A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 84, 3 January 1941, Page 8

A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

The Greeks in Albania have captured fortified positions in the Kelcyra region, where they secured or destroyed much war material, and also westward of Pogradec. A battle has developed in the coastal sector north-east of Himara. The preparation of a new defence line across central Albania indicates that the Italians are less hopeful of continuing their resistance, to the Greeks in their present positions. , ' Bardia has been shelled by the Royal Navy and the Army turn bombed by the Royal Air Force, while on the outskirts the British have managed to penetrate the defence ring in patrol sallies. In one quarter it is believed that the Italians may surrender, saving the necessity of a direct assault. The R.A.F. on Wednesday night made a concentrated attack on Bremen, where large fires were caused and considerable damage is believed to have been done to military objectives. Though the main attack was on Bremen, raiding elsewhere was very extensive and invasion ports and U-boat bases suffered. ’ Though more active than on the two previous nights, the German air force did not raid Britain severely on Wednesday night. London had three visits from enemy aircraft during the night anG raiders were also over widely separated areas elsewhere in the country. Damage and casualties were not great. After their long imprisonment .in German sea raiders, varying from some weeks to several months, the survivors from some of the ships sunk in the Pacific have given the first descriptions of, the actions. Some of them learned from a German guard that the 'Ju.rakina (the survivors from which are still held captive) fought an attacking raider for over two and a half hours with her single stern gun before she was defeated, losing more than half her crew. Both the Rangitane and the Komata likewise did not surrender at the first demand and were shelled and, after being overpowered, weie sunk. It is revealed that three raiders were seen in action. The rescued passengers and crews from the various ships number 496. At least 200' are still being held. The British Ambassador in Tokio, it is reported, is to make representations on the alleged preparation of other Nazi commerce raiders in Japanese ports. From the descriptions given in Australia two of the German raiders now active were formerly Japanese ships. It is officially announced in Tokio that the German use of a Japanese name or flag was not sanctioned.