HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 90, 14 March 1941, Page 3

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 27 Acting on assurances by House leaders that the Lease and Lend Bill would be passed, Roosevelt took steps to transfer war supplies to Britain. A strike of 12,000 Bethlehem (U.S.A.) steel workers was declared. Germany tightened control of occupied territory from Norway to France. Intense interest was reported from Ankara in the visit by Mr. Eden and Sir John Dill. A provisional agreement about Tangier was signed between Britain and Spain. Friday, February 28 Japan delivered an ultimatum to Indo-China demanding acceptance of Japan’s final proposal for mediation. The British Minister to Bulgaria, George Rendell, told journalists that the time for Britain to break off relations with Bulgaria was very near. The German radio reported that German troops were called out in Amsterdam to disperse demonstretions. Eight were killed and 40 wounded. Mr. Eden and Sir John Dill conferred with Turkish leaders and reached full agreement. Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and 2 200,000 German troops on the frontier of Rumania marched into Bulgaria. Thousands of Bulgarian soldiers marched to the Turkish frontier. Bulgaria jgined the Axis by signing the Tripartite Pact. German soldiers in full battle dress drove into Sofia and paraded before the German legation. Turkey rushed troops to the Bulgarian frontier. Mr. Rendell saw King Boris. A communique from Ankara announced complete accord between Turkey and Britain. British Hurricanes on their first appearance on the Albanian front, shot down 44 enemy aircraft without loss to theniselves. Fears that Brazil might align herself with the Axis were expressed in Washington. Conflicting reports arrived from Tokio of the Vichy agreement to Japan’s proposals. Monday, March 3 Small detachments of the German army in Bulgaria took up quarters a few miles from the Greek frontier. German aeroplanes flew over Sofia in a steady stream. Ra: The Dardanelles were closed by Tur"Mr. Eden and Sir John Dill arrived at Athens. The Greek town of Larissa, severely damaged by earthquake, was attacked by Italian aeroplanes when most of the people were homeless. Greek forces continued to advance in the central sector of Albania. "The Times" said that reports from high diplomatic circles in Berlin agreed that vehement recriminations had occurred between Japan and Germany.

Tuesday, March 4 A German aeroplane landed at Istanbul carrying a courier with a special message of friendship from Hitler to the Turkish President. The Moscow radio sharply criticised Bulgaria’s acceptance of the German move. Larissa was again bombed by the Italians, Wednesday, March 5 Britain broke off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. Russian selbadteniaeds were arriving on the frontier of Rumania. Colonel Donovan, emissary for Colonel Knox, was received by the King after a tour of all the European countries. Messages from south China reported a@ great Japanese naval and military movement to the south, 19,000 single men in New Zealand were called up by ballot for service overseas.