RAAF Spitfire Squadron counted for five of tne 20 German aircraft shot down over the Channel yesterday.
Pre-occupied in Russia, Goering’s Luft waffe is making only sporadic raids on Britain. RAF now is at such battle strength that Nazi planes rarely pass the coastline of Britain in daytime and the lew that elude the night deiences have done comparatively little damage.
Oct. 16: Germans have made slight advance towards Moscow in battle tnat has assumed gigantic proportions, both sides throwing in masses oi fresh troops.
In the south, Russians have evacuated Mariupol, Black bea port. Pressure agamst Leningrad, in the north, has been relaxed to enable Germans to hurl all available troops against Moscow. Nazi radio propa ganda is blaring that the outcome of the war with Russia already has been decided from a military point of view—it remains only lor tne Germans to “clean up” and occupy Moscow.
Oct. 16: Prince Konoye’s Japanese Cabinet formed last year, re-organised last July, has resigned. Cause: “failure to reach complete agreement on the method of • pursuing national policy”—in other words, the more radical element is seek ing to gain control of Japan’s destiny.
Oct. 17: Evacuation of non-combatants from Moscow is being speeded up to avoid last minute rush of refugees, such as im peded army movements in the Battle of France. Feverish activity is going on in side Moscow to prepare the city impreg nable in siege.
Oct. 17: Aviation-expert, Lt.-General Eiki Tojo, 57, is forming a new Japanese Cabinet.
In London, commentators view the Cabinet change, coming at a critical time in the Russo-German war, as a triumph for the “hot-heads” in Tokyo and predict that swift events may precipitate a crisis in the Far East. Prince Konoye’s Cabinet team, it is said, was reluctant to push on towards war either with Russia or in the South Pacific —the extremists believed that the time had come for action, in view of the Russian situation.
Oct. 19: Soviet Army appears to have regained some of the ground lost last week—they claim to have recaptured Kalinin and Orel.
Oct. 19: Spokesman of the new Army controlled Japanese Cabinet stated it pre pared to resume “peace” talks with United States. Foreign Minister in new Cabinet is Mr. Shigenori Togo, former Ambassador to Berlin and Ambassador to Russia until the middle of last year.
Oct. 19: US destroyer “Kearny” (1,630 tons) hit by torpedo 350 miles south-west of Iceland, but made port under her own power.
Oct. 20: General Tojo, Japanese Premier, in broadcast, declared “Japan’s unshakable policy lies in a successful settlement of the Sino-Japanese conflict and the establishment of an East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. I am fully con vinced that speedy action and iron will
are the only way out of the present difficulties.”
Oct. 20; Moscow Radio states that Soviet Army is holding the enemy on all fronts. Staiin has re-shuffled his High Command Marshal Timoshenko has gone to the southern sector to take over from Cavalry Marshal Budenny, who now will organise an army east of the Urals.
General Zhukov has succeeded Timo shenko as defender of Moscow. While Moscow must be saved, it is equally im perative that the Nazi threat in the south to cut Russia off from her oil supplies and from her great industries in the Ukraine must be smashed.
Oct. 20: Revealed now that 10 Americans were killed and 11 injured when des troyer “Kearny” was torpedoed by U-boat.
This incident is likely to have an im portant bearing on the US Senate controversy over modification of the Neutrality Act to arm all American merchantmen.
Oct. 21: Japan will ask USA for a definite “yes” or “no” to the minimum Japanese propositions before resuming the Washington talks.
Oct. 21: With their southern and nor thern pincer claws held up by the Russians at Orel and Kalinin, the Nazis are again attacking in central sector. Stalin has announced seat of Soviet Government been transferred from Moscow to Kuibishev, 550 miles east.
Oct. 22: RAF raided Naples, in Italy, for five hours last night.
Oct. 22: Three more US-owned mer chant ships have been sunk—“ Lehigh” (5,000 tons), “Bold Venture” (3,200 tons) and “West Amangosa” (5,500 tons). These sinkings have aroused the American people and Isolationists in Congress are noticeably silent.
Oct. 22: Russians say they have halted German advance in the south; but Nazis declare they merely are slowing down for a “breather”. Heavy weather on this front is making roads almost impassable.
Oct. 22: British submarine, rising in middle of heavily-escorted Italian convoy bound for Libya, torpedoed two supply ships and then escaped.
Oct. 22: Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, British Gommander-in-Chief in the Far East, now is in Australia conferring with defence heads of the Commonwealth.
Oct. 23: Intense fighting, with enormous losses on each side, still is going on before Moscow. It is evident Hitler has failed in plan to smash his way into Moscow for winter quarters within a short time.
On the southern front, Nazi Marshal von Rundstedt is massing a million and a half men against industrial centres of the Donets Basin and is redoubling his efforts to crush defences at entrance to the Crimea Peninsula.
Oct. 23: British Supply Minister, Lord Beaverbrook, gave House of Lords im posing list of war material and food al ready sent to Russia. He forecast exacting demands on British industry to fulfil all the aid promised to the Soviet.
Oct. 23; Change in the Far East situa tion has -necessitated alteration in the route of US ships carrying supplies to Russia —the Pacific supply route has been abandoned in favour of the Boston- Archangel route. While displaying a firm attitude, America apparently does not wish to provoke hostile Tokyo action by sending ships loaded with war munitions for Russia by way of Vladivostok, close to Japan.
Oct. 24: Re-grouped and reorganised, the German Army in central sector has launched a new, “final” assault on Mos cow. Nazi communiques declare German guns in some places are within 35 miles of city.
Oct. 24: Japan has offered her “assis tance” to Thailand, if needed—but the Thai people have politely refused, reitera ting tneir desire 10 preserve neutrality.
Uct. 25: Simultaneously with the sink ing of another American oil tanker, “W.
C. Teagie”, in the North Atlantic, the uS Navy Department announced that in future n will control all American ship ping operations and determine all routes lor merchantmen.
Oct. 25; British Foreign Secretary, Mr.
Eden, gave assurance m Commons that British Government would not negotiate or enter into talks with Hitler or his associates, including Mussolini.
Oct. 26: Despite a prodigious concen tration of men and materials, Germans have not succeeded in gaining appreciable ground on Moscow tront, though the clanger in Donets Basin area is increasing.
Sheer weight of men and metal is slowly forcing Russians back in vicinity of Rostov-on-Don, in south, which is gate way to the Caucasus and its vast oil resources.
Oct. 26: Commenting on deterioration of Pacific situation, Colonel Knox, US Navy Secretary, declared “We are satisfied that the Japanese do not intend to give up their expansion plans. If they pursue them, a collision is inevitable”. Tokyo press characterised this statement as "more American bluff”.
Oct. 26: For the third night in suc cession, RAF bombers pounded Naples with thousands of high-explosive bombs.
Oct. 26: Nazi cruelty in Occupied France reached new level of fury when 50 hostages were executed to-day as reprisal for attacks on German soldiers.
Oct. 27: In spite of terrible weather conditions, there appears to be no slack ening of the tremendous Nazi drives against the outer defences of Moscow and into the Donets Basin.
Oct. 27: British public clamour for opening up of a second front, as a direct military aid to Russia, may be answered by a move of British and Dominion troops up through Iran to defend the Caucasus oilfields. General Wavell, in Iran, is reported to be in command of 1,000,000 Empire men, well-equipped with mechanised vehicles, arms, and ammuni tion supplied from Britain and USA by the Red Sea route, Oct. 28: Japan is seeking a time limit to her talks with USA. She has served notice on Washington that if any accord is to come from negotiations between the two countries it must be reached before November 15, when an extraordinary meeting of the Japanese Diet opens in Tokyo.
Oct. 28: Rostov-on-Don is under fire from German long-range guns; both sides are bringing up reinforcements and a great battle is imminent. Kharkov, between Moscow and Rostov, is believed to have been taken by the Germans.
Around Moscow, General Zhukov is re pulsing every Nazi attack.
Oct. 29; Tentative discussions have be gun between Britain and US Governments to grant to America use of bases through out the Empire. Informed sources say this is the answer to the question often asked in USA: “What immediate quid pro quo is America to receive for the Lease-Lend material given Britain?”. It is pointed out, too, that in the post-war world the burden of safeguarding international peace probably will fall most heavily upon Britain and America, and joint strategic air and naval bases for policing purposes will be a prime essential.
Oct. 29: Australian Labour Prime Minister Curtin announced £325,000,000 budget for 1941-42. It provided for much
higher income and company taxation, and gives Commonwealths fighting forces slight rise in pay.
Oct. 30: In special broadcast to the Japanese, Rear-Admiral Luetzow, Ger man Admiralty spokesman, urged Japan to invade Australia, He said Australia cannot defend herself against invasion and surprise landings could be under taken at points along her vast, flat coast line. An invader could secure a landing by air superiority, operating from air craft carriers. Belittling Australia’s de fences, he declared the Commonwealth possessed only a small fleet and a small air force, and her man-power must be drawn from a population of less than 7,000,000.
Oct. 30: Russian bombers raided Berlin last night, dropping quantities of in cendiary and high-explosive bombs.
Oct. 31: Renewed activity against Mos cow by German army and air force is being met by fierce Soviet resistance. In the Crimea, Germans claim to have scored number of successes after long, heavy fighting.
Nov. 1: Southern claw of German pincers move towards Moscow appears to be gaining some ground.
Nov. 2. Statements by Domei, semi official Japanese Newsagency, indicate that Japan is completing her war struc ture for an armed clash in the Pacific.
Nov. 2: Another US destroyer, "Reuben James”, was sunk by a torpedo when in convoy west of Iceland. 95 of the crew are missing. Despite the US Navy’s policy of silence, there is increasing evidence that American Atlantic patrols in recent weeks have sunk a number of U-boats attempting to attack convoys and the “Reuben James” presumably was hit when driving off German submarines.
Nov. 2: RAF’s 24 hours a day offensive is being maintained—fighters yesterday made low-level attacks on Northern France, while bombers raided North-west Germany.
Nov. 3: Position in Crimea is most serious. Panzer divisions are spreading out in fan-like move down through the peninsula, dividing Russians into two groups. Nazis claim 10 Soviet troopships sunk and 14 damaged by dive-bombers while attempting to evacuate Russian troops from Crimea.
Nov. 3: Washington announces that US navy and air force is patrolling a large part of the Pacific, within a radius of 1,000 miles of Hawaii and 750 miles of Midway, Wake and Guam bases.
Nov. 3: Palermo seaplane base, in Sicily, and port of Naples were bombed by RAF last night for six hours.
Nov. 4: British submarines destroyed three more Italian merchant ships in Central Mediterranean.
Nov. 5: Latest developments on southern front in Russia indicate the beginning of the Battle of the Caucasus, with Germans moving nearer the vital oilfields. Nearly 100 Nazi divisions have been brought ud to the Russian front from conquered European countries, leaving only 28 divisions to maintain occupation.
Nov. 5: Torpedo attack on American oil tanker “Salinas” has provoked bitter debate in US Senate on Isolationist delay in voting on Neutrality Act Revision Bill.
Nov. 5: Mr. Saburo Kurusu, former Japanese ambassador to Berlin, is leaving immediately by air for Washington to “arrive at the earliest possible settlement in view of the prevailing international situation”.
The Japanese press has published the following seven-point programme for the maintenance of friendly relations between USA and Japan: (1) USA must discon tinue aid to China; (2) It must leave China free to deal direct with Japan for the ending of hostilities and the estab lishment of economic collaboration; (3) It must encourage China to make peace; (4) It must acknowledge Japan’s Co-
Prosperity Sphere, and Japan’s leadership in the Western Pacific: (5) It must recog nise Manchukuo; (6) It must lift the order “freezing” Japanese credits: (7) It must negotiate a new trade treaty with Japan, lifting all restrictions on shipping and commerce.
Nov. 6: Though Marshal von Boch has begun his fifth offensive against Moscow, the capital’s defences are showing no signs of weakening. Fighting during the past three days has been the fiercest of the war.
Nov. 6: When Japanese steamer “Kibi Maru” (4,500 tons) was struck by floating mine in Sea of Japan, 17 passengers were drowned. Tokyo’s Foreign Office is convinced that the mine drifted from Soviet territorial waters and will protest to Russia.
Nov. 7: Roosevelt has authorised loan to Russia equivalent to £A312,500,000, un der the Lease-Lend programme. Repay ment, spread over 10 years, will partly consist of raw materials and commodities.
Nov. 7: Washington regards the despatch of Mr. Kurusu as an indication of the weakness of Japan’s position. Little hope is held out that his efforts will bring about a settlement of differences between USA and Japan.
Nov. 8: Stalin, in broadcast to Red Army, said Russia’s two handicaps were: (1) Lack of a second military front in Europe—“but such a front must definitely appear in the immediate future”; and, (2) Inferiority in the number of tanks, compared with the Nazis.
Nov. 8: Senate by 50 votes to 37 passed law revising Neutrality Act to allow arm ing of US merchant vessels and per mitting them to enter combat zones. The Bill goes before the House of Represen tatives next week.
Nov. 9: 1,000 aircraft took part in two British raids within the last 48 hours— one on Berlin, Cologne and Mannheim, and the other on industrial centres in Western Germany. 54 RAF planes were lost. This was the greatest air attack ever delivered by any country Nov. 9: Winter snow and sleet has brought German assault on Moscow al most to standstill. In Crimea, Germans are driving on slowly towards Kerch, at the eastern end of the peninsula; Sebas topol, Russian naval base on the Black Sea, has suffered severe bombing. Lenin grad, in north, is still under siege, but important industries inside the city still are functioning and food supplies appear to be adequate.
Nov. 10: Mr. Churchill to-day warned Japan that should USA’s efforts to pre serve Pacific peace fail and she be in volved in war with Japan, a British declaration of war would follow within an hour. He stated that Britain now is strong enough to provide powerful, heavy battleships of the Navy, with ancillary vessels, for service in the Pacific, if needed.
Nov. 10: British Navy destroyed convoy of 10 Axis supply ships in Central Medi terranean. Three escorting Italian des troyers were blown up—making 15 lost by Italy since she entered the war.
Nov. 10: With a temporary lull on the Moscow front, Germans are concentrating on the northern and southern extremities of their battle line, in an effort to cut off Anglo-American aid to Russia.
Nov. 10; Clipper carrying Mr. Kurusu, special Japanese envoy to USA, has been held up at Midway Island by engine trouble and bad weather.
Nov. 11: Large-scale Nazi reinforce ments moving up to central front indicate that Germans may try last desperate attempt to storm Moscow before they settle down for the winter outside the city.
Nov. 12: Reviewing war position, Prime Minister Churchill announced Britain’s shipping losses for four months ended October 31 averaged 180,000 tons monthly,
compared with average 500,000 in same period to June 30. Enemy losses in Mediterranean have been particularly sev ere and Axis is finding it extremely diffi cult to keep its African armies supplied.
Britain’s food position is good—the corn crop this year is 50 per cent, greater than in 1939.
Nov. 13: China has appealed to Britain and America for military help in the event of a Japanese drive against the Burma Road.