HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 80, 3 January 1941, 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, December 12 The capture of Sidi Barrani and a large number of prisoners including three generals was announced by Cairo headquarters. The President of the Provisional Czechoslovakian Government, Dr. Benes, revealed to the newly formed CzechoSlovakian State Council that at his request the British Government in an official note dated November 11 had expressly assured him it did not recognise the Munich settlement. Friday, December 13 The sudden death was announced at Washington of the Marquis of Lothian, British Ambassador to the United States, while his important speech of the day before was still being reported. Prisoners exceeding 20,000 with tanks, guns and equipment were reported to have been captured in the Western Desert. Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15 The Italian forces were thrown back to the Libyan border and the unofficial estimate of the prisoners taken by the British reached 30,000. The retreat of the Italians had assumed the possibility of a rout, and there were reports of unrest in Italy. Italians in Albania were reported to be falling back towards Valona and the Greeks claimed over 7000 prisoners since the beginning of fighting. M. Laval, French Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister resigned and his right to succession to be Chief of State was abolished. In Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch there were parades of the troops who had completed training for overseas and also of térritorials and members of the National Military Service. Monday, December 16 British troops on the Western Desert were scavenging the equipment of an entire Italian army and the landscape was strewn haphazard with millions of pounds worth of war material. The Rome newspaper "Il Popolo d’ Italia" admitted that Italian stories uf Australian and New Zealand troops as incompetent mercenaries had been proved inaccurate as they were formidable fighters- ; Italian officers taken prisoners in Albania revealed considerable dissensicn among the Italian army commanders. Tuesday, December 17 A brilliant success had been achieved by the victorious army of the Nile, which, with the capture of Sollum and Fort Capuzzo, was chasing the Italians out of Egypt after eight days’ fighting,

Reports from Italy indicated that Fascist publicists were changing their tune and becoming increasingly worried at the course of the war. Wednesday, December 18 British tanks, artillery, and mechanised units were beginning to close in on the town of Bardia. Unofficial reports gave the total of Italian prisoners as 74,000. President Roosevelt revealed a plan for the United States to lease armaments to Britain. There was a seven-hour raid by the R.A.F. on Mannheim. M. Laval was released from confinement at the request of Hitler’s representative in Paris, Herr Abetz. Thursday, December 19 Despite denials from the Axis, there were continued reports from Belgrade of the arrival of German troops in Italy. The Italians continued to be forced back in Libya and Albania. The New York "Times" said Britain has been advised to place additional orders totalling three thousand million dollars on assurances of credit being forthcoming when needed. It is understood the advice came from President Roosevelt. Friday, December 20 British tanks were sweeping round Bardia and driving towards Tobruk. British battleships heavily bombarded Valona and cruiser forces swept up the Adriatic Sea without sighting the enemy. Speaking in Tokio, the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Matsuoka, warned America against action in Europe which would result in a clash in the Pacific. The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, announced that apparently one New Zealand and four British ships were lost by enemy action at Nauru Island. Saturday and Sunday, December 21 and 22 British forces completed the encirclement of BardiaThe air war over Britain was resumed after a pause of several days, and at the same time the R.A.F. struck at Berlin, the Ruhr, and the invasion ports. Monday, December 23 Lord Halifax was appointed British Ambassador to Washington in succession to Lord Lothian. Mr. Anthony Eden was appointed Foreign Minister, and Captain David Margesson War Minister. Mr. Churchill, speaking direct to the Italians, said their misfortunes were caused by one man and urged them once more to take a hand in shaping their own fortunes. Tuesday, December 24 In a Christmas message, the Pope stated that the Church could not favour any one political system, but the new order must be based on victory over the principle that might makes right. There was no air activity over Britain on Christmas Eve.

Unavoidably, the " History as it Happens" feature failed to appear last week, but the relevant days have been compressed and included in this week’s summary.