SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 44, 15 November 1940, Page 8

SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Xews of the brilliant exploit of the Fleet Air Ann in crippling Italy’s Xavy in a devastating raid on the Taranto naval base has been hailed throughout the Empire and in the United States as one of the war’s most telling blows. By severely damaging two, probably three, ol Italys six capital ships, and a number of other craft the Fleet Air Arm has, in one swift blow, turned Britain’s numerical naval inferiority in the Mediterranean into superiority. Air. Churchill has said that the action will have reactions on the naval situation in every quarter of the globe and the American Press has been quick to point out that, apait fiom proving that Britain still rules the waves, this devastating stroke will make most unpalatable reading tor the .Axis leaders and be not without a great moral effect in countries whose policy may be waveiing. Apart from the damage done by the .Fleet Air .Aim. Italy. in this black week lor her. has suffered other losses at sea. in addition, her armies in Greece still seem to be faring none too well, though the arrival in Albania of heavy reinforcements doubtless presages a determined attempt to improve her fortunes. Ihe R.A.F, continues to raid Italian and Albanian ports, with the Greek «u’r force also active. M. Molotov’s visit to Berlin has concluded with the issuing ot a communique re I erring to the harmonious spirit in which the talks were conducted. M. Molotov may have heard something of the R.A.F.’s latest raid on Berlin. German raids on Britain on Wednesday night were not very heavy. A new British move is tlie appointment of Air Chief Marshal Sit Robert Brooke-Popham as commander-in-chief in the Far East where, it was announced at the same time. British forces have been reinforced. Reports from the bar East suggest that Japan is rapidly reducing her commitments in China to enable her to strike southward, first, deeper into Indo-Cliina: then, uerhaos. farther south.