WAR DIARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 216, 10 August 1940, Page 7

WAR DIARY.

MAIN EVENTS OF WEEK. The advance of the Italian forces into British Somaliland, and the large-scale air battles over the English Channel and in the Middle East have been the principal events of the war this week, which are detailed as follow : August 4. —Fleet Air Arm attacks Sardinia. Further damaging R.A.F. raids on enemy-occupied territory in Europe. R.A.F. reported to have bombed over 100 towns and carried out in all over 1000 raids in Germany to date. General Pershing urges United States to make available at least 50 over-age destroyers to Britain. August 5. —British Air Ministry states that since German air campaign began on .June 19 R.A.F. dropped over 33,000 bombs on Germany and Germans dropped over 7000 on Britain. Germans, in that period, lost 370 planes and British 172. Military agreement signed in London on behalf of Britain and Poland. Further R.A.F. damage on German-occupied territory and Italian Africa. August 6.—ltalians begin invasion of British Somaliland, crossing frontier at three points. Indicated that British food rationing may be relaxed. Italians withdraw after skirmish east of Moyale (Konya). August 7. —Italian columns occupy Zeilah and’ Hargeisa (British Somaliland). 1 Small British forces withdraw after inflicting losses. Australian troops in action when Italian planes raid Haifa (Palestine). British liner Accra (9337 tons) torpedoed in convoy off Eire; 450 survivors landed. 19 miss-

;ng. Announced that British Purchasing Commission . plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more in United States on tanks and artillery. August B.—Sixty German aircraft shot down in greatest air battle yet over English Channel, lasting nine hours, following Nazi air and torpedoboat attacks on convoy. Sixteen British fighter pilots missing. . Air raid casualties in Britain in July announced as 258 killed. 321 injured: Mr A. Greenwood (Minister without Portfolio) states there will be no limit to mobilisation of Britain’s resources for prosecution. of!war. R.A.F. bombers cause extensive damage at Massawa (Eritrea). British submarine Oswald lost in Mediterranean. August 9.—Fifteen Italian planes destroved in engagement over Egyptian-Cyrenaican front. Committee of free Italians formed in Egypt to support Britain.