WAR DIARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 210, 3 August 1940, Page 7

WAR DIARY.

MAIN EVENTS OP WEEK. Further air raids over Britain and Germany and German-occupied territories, large-scale air battles over the English Channel, conflicting Axis reports concerning the threatened invasion of England, and the incident between a British armed merchant cruiser and a German raider in the South Atlantic have been the main events of the war this week, which are listed as follow: July 28. —Germans close road and rail traffic between occupied and unoccupied France. “Lord Haw Haw,” on German radio, says great attack on England “only a. question of days, possibly hours.” N.Z.E.F. reported to have played important roles behind scenes in. land operations in Western Desert. duly 29.—Over 100 Nazi ’planes attack Dover Harbour. In short fight enemy lose 25 ’planes and R.A.F. lose one machine, with, several damaged. British destroyer Wren sunk bv bomb in engagement with enemy ’planes. Nazis using Red Cross ’planes for reconnaissance -off Britain. July 30-—Morale of German pilots believed seriously shaken by results of Dover fight. First Army Victoria Crosses in this war awarded to Captain H. M. Ervine-Andrews and LanceCorporal 11. Nicholls. Britain extends navicert system to tighten blockade of Germany. July 31.—H.M S. Alcantara, armed merchant cruiser, damaged enemy raider in South Atlantic. Officially stated in London that Nazis lost 240 ’planes in Julv. involving GOO officers and men killed or taken prisoner. British destroyer Delight sunk as result of enemy air attack. Greek tanker Hermione. under charter to Italy, sunk by Royal Navv in Aegean Sea. ’ August I.—Soviet neutrality reaffirmed. Armed merchant cruiser Alcantara reaches Rio de Janeiro slightly damaged. R.A.F. in Middle East announce two Italian submarines sunk last month. Daily and nichtly attacks bv R.A.F. on military objectives in Germany and occupied territories conlinue. Announced that, 42 of persons killed in air raids on Britain in month beginning June 18 were women, and seven children under age of 16.’ Ninety-one of those injured were women, and 16 children. August 2.—French Minister of Finance estimates war damage in Franco at £BOO 000,000. German ’planes shower thousands of leaflets on England containing Hitler’s “last appeal” speech.