Pacific News-Review
Notes And Comment On
International Affairs
From May 18 To June 11
May 18: Marshal Tito, of Yugoslavia, has refused to withdraw his troops from Italian and Austrian territory, and threatens to establish claims to the Trieste area by force of arms. The situa tion is “delicate.”
May 21: The Trieste position has eased, and the Yugoslav Government is now ready to negotiate with Italy. The Yugoslav Government has stated that it has no intention of annexing unilaterally the coastal area of Istria. But, while the Yugoslav situation has improved, there are indications of trouble in Syria and Lebanon, where riots are taking place, following the landing of French troops.
This French action is considered by the Lebanese and Syrians as a direct threat to the independence of their two coun tries, which was granted in 1943.
May 22: US Secretary of State Stetti nius stated to-day that it is hoped to draft the World Charter as agreed upon at UNCIO in two weeks’ time.
May 23: The Churchill Government has resigned in Britain, and the coalition ad ministration has ended. The general elec tion will be held on, July 6. This will be the first election since 1935.
May 23: All members of the Doenitz’s acting German Government and the Ger man High Command have been rounded up and taken prisoner at Flenburg, Ger many.
May 25: Heinrich Himmler, head of the German Gestapo, committed suicide at the headquarters of the British Second Army at Luneburg, Germany. He was taken prisoner By the British on May 21 when, in disguise, he attempted to cross a bridge in Prussia. At first his identity was not known, but he later revealed himself. Foreign Minister von Ribben trop is now the only prominent Nazi un accounted for.
May 27; A serious situation has de veloped in Syria and Lebanon, where fresh French troops have arrived.
Britain and US are seeking a peaceful way out, but it is feared that hos tilities will commence between the French and national troops.
May 28: Marshal Tito, of Yugoslavia, has appealed to the Allies to fulfil their Atlantic Charter pledge that all the peoples liberated will have the right to determine their own fate. He said that he had not withdrawn his troops from Carinthia merely to make way for the British Bth Army.
May 29: William Joyce (“Lord Haw- Haw”) has been captured by the British Second Army in Germany. It is believed that he will be imprisoned in the Tower of London until he is tried for treason.
May 30: Hostilities have begun in Damascus, Syria, where French troops, using planes and artillery, have occupied Parliament House. The President of Syria has appealed to both Britain and America for immediate intercession.
May 31: Mr. Churchill ordered the Allied Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East to intervene in Syria to - prevent further bloodshed, and General de Gaulle has been informed. Heavy fight ing has continued in Damascus, and the city has been bombed by French planes.
Britain has asked that French troops cease fire immediately and withdraw to barracks to prevent clashes between French and British troops, and has promised that if they do this, Britain will arrange a tripartite discussion in London as soon as possible.
June 1: French troops in Syria have ceased fire. Mr, Churchill’s message to de Gaulle has been described in France as an “ultimatum,” and has been received
with resentment.
June 5: Mr. Churchill has told General de Gaulle that he is ready to order the withdrawal of British troops from Syria and Lebanon as soon as a treaty is con cluded and is operating between the French, Syrian and Lebanon Govern ments. Mr. Churchill’s statement was in reply to charges by de Gaulle that Britain had tried to stir up trouble by intervention in Syria, and that she wished to oust the French from the Levant.
June 6: France wants five-Power talks on the Levant dispute—that is, she wishes to bring in Russia and China instead of confining the discussion to America, France and Britain.
June 6: Hitler’s Third Reich came to an end yesterday when four Allied Com manders-in-Chief (Field-Marshal Mont gomery for Britain, General Eisenhower for America, Marshal Zhukov for Russia, and General de Tassigny for France) signed in Berlin an agreement for the total subjugation of German life in the four zones occupied by the armies of their respective countries, and began their work as governors of post-war Germany.
June 8: The Commander of the French Forces in Syria, General Roget, has accused Britain of provoking trouble in Syria. General de Gaulle’s angry reaction to this has again sharpened the Levant crisis which earlier appeared to be quietening. Meanwhile, the Arab League, which is meeting in Cairo, has issued a statement charging France with creating the Levant trouble.
War In The Pacific
May 17: Japanese forces strongly en trenched on high ground south of Wewak peninsula (New Guinea) are fighting fanatically to stem the advance of the Australians May 18: The AIF on Tarakan now hold two-thirds of the island, and the enemy has been pushed back to the more rugged areas. Meanwhile, the American forces on Okinawa are joined in bitter battle with the Japanese for vital hills between the Jap base at Shuri and the capital, Naha.
May 23; It has now been revealed that Japan has been using a “secret weapon” on western areas of the United States and Canada during the past few months.
This is a paper balloon about 33 ft. in diameter, capable of carrying bombs. The balloons travel at extreme heights, and are borne by the ore vailing air currents.
It is believed that they are intended to start forest-fires. They constitute no real military threat.
May 24: More than 550 Superfortresses from Marianas bases, dropped 4,500 tons of incendiary bombs on Tokio before dawn to-day. This was the heaviest air raid yet made on Japan.
May 27: Tokio had its second great fire raid from Superfortresses yesterday.
Suzuki, Japan’s Premier, reported that the Imperial Palace has been destroyed, and Tokio radio has announced that the city is “literally scorched to the ground.”
Thirty-one Superfortresses were lost dur ing the two raids.
May 27: Australian troops have now secured the whole of the Wewak coastal area, and sealed off about 12,000 Japanese in the rugged inland country between there and Maprik.
May 29: Over 3,000 tons of incendiary bombs were dropped on Yokohama, chief port of Jana'n, this morning.
June 1: More than 450 Superfortresses supported by fighters, to-day attacked Osaka. Japan’s second largest city; 3,200 tons of incendiary bombs were dropped.
June 3: Important changes in Ameri can naval commands in the Pacific have been announced to fit in with the “mightier plans” that have been evolved for intensification of ‘the war in this area. Under the new scheme, Admiral Nimitz takes direct command of all land forces in the Ryukyu Group, June 6: Far East war situation may be profoundly affected by successful new Chinese offensive on 200 miles’ front in central China. Japs are withdrawing to north-east, and abandoning central Chinese railway, which is Japan’s last connecting link with her armies in south east Asia and Indonesia. If the advanc ing Chinese can clear the central Chinese coast, this will provide important military and air bases for Allies.
June 10: According to Tokio radio, five Japanese cities Tokio, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka and Kobe —have ceased to exist. On June 9 and 10 large forces of Super-Portresses made eight attacks on the main island of Japan, Honshu.
June 11: Following a two-days’ naval engagement, elements of the Australian Ninth Division, AIF, have landed simul taneously at Labuan Island, Muara Island and Brooketon, in the Brunei Bay area, on the north-west coast of British North Borneo, They have already captured Labuan township.