HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 89, 7 March 1941, Page 2

HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

— In this section weekly, appears 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, February 20 British Air Forces in Singapore received powerful reinforcements’ of modern bombers. Tokio characterised Australians’ landing at Singapore as "another British demonstration" as the situation did not warrant alarm. Fifteen Japanese warships were reported cruising in the Gulf of Siam. A semi-official statement in Ankara stated: ‘"Turkey’s policy is tightly linked with Britain’s." . Reports arrived from Abyssinia of the rising tide of Ethopian revolt. British and native forces continued their advance. Friday, February 21 Shipping on the River Danube was stopped while Germans practiced throwing pontoon bridges. Another Italian counter-attack in Albania failed. Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary, and General Sir John Dill, Chief of the General Staff, arrived in Cairo by air. A late report on the meeting between Franco, Mussolini and Petain stated that Petain refused an Italian request for the use of French North Africa to enable Italian troops to escape from Africa to Morocco, American bombers were reported to have been flown across the Pacific to Singapore. Japanese newspapers gave prominence to a despatch from Washington stating that Japan’s withdrawal from the Axis is America’s condition-for an adjustment of diplomatic relations. Over 85,000 Indians have volunteered to join the Indian Army. Saturday and Sunday, February 22 and 23 Ominous reports of German military activity in the Balkans arrived in London, British troops left Alexandria for Greece, and the Turkish radio reported that the British are holding large forces in North Africa in readiness for a swift sally to the Balkans. Bulgaria was living nervously through her last few days of independence. Extraordinary scenes occurred in the Bulgarian Parliament when many deputies accused the Government of not informing the people of developments. Air activity in Italian Somaliland and Abyssinia continued unabated. Survivors who reached Turkey from the Dodecanese Islands reported starvation, R.A.F. bombers attacked Wilhelmshaven docks and ship-building yards in bad weather,

A poll of Senate opinion revealed 52 Senators in favour of the Aid to Britain Bill, 20 against, and 21 declined to state their opinions, Mr. Matsuoka, Japanese Foreign Minister, came under fire in the Diet over his statement on foreign policy. Wide measures against air attack were adopted in the Dutch East Indies, Monday, February 24 German preparations for attacking Greece through Bulgaria suggested that the routes would be the Struma and Mesta Valleys. German soldiers disguised as tourists were flocking into Bulgaria, Addressing a Fascist rally, Mussolini, in a typical bluster, admitted heavy losses, claimed substantial German help, and stated that Italy would fight to the last drop of blood. Britain landed forces on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea together with Free French Forces. Tuesday, February 25 Mr. Churchill and the Japanese Ambassador gave assurances of their countries’ desire to avoid a conflict in the Far East. Mr. Matsuoka claimed that the white race must cede Oceania to the Asiatic races, Speaking in the Munich beer cellar, Hitler promised an onslaught on Britain through a new U-boat campaign. Rapid advance was made by the British forces in Somaliland through the combined air, sea and land strategy. Italian forces in Eritrea and Abyssinia have been practically wiped out of the skies. Informed Balkan circles reported that the German terms to Yugoslavia included the granting of portions of Italian and Greek territory in return for the right to allow passage for German troops, ~ Wednesday, February 26 Mr. Eden and Sir John Dill arrived in Turkey with officials for talks with the Government and General Staff. Nairobi reported that the Italian Somaliland capital and main port, Mogadishu, had fallen. Our troops covered 120 miles in a day. Marshal Graziani was under house arrest in Rome after a stormy meeting with the Supreme War Council. | Prince Konoye stated that Japan was not pessimistic concerning future relations with the United States.

WAR DIARY