A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 284, 26 August 1940, Page 8

A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Saturday afternoon saw a resumption by the German air force of mass attacks over England, a number of large waves of aircraft being sent across the Channel. They met with the usual determmed opposition and the day’s score is given as 48 German planes down to 10 British lighters. .... , A point of interest is that the Boulton Paul Dehant lighters have been in action again, for the first time, as far as the cab.es hare IClatcd, since their striking successes over Dunkirk. A small tiawlei bagged two German bombers. . ’The encmv has also delivered more, of the hit-and-run raids, mostly by single machines, and London has had more visits, thougn large’formations heading for the metropolis were driven oil. Discussing the enemy’s tactics, “The Times’’ says that, though the previous series of mass raids did no inconsiderable, damage, the real wonder was that it was so little, even in the parts most attacked , whereas the losses inflicted by the defences exceeded all hopes. In this article, written before the latest mass raids, the newspaper concluded that the spell of small raids was probably an interlude betote what might be the most intensive attacks of all, perhaps co-ordinated with Italian blows in Africa and the Mediterranean. A difficult and even critical period might come, but when Britain had fought her way through this there was reason to hope that the worst perils would be over,’that the next lot of attacks would be more easily dealt with and that then the time lor a British offensive might have strived. Apart from joining with British long-range guns in making hie uncomfortable for the German gun crews which continue occasionally to fire across the Channel, the R.A.F. has raided a wide selection of'aerodromes used by the Germans and damaged important targets in Germany itself. . ..... Half a million Greeks are said to be at the frontier with Albania prepared to meet any Italian attack. Though the sending of an ukimalum to Greece is denied, Italian papers are still conducting their anti-Grcek campaign. Rumania and Hungary are finding it difficult to agree about Transylvania and military preparations on both sides are to have followed a breakdown in negotiations, though it is possible that the talks will be resumed later. . A Bermudan harbour has been made available to the Uiincd States for use as an air base. Japan's Prime Minister has voiced his belief that it would be possible for his country and Britain to arrange for friendly cooperation. There is a report from Hong Kong that the Ihiiied States has warned lapan that her present policy will lead to a day ot reckoning; and Wang Ching-wei’s puppet Government in Nanking seems to he making some, show ot independence.