Pacific News-Review

Notes And Comment On

The Progress Of The War

From Aug. 17 To Sept. 14

Aug. 17: The battle for possession of the Don bend, in southern Russia, has taken a critical turn—the Nazis have driven a wedge into Russian defences.

Probably, the historian of the future will say that this event opened the most critical phase of World War 11. Here, in the Eastern Ukraine, two great rivers flow, roughly, north and south—the Don into the Black Sea and the Volga into the Caspian. The Volga, carrying an immense river traffic, is literally the Russians’ life-line —along it come vital supplies of oil from the Caucasus and munitions from Britain and America, via Iran.

If the Germans get possession of these two rivers before the Russian winter closes down in October, Russia may be industrially and economically crippled.

If, on the other hand, the Russians can hold the tremendous German armies on the last defensible front represented by the Don and Volga Rivers {of which Stalingrad is the centre), then at last the Germans will be faced definitely with the prospect of defeat.

The battle for Stalingrad, therefore, has world-wide significance.

Aug. 18: The Japanese pressure in north-east Papua has been renewed, and the Japs have made a slight advance in the foothills of the Owen Stanley Range.

Aug. 18: Announced that Mr, Churchill is in Moscow and conferences are taking place between him and M. Stalin.

This announcement, and the subse quent announcement by Mr. Churchill that he and M. Stalin had reached a complete and harmonious understanding, has cleared away many doubts that were troubling the minds of war commenta tors. The Russians urgently have been demanding that Britain and America open a second front against Germany so as to relieve the pressure on the Don- Volga front; but the announcements indicate that the leaders have agreed upon a strategy which takes care of this Russian demand, Aug. 19: It is announced that the Americans, supported by Australian naval units, after intense preparation and a fortnight’s fighting, have regained pos session of the Tulagi area of the Solo mons from the Japs. HMAS “Canberra” (10,000 tons) was sunk.

Aug. 20: About 15,000 British made their biggest Commando raid on Dieppe area.

Aug. 20: The battle for Stalingrad has commenced.

Aug. 24: Brazil, owing to repeated sink ings of Brazilian coastal ships, declared war on Germany and Italy.

The entrance of Brazil into the war, like that of Mexico, means little in terms of men and armaments, but it does mean a good deal on the economic side, and also in relation to Atlantic strategy. The fact that Mexico is now one of the United Nations has helped the Allies consider ably in meeting the submarine menace in the Carribean Sea and Central Atlantic —Allied warships can use Mexican ports as freely as their own.

Similarly, Brazil’s decision means not only that the very considerable numbers of Germans, Italians and Japanese who have been carrying on pro-Axis activities in Brazil will be removed, but also that Brazilian ports will be available to Allied warships engaged on the submarine hunt

in the narrowest (and therefore a most important ) part of the Atlantic—that is, between the Brazilian coast of South America and the coast, of West Africa.

The fact that Brazil is now a United Nation belligerent will affect the situa tion in West Africa. The Germans will put pressure on Vichy to permit them to occupy and fortify Dakar, which directly faces Brazil, on the West African side of the Atlantic.

Aug. 26: Duke of Kent killed in air accident while on his way to Iceland.

Aug. 27: Japanese were defeated in air and naval counter-attacks against Americans in Solomons. * Aug. 25: Thirteen Jap aircraft were shot down in stratosphere battle over Darwin.

Aug. 26: Japanese landed at Milne Bay, but are meeting with resistance from Australian ground troops and Allied air craft.

Aug. 26: Enemy naval force which approached Guadalcanal, BSI, was so badly hammered that it withdrew.

Aug. 28: RAF made 500-bombers raid on Kassel, in south Prussia, centre of the Herschel locomotive works.

Aug. 28: Red Air Force bombed Berlin.

Night after night, week after week, with such monotonous regularity that the event is losing its news-value and is not prominently displayed in the news papers, the RAF is systematically attack ing and demolishing the ports and indus trial cities of Western Germany. If, as is believed, these operations are being carried out on a co-ordinated plan, the destruction of the German railway trans port system, as well as the industrial system is systematically proceeding.

Two important developments have re cently taken place in these raids upon Germany—increasing numbers of very powerful American aircraft are co operating with the RAF, but operating as independent American units under Ameri can command; and large numbers of Russian bombers, coming from the east, are frequently attacking cities in eastern Prussia and in Hungary, and are occa sionally bombing Berlin itself.

Aug. 31: Japanese, with a cruiser and eight destroyers, landed reinforcements at Milne Bay, under cover of bad weather.

Sept. 1: Falling into a carefully-laid trap, Japanese invaders have been driven into the northern peninsula at Milne Bay and are being systematically exterminated by Australians. Some may have been evacuated under cover of darkness.

Sept. 1: Japanese Foreign Minister Togo resigned for “personal reasons,” and is replaced by Premier Tojo. This is thought to indicate Japan’s intention to attack Siberia.

Observers in many countries, especially in China, have been insisting that all signs indicate Japan’s determination to attack Russia, through Siberia, at an early date.

It is believed that Japan had agreed to attack Russia in this way as soon as the Germans had taken Stalingrad and. secured command of the Volga. Obvi ously, there has been a considerable delay in the German campaign in south Russia and this may have knocked out Japan’s Siberian schedule.

The probability of a Japanese attack on Vladivostock and the peninsula behind that city, which so clearly menaces Japan from the air-raid point of view, may now be regarded as disappearing, with the approach of winter. Japan may contem plate a winter campaign in this country, but it is unlikely. Therefore, Japanese forces will probably be diverted from Siberia to the attack against China, India and Australia.

Sept. 2; Communiques report persistent enemy infiltration in Kokoda area of Papua.

Sept. 2: Germans increase pressure, but Stalingrad still holds.

Sept. 4: Rommel attempts an advance and fighting flares up again in Egypt.

Allied guns and planes are pounding Axis forces.

Sept. 5: Enemy concentrations have been withdrawn in Egypt, but a new Ger man drive is expected. British are attacking.

Sept. 9: Japanese now are near the Gap, in Owen Stanley Range, beyond Kokoda.

Sept. 9; Britain presents cruiser Shropshire” to Australia, to take place of sunken “Canberra.”

Sept. 11: Two-way bombing of Ger niauy, by the RAF and the Russian Air Force, is now almost a nightly occur rence.

Sept. 14: Japanese have crossed Owen Stanley Range, and are on southern slopes overlooking Papua, 40 miles from Port Moresby. Allied aircraft are strik mg constantly at the Japanese base at Buna.

Sept. 14; Japanese, with strong naval, air and military forces, have launched heavy counter-attack on newly-won American positions in and near Guadal canal, BSI. The battle is still going on.