Pacific News-Review

Notes And Comment On

The Progress Of The War

From Dec. 15 To Jan. 16

Dec. 15: Although the Polish Govern ment-in-Exile, in London, has rejected as its post-war border the Curzon Line (which would give Russia about one-third of pre-war Poland), Mr. Churchill told the House of Commons that Britain would support the Curzon Line at the peace conference.

Dec. 15: Americans, with an RAAF constructional unit, landed on Mindoro Island (central Philippines) to-day and quickly seized San Jose, five miles inland.

This daring move was carried out by a large convoy which left. Leyte and sailed past Jap strongposts bordering the Min danao and Sulu Seas. The landing was a complete surprise and met only minor opposition. The convoy was attacked by Jap planes from by-passed Jap bases bordering the route. Mindoro is only 150 miles south of Manila.

Dec. 18; The determined German counter-attack which began on the West ern Front on the 16th has gained ground, and the Germans are back across the bor ders of Belgium and Luxembourg. They are advancing on a front of 70 miles, using tanks, artillery, aircraft, parachutists, rocket-bombs and some undisclosed secret weapon.

Dec. 18: Fighting continues in Greece.

British forces seized several rebel strong holds in Athens and Piraeus.

Dec. 20: The German offensive in Bel gium and Luxembourg has advanced 20 miles in places and some US units have been cut off. The situation is grave.

Dec. 21: The widest offensive in the Burma campaign has been launched by British, Indian, American and Chinese columns. They are driving through from the northern and north-western sectors in the general direction of Mandalay.

Dec. 22: The German offensive rolls forward, with the River Meuse its appar ent objective. But strong American pres sure on the northern flank has slowed down the most dangerous thrust. Im proved weather conditions are being used to advantage by Allied air forces.

Dec. 25: The Red Army, in a spectacu lar advance during the past 48 hours, has practically encircled Budapest, Hungarian capital.

Dec. 26: Mr. Churchill and Mr. Anthony Eden have arrived in Athens to confer with the different political factions in Greece. Shortly after their arrival, a plot to blow up British Headquarters was discovered.

Dec. 26: The Americans have been forced to withdraw from Vielsalm (Bel gium) and the two German salients have now become one solid bulge, 37 miles deep by an average 35 miles wide. American forces pressing on the bulge from the south are making slow but steady progress.

Dec. 26: General MacArthur (Philip pines) says the campaign on Leyte and Samar Islands is finished, except for minor mopping-up.

Dec. 27: Representatives of all political parties in Greece heard an appeal from Mr. Churchill for peace. Representatives of ELAS (Nationalist Resistance Army) were provided with safe conducts to attend, the conference.

Dec. 28: The next few days will show whether the Germans can continue their drive to the Meuse. American forces, iso lated at Bastogne for a week, who defied all attacks, have been relieved by an Allied thrust—described as the first turn of the tide in our favour.

Dec. 29: While some Russian units are pushing Budapest’s Nazi defenders nearer the heart of the city, other units are moving westward towards Vienna, on a 90-miles front.

Dec. 29: Settlement in Greece still seems remote —ELAS terms are believed to be exaggeratedly severe. Meanwhile, Greek civilians are in a desperate plight, although some food is being distributed in Athens.

Dec. 30: Allied armies, in their coun ter-blows, have won back about one third of the German “bulge” made by von Rundstedt’s offensive.

Dec. 30: Archbishop Damaskinos has been appointed Regent in Greece. This may enable a political and ecclesiastical amnesty to be declared. Fighting still goes on in Athens, and 300 Resistance troops were killed in street fighting yes terday and 800 captured.

Jan. 1: Archbishop Damaskinos, Regent of Greece, has called for surrender of arms and is forming a new Government.

Jan. 1: In a New Year broadcast, Hit ler broke his long silence. He promised Germans that the crisis of the war had passed and that 1945 would see victory for Germany.

Jan. 2; Allies are exerting increased pressure on three sides of the German salient in Belgium-Luxembourg.

Jan. 3: The Germans are exerting strong pressure along the 70-miles front of the Saar Valley, but their attacks have been held. There are signs that the enemy is preparing heavier blows.

Jan. 3: British, thrusting south in Burma, have entered Yeu, terminus of the railway from Mandalay.

Jan. 4: The American First and Third Armies yesterday launched an attack to cut the German’s Ardennes salient in two. The Germans in the Saar sector gained ground north-east of Bitche.

Jan. 4: The Germans are trying to relieve the German garrison at Budapest.

They have driven the Russians back in two sectors west of the city.

Jan. 5: British armoured forces and infantry have joined in the Ardennes battle and with the US First Army are now advancing along a 30-miles front, against the northern flank of the Ger man salient.

Jan. 7: American forces landed un opposed, on January 3, on Marinduque Island, 30 miles north-east of Mindoro. 12 miles from the southern shore of Luzon and 90 miles south-east of Manila. This is thought to be a preliminary to a land ing on Luzon itself.

Dec. 7: Two great battles are develop ing—one in the Ardennes salient, and one where a German offensive has driven into the eastern tip of France, nofth of Strasberg. The Allies are showing some gains, but the situation is still described as dangerous.

Jan. 8: The Germans are falling back in the Ardennes salient. Marshal von Rundstedt has made his first withdrawal since he broke through into Belgium on December 16. The Germans are making many powerful thrusts, from Holland to Switzerland.

Jan. 9: It is revealed that Australian troops have been engaged in mopping-up operations against by-passed Japanese in Bougainville, New Britain and Aitape since last November, when they took over from the Americans.

Jan. 10: Large forces of Americans landed from 800 shins on Luzon (chief island of the Philippines) on January 8 and have secured a 15-miles bridgehead on Lingayen Gulf, 100 miles north of Manila. Jap resistance has been negli gible. The Japanese were caught off guard—they expected landings in the south of Luzon.

Jan. 11; Marshal von Rundstedt’s Ar dennes bulge is collapsing. British and Americans have now driven a salient

within the Ardennes salient, taking a dozen towns and villages and capturing several thousand Germans.

Jan. 13: The Russians yesterday launched a vast offensive in southern Poland. They have already broken through the German defence positions on a 40-miles front, and are within 32 miles of Cracow.

This is the long-awaited Russian win ter offensive. It may have a profound effect on the course of the war.

Jan. 14: The Allies, in a new drive in Belgium, are now attacking all round the German bulge. They aim to cut through the salient before von Rundstedt can withdraw men and material behind the Siegfried Line.

Jan. 14: American forces are driving across the plains of Luzon, towards Manila, with little opposition. The Jap' puppet, President Laurel, is reported to have fled from Manila.

Jan. 16: Seven Soviet armies are joined in a powerful offensive and 1,500,000 men are now attacking along the whole Eastern Front, from East Prussia to Budapest.

Jan. 16: American forces on the Cen tral Luzon plain are now nearly halfway to Manila. Resistance remains very slight.