HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 74, 22 November 1940, Page 2

HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

In this section weekly will appear a day by day record of the events of history in the making. As some time elapses in the publication of "The Listener’ this diary is one week retrospective.

Thursday, November 7 The Greeks withdrew slightly when Italians pressed im the Epirus sector but held gains in other areas. British bombers made their third raid on Naples while Italian ’planes raided several Greek towns. General Hertzog’s resignation precipitated a split in the ten-month-old Orange Free State Reunited Nationalist Party when his followers quarrelled with members of the old Nationalist Party. The Minister of Finance announced that progress reports indicated that the New Zealand War Loan (£8,000,000) would be oversubscribed. The Minister for National Service announced (the day after the results of the second ballot were Gazetted) that 50 per cent. of the men drawn in the first ballot had appealed. Friday, November 8 The Minister of Finance announced that the renewed agreement for the sale of meat to the United Kingdom during 1940-41 provided for the same prices as before. General de Gaulle announced that free French forces had consolidated gains in Equatorial Africa by capturing ‘-Zambarene from Vichy Government supporters. Mr. de Valera denied reports that Eire might lease naval bases to Britain. The Air Ministry bulletin covering R.A.F. raids on Germany for the first time used the phrase " exceedingly heavy raid," describing an attack on Krupps at Essen. The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) announced that a National Party caucus would be held to discuss the leadership of the party. The Chinese were occupying districts in Kwangsi Province evacuated by the Japanese. z Saturday and Sunday, November 9-10 During the most widespread raids of the war, R.A.F. bombers interrupted celebrations at which Herr Hitler was present in Munich. Neville Chamberlain died peacefully at his country home, aged 72. An extremely heavy earthquake shook Rumania. Reports of an attack on a British convoy in mid-Atlantic were confirmed by the Admiralty. From Australia it was announced that one American and one British ship had been sunk in Bass Strait. : Monday, November 11 Chinese official sources denied Japanese claims of damage and said the Burma Road was carrying heavy traffic. Minesweeper flotillas swept the Bass Strait and discovered a field believed to have been laid by an armed German raider,

An official Greek communique gave news of the retreat in confusion of a defeated Italian division. Tuesday, November 12 The New Zealand Government advertised asking owners of trucks and cars to inform the Commissioner of Transport if they were willing to make their vehicles available for military use. Italians fell back before the Greeks in the Pindus area and the Greeks continued a round-up of a force of 12,000 men which they had cut off and surrounded. A German "delegation of honour" welcomed M. Molotov, Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs, when he arrived on a visit to Germany. An official statement denied rumours of impending changes in the British Government. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s liner Rangitiki was reported safe after a German attack on a convoy. American newspapers discussed British shipping losses pessimistically and advocated "aid up to danger point." It was announced that Free French forces operating in Gabon had secured Libreville, the capital, on November 10. Sir Archibald Sinclair, Air Secretary, announced that Hitler and Nazi commanders were military objectives. Earthquake victims in Rumania were estimated at 10,000. Wednesday, November 13 The Minister of Finance announced it as possible that fruitgrowers might be paid a little more next season. Newspaper reports suggested that two Australians travelling on the same ship cut the beard of Sir Thomas Beecham. A German statement indicated that Molotov’s visit was concerned with the adjustment of German-Soviet relations to recent events. The Admiralty released the story of the convoy which was attacked by a German battleship. The armed merchant cruiser Jervis Bay had sacrificed itself and only nine ships were then missing out of 38. The Minister for National Service announced that a third ballot-this time for overseas service — would begin on November 18. During a naval sweep in the Mediterranean, ’planes of the Fleet Air Arm attacked Italian craft in Taranto, and the Admiralty announced that the Italian battleship strength had probably been halved. Australian newspapers predicted the defeat of the Federal Government over war budget proposals. General de Gaulle announced that the Free French Forces’ operations against Libreville had caused very few casualties. Explosions in three U.S.A. powder plants caused 14 deaths and damage estimated at 1,500,000 dollars,

WAR DIARY