HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 91, 21 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, March 6 Eye-witnesses described the German routes across Bulgaria as "solid miles of mechanised vehicles and material." The British note to Bulgaria stated that it was apparent that Bulgaria, far from desiring to remain neutral, was prepared actively to co-operate with Germany. Russia’s note to Bulgaria reached Bulgarians through Bulgarian Communists distributing the full text. Turkish sources considered that the Soviet’s attitude since the occupation of Bulgaria had stiffened beyond belief. The Chungking radio stated that 70,000 Japanese troops were massed on Hainan Island, besides heavy naval units in Hainan Harbour. Japanese troops landed in Tonking bay. A British force landed on the Lofoten Islands, Norway, destroyed the fish-oil plant, sank 11 ships totalling 18,000 tons, captured 215 prisoners and brought back a number of Norwegian patriots, Friday, March 7 The Greeks were reported to be entirely defiant of the German military threat and satisfied with Turkey’s attitude. They emphasised that it was a time for big measures and big risks. Turkey took new defence measures, Vichy’s latest communication to the Japanese Foreign Minister accepted all the principal points of Japan’s plan for settling the Thailand-Indo China dispute. Movements of Italian Consular officials throughout the United States were to be restricted, as retaliation for Italian action against American Con sular officials in Italy. The New York Times reported that Germany had sent large bodies of troops, dive bombers and tanks to Libya. In a review of Canada’s war contribution, Mr. Vincent Massey said that to the end of last year British war contracts placed in Canada totalled 1,100,000,000 dollars. New plants have been built and old ones enlarged for every type of equipment. Six hundred war vehicles of all kinds were produced every day. Saturday and Sunday, March 8 and 9 H.M.S. Leander sank an_ Italian armed merchantman in the Indian Ocean. Roosevelt’s Lease and Lend Bill was passed by the United States Senate by 60 votes to 31 following 17 days of debate. Despite the big fight by the isolationists the main provisions of the Bill remained unchanged. The President’s powers in the Bill are restricted in that there is a limit of 1,300,000,000 dollars on the value of military material to be sent, the President must consult with the Army and Navy chiefs, the powers expire on June 30, 1943, and the President "must . napest, 4 Gangrene. every 90 days. © Th SESS SUS toe British forces swept tito from the south-east at the rate of 100

miles a day. Five Italian merchant ships with a total tonnage of 28,153, fell into British hands at the capture of Kismayu. The Germans carried out reprisals on the Norwegian families which assisted in the raid on the Lofoten Islands. A heavy death roll was caused when a bomb from a German raider burst among dancers in a London restaurant. Monday, March 10 Official quarters in Washington reported that the Government. was considering a big naval barter deal. British troops occupied almost twothirds of Italian East Africa, having captured 100,000 square miles in Somaliland, 29,000 square miles in Eritrea and 60,000 square miles in Abyssinia. The British Admiralty took over responsibility for the most efficient use of labour in the ship-building industry. Tuesday, March 11 Yugoslav defence measures were proceeding rapidly and the Balkan crisis was thought to be reaching a climax. A threat to order French warships to convoy food ships through the British blockade was made by Admiral Darlan. An Italian cruiser of the Condottieri "A" class was torpedoed by a British submarine. France and Thailand accepted and signed the Japanese mediation plan. Wednesday, March 12 The Yugoslav opposition to Germany was reported to have stiffened because of the American Lease and Lend Bill, the new Russian attitude, and a flood of "No surrender resolutions." A bomb exploded in an Istanbul hotel on the arrival of the British Minister to Bulgaria. The Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Matsuoka, left Tokio to visit Germany and Italy. After rushing through final details of the Lease and Lend Bill, President Roosevelt signed the first order. The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. P. Fraser, announced at the opening. of Parliament that the New, Zealand and Australian troops in England had reached the Middle East.