HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 76, 6 December 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 21 Further advances by Greek troops were reported in the Epirus and Koritza sectors. Authoritative sources at Ankara suggested that Turkey would refuse any German request for her approval of the movement of troops through Bulgaria. In the daily report of the R.A.F.’s nightly raids over the Continent it was stated that the Skoda Armament Works at Pilsen had been attacked, Two United States liners carried 502 American passengers from Shanghai The Viceroy of India announced a decision not to proceed with the expansion of the ,Executive Council or the establishment of a War Advisory Council at the present moment. The Australian minesweeper Goorangi sank after a collision in Port Phillip, with the loss of 24 lives. The Australian Budget made provision for additional taxation totalling £31,100,000. Friday, November 22 Although there was then no official confirmation, the fall of Koritza to the Greeks seemed certain, and news from Greece indicated every possibility of an Italian collapse. The R.A.F. attacked the river port of Duisburg-Ruhrort, the largest inland port in the world, His Majesty the King, accompanied by Queen Elizabeth, opened the new session of Parliament in London. Mr. Churchill concluded a speech by saying that up to the present the war had been fought between a fully-armed Germany and a quarter- and half-armed British Empire. For the first time a newspaper inspired from official sources included Australia in a Japanese plan for the stabilisation of the East. The Viceroy of India enacted the ‘Finance Bill which had--previously been rejected twice in the Indian Legislative Assembly. Saturday and Sunday, November 23 and 24 The capture of Koritza by Greeks was confirmed and Greek successes in other sectors made the outlook black for Italy. Newspaper reports, not officially confirmed, suggested that some New Zealand units had landed in Greece. Lord Lothian, British Ambassador to America, said that Britain’s financial problem was urgent and suggested that the United States might be asked for credits after another year. Germany and Italy were raided by the R.A.F. from the far south to the far north. Rumania and Slovakia became junior partners in the Axis. United States troops arrived to reinforce the Philippine fortifications, From Tokio came authoritative news that December 1 had been fixed as the deadline for peace negotiations between

Japan and the government in Chung. king. The Pope, broadcasting, called on Christians to unite in prayers for a just and lasting peace. ‘ Monday, November 25 Lord Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, died, aged 69. After their preliminary isolating operations, the Greeks swung into a general advance on their whole front in Albania. Letters received in Australia indicate that H.M.A.S. Australia had taken a successful part in the action off Dakar. Sir Thomas Beecham when in Canada repeated his criticism of Australia. Tuesday, November 26 An official Greek statement that 8,000 additional Italians had been captured helped to confirm despatches that the Italian retreat was becoming increasingly like a rout. : The New Zealand troops in Greece were reported to be sappers attached for maintenance of British air bases. Reports indicated that Bulgaria would not this winter become involved with the Axis. An editorial in the London "Times" cabled all over the world gave prominence to what were called " intolerable conditions in air raid shelters in Britain." The Hamburg ship-yards received the full force of the R.A.F.’s nightly visit to the Continent. American sources reported that the Axis might originate a general peace move before Christmas, The Eastern Group at the Imperial Conference at Delhi recommended the appointing in India of a representative body to make its work permanent. Sir Walter Citrine told the American Federation of Labour that bombing was affecting British output and American assistance was required. S. G. Holland was elected Leader of the National Party. Wednesday, November 27 Turkey was reported to be prepared and armed for any eventuality. ; The first severe storms of winter began slowing down operations between the Italians and Greeks in Albania. The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs said that Britain would do its best to ensure that in any peace settlement the integrity and independence of Bulgaria would be respected if she had not joined or assisted the enemies of Britain, The Minister of Shipping announced that British building was not making up for losses averaging 60,000 tons weekly. The Air Ministry revealed that the cities recently bombed by German raiders had been Birmingham, Southampton and Bristol. Mr. Churchill stated most firmly that Britain would never consider even the possibility of a Christmas truce. American reports indicated that Germany was bringing persuasive pressure to bear on the Chungking Government to negotiate with Japan for peace. =

WAR DIARY