HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 101, 30 May 1941, Page 3

HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

Thursday, May 15 British forces advanced beyond Sollui. To wives of German_ seamen, Goebbels made a despondent speech, urging further sacrifices by civilians, and admitting the difficulty of life in towns bombed by British aircraft. Two German aeroplanes were reported to have latded near Mosul. Friday, May 16 Mr. Eden announced that French authorities had allowed German aircraft to use Syrian aerodromes for flights to Irak. Mr. Fraser landed in Cairo, after his *plane had been fired at by Iraki troops. The Duke of Aosta, Commander-in-Chief of Italian forces in Abyssinia, asked for British terms of surrender after his force of about 150,000 had been completely surrounded at Amba Alagi. Saturday & Sunday, May 17 & 18 British aircraft systematically bombed German-occupied aerodromes in Syria. The United States War Department announced that thousands of British pilots under the Empire Air Training Scheme will in future be trained in U.S. air schools, retaining their civilian status until graduation. A guaranteed wage was granted to English miners. by an Essential Work Order, subject to their willingness to render reasonable services. The. miners would always be permitted to change rst colliery at which they work. An Ankara report confirmed the London impression that Syria had been handed over virtually lock, stock and barrel to the German fotces, who were setting up bases and controlling the communication systems, Monday, May 19 The Duke of Aosta accepted the British terms, and surrendered himself with his troops at Amba Alagi. Operations were proceeding in Southern Abyssinia. Turkey, it was reported from Tokio, had given tacit consent to all German requests, including permission for troops to cross Turkish territory into Irak. Once again German mechanised forces failed to recover ground lost at Sollum. Tuesday, May 20 An attack on Crete by Gertnan parachute troops was repofted from London. The impending retirertent of MajorGeneral Sir John Duigan, Chief of the New Zealand General Staff, was ans nounced, with the news that Lieut.General Sir Guy Williams, formerly G.O.C. Eastern Command, had been lent to New Zealand as military adviser to the Government. Wednesday, May 21 Mr. Churchill told the Commons that 1500 enemy troops, wearing New Zealand battle dress, had landed in Crete. The: situation, he said, was in hand. Later messages stated that at least 7000 of the enemy had landed from the air, and that a shore landing had been attempted.

High authorities at Vichy declared that if Britain continued bombing French airfields in Syria, France would resort to reprisals. It was rumoured in London that Germany and the Soviet were negotiating for a full military’ alliance.