THIRD ANNIVERSARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 3 September 1942, Page 3

THIRD ANNIVERSARY

DECLARATION OF WAR

CROWDED CANVAS OF EVENTS PRINCIPAL ONES LISTED The third anniversary of Britain’s declaration of war falls to-day. So thickly are world-shaking events crowding the canvas that some of the happenings of the first two years of conflict are already becoming dim in I the memory. Others remain to assume a new perspective. In this third year the war has in very truth become world-wide. Headed by Hitler’s Germany, the Totalitarian Powers are driving their war machines to the limit in a bid to gain victory before the forces of the United Nations can be fully marshalled against them. The turn into the fourth year finds nations locked in mortal combat from which critical situations may emerge. But the friends of freedom are building up their might and on all fronts, by land, sea and air. they fight on and tight back. Three yearn have gone and Hitler is not the victor. Outstanding events of the period are:— 1939 September I.—Germany invaded Poland. September 3.—Britain, France. Australia and New Zealand declared war on Germany. September 17.—Russia invaded Poland. September 20.—Warsaw surrendered. November 30.—Russia invaded Finland. 1910 March 12.—Finland signed peace treaty with Russia. April 9.—Germany occupied Denmark and invaded Norway. May 10.—Germany invaded Holland. Belgium and Luxemburg. May 14.—Dutch laid down arms, except in Zeeland. May 28.—Belgian army capitulated. June I.—Greater part of B.E.F. reported to have been evacuated from Dunkirk. June 10.—Italy declared war on Britain and France. June 22.—France signed armistice with Germany. August B.—Germany launched air blitzkrieg on Britain. August 15.—180 German aeroplanes destroyed in day in attacks on Britain. August 19.—Germany abandoned mass air raids on Britain for isolated attacks. August 20.—Britain began raids on Berlin. September 15.—British defences destroyed 185 raiders. September 26.—Germany lost 133 aeroplanes in attacks on Britain. September 27.—Benin-Rome pact with Japan announced. October 28—Italy marched into Greece. December 10.—British attack on Italian armies in Egypt announced, this being the beginning of victorious advance into Libya and later of the capture of the Italian empire in East Africa. 1941 January 10. —President Roosevelt’s Lend-or-Lease Bill was introduced into the House of Representatives and the Senate. March 2.—Germany marched into BulApril 6.—Germany declared war on Yugoslavia and Greece. April 7.—Announcement that Imperial Forces, including New Zealanders, had been sent to Greece. April B.—German drive into Libya began with reoccupation of Derna. May 2.—Evacuation of Empire forces from Greece completed, 43.000 out of GO.Ouo being safely embarked. May 5. —British forces marched on Bagdad to quell German-inspired revolt. May 20—German attack on Crete announced. May 29.—Announcement that General Freyberg had decided to evacuate Crete. June B.—Free French forces with support of Imperial troops entered Syria. June 22.—Germany. Italy, Finland and Rumania declared war on Russia. July 22.—Mobilisation in Japan reported. August 26.—Russian and British entry into Iran announced. August 28.—Dnieper dam blown up by Russians. September 22.—Evacuation of Kiev admitted. November 14.—Aircraft-carrier Ark Royal sunk while in tow after having been , torpedoed by German submarine, i November 18.—British, New Zealand, South A trican and Indian troops launched offensive against Libya. November 23.—New Zealand troops occupied Bardia. December 7.—Japan attacked Pearl Harbour and the Philippines. December lu.—Prince of Wales and Repulse sunk by Japanese aeroplanes off Malaya. December 24.—Imperial troops occupied Benghazi. Hong Kong taken by Japanese. December 3U. —Russian advance in Ukraine. 1942 ! January 2.—Fall of Manila and evacuation j of Cavite naval base. January 4.—Appointment of General Wavell to supreme command in SouthWest Pacific. United Nations' Pact to prosecute war to victorious conclusion signed by 26 nations. January 22.—Russians recaptured Mojaisk and eased threat to Moscow. January 23.—Japanese landings in New Guinea and Solomon Islands. January 28.—Battle of Macassar Strait. Voie of confidence in British Government carried by 464 to 1. February L—Surprise attack by U.S. Navy on Gilbert and Marshall Islands. Extensive damage to Japanese bases. February B.—Single command of New Zealand and Australian naval forces established under Vice-Admiral H. F. Leary. February 10.—French liner Normandie destroyed by fire at New York. February 12.—Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugcn escaped from Biest to north German ports. February 15.—Fall of Singapore. February 19.—Japanese bombed Darwin. E-tUie of Rangoon begun. March 2.—Japanese invasion of Java. General Wavell returned to India as C-in-C. Marcli B.—Japanese invasion of New Guinea. Marcn lo.—Arrival of American troops in Australia reported. Darwin again raided. September 17.—General MacArthur arrived in Australia. Announcement of his appointment to supreme command of South-West Pacific zone. March 27.—A.1.F. return to Australia announced. Jommando raid on St. Nazaire. H.M.S. Cambeltown rammed docK gates. Bulgaria announced state of war with Russia. April 6.—Japanese Air Force received rough handling in first raid on Colombo. April 7.—Working Committee of Indian National Congress ejected Sir Stafford Cripps’s proposals. April B.—Batan deicnders overwhelmed. Corregidor fought on. April 9.—Naval action in Bay of Bengal. Loss of aircraft-carrier Hermes and Ciujsers Cornwall and Dorsetshire. April 13. —Return of Laval, to Vichy Government as Vice-Premier. April 18.—Air raid on Tokio, Yokohama, Ngayoa and Kobe by U.S. Army Air Corps. Daylight raid by R.A.F. on Augsberg. April 23. —South Pacific area established under Vice-Admiral Ghormley. April 25.—U.5. troops reported in New Caledonia. May s.—British landing in Madagascar. May 6.—fall of Corregidor. May 7.—Diego Suarez surrendered to British Forces. Naval battle oi Coral Sea. May lo. —Withdrawal of Imperial torces from Burma. May 31.—luuu oomber raid on Cologne. June I.—Japanese midget submarines -unsuccessfully raided Sydney Harbour. June 2.—Mass air raid of 10UU planes on Essen. June i.—Japanese naval defeat at Midway : Island. June 11.—Bir Hacheim evacuated. Treat;, ol' Alliance signed between Britain ana June lo.—Mr Churchill visited America. June 21.—Fall of Tobruk. June 2/.—N.z.E.F. baeK in Egypt. June 28.—Bailie for Egypt began. On Kursk-Kharkov from von Eoc«» launched great offensive. June 29.—Mersa Matruh evacuated. General Auehinleck assumed command ot Eignth Army. New Zealand ana U.S. troops in action. July 2.—General Auehinleck launched counter-blow. July s.—fall oi Sebastopol. July 27.—German forces crossed Don. Rostov and NovocherkasK evacuated. August B.—U.S. naval attack on Solomon Islands. August a.—Following the passing of ‘‘Quit India” resolution by Indian National Congress, Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru. Azad and other leaders arrested. August 17.—Churchill visited Moscow. General Alexander’s appointment as Connnander-in-Chiel, Middle East, announced. August lu.—British combined services’ raid / on Dieppe. August 24. —Brazil entered the war. August 25.—Duke of Kent killed, while on active service, in flying accident

over North of Scotland. August 26.—Japanese attempts to dislodge U.S. troops in Solomons failed. August 30.—Japanese landing at Milne Bay. New Guinea, failed. Russian--holding out before Stalingrad. Recapture by Chinese of strategic airfields. August 31.—Rommel renewed attack on El Alamein front.