HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 97, 2 May 1941, Page 3

HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

Thursday, April 17 In the most smashing and intense raid of the war, the London area was pounded by German bombers for eight hours. Casualties were heavy and considerable damage was done. Dive-bombing was adopted by the raiders, numbering several hundred aeroplanes. German armoured columns’ which _ erossed the Vistritsa River west of Mount Olympus, were’ battling against Greek and British forces. The enemy pressure on the Allied lines in Greece was increasing and heavy fighting was in progress. British troops were in contact with the enemy along the whole of the front in Libya with the Tobruk situation unchanged. British naval forces intercepted and annihilated between Sicily and Tripoli a southbound convoy consisting of five ships escorted ky destroyers, All were sunk, with the loss to the British of the destroyer Mohawk. Refugees arrived in Dublin from the air raid on Northern Ireland when 200 to 300 bombers destroyed hundreds of homes in Belfast and surrounding towns. Friday, April 18 In spite of almost non-stop attacks on the heights of Mount Olympus by wave after wave of German infantry, the British line forming the right flank of the Allied armies defending Northern Greece held firm. Enormous casualties were inflicted on the German hordes which were flung into the fray regardless of cost. The famous Mount Olympus Pass itself was held by New Zealand troops. It was revealed that the Germans had lost 64 machines in night raids over Britain so far in April. Twelve thousand people were believed to have been killed in the German raid on Belgrade, which exceeded in savagery those on Warsaw and Rotterdam. The United States Maritime Commission announced the acquisition of four American cargo ships for immediate transfer to Britain. Saturday & Sunday, April 19 & 20 The Allied situation in Greece remained very serious, The Allies, notably the Anzacs, counter-attacked and again inflicted terrific casualties on the Germans. The latter threw in huge masses of men and material regardless of their losses, but although the British line had to be shortened it did not break. In Libya British forces took the offensive in the Tobruk and Sollum areas. Hundreds of enemy vehicles were destroyed. In Abyssinia our troops were in touch with the enemy 14 miles from Dessye. one of the remaining Italian strongholds. Strong Imperial forces arrived at Basra to open up lines of communication across Irak and were welcomed by the new Iraki Administration.

The Greek Prime M. Korizis, died suddenly. An announcement from No. 10 Downing Street, stated that if the Germans bombed Athens and Cairo the British would bomb Rome, taking care not to bomb Vatican City. The largest parade of armed forces, Home Guard and E.P.S., ever staged in New Zealand, was held in Wellington. Monday, April 21 Although the Germans brought fresh troops into Northern Greece the Allied line remained unbroken. Mount Olympus, where New Zealand troops were operating, was evacuated by Imperial troops before the Germans took it. The Germans continued to suffer terrific casualties. King George of the Hellenes took over the premiership of the new Greek Government. Indian mechanised troops arrived at Tobruk and repulsed further costly German raids Minister, President Roosevelt and the Canadian Prime Minister in a joint statement announced that they had agreed to mobilise the North American defence production resources. Tuesday, April 22 Allied and Greek forces in Macedonia and Albania completed their withdrawal to new positions, maintaining an unbroken line. British losses were only slight. King Peter of Yugoslavia was reported to have arrived in Palestine, It was learned that the late M. Korizis, former Prime Minister of Greece, had died by his own hand. German forces were said to have occupied the Greek island of Samothrace and to have attacked Lemnos. Wednesday, April 23 British naval forces, assisted by the R.A.F. and naval aircraft, were reported to have successfully bombarded Tripoli. Six enemy transports and one destroyer were damaged and the harbour installations heavily shelled. The Germans claimed to have reached Volo and Lamia in Greece. The Greek King and Government moved from Athens to Crete.