THE WAR DIARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 July 1941, Page 7

THE WAR DIARY.

The declaration of peace in .Syria, on what are admitted to be generous British terms has been a heartening feature of a week which has also witnessed the continued success of the Russians in upsetting the Nazis’ calculations. On the Western Front British bombers and lighters have made still greater inroads in the enemy’s shipping, railways, and transport facilities. Chief events arc: .Tidy 12.—Armistice initialled between ! Britain and Vichy authorities. Germans claim to have penetrated Stalin Lino (denied by Russians). July 13. Britain and Russia conclude formal pact of mutual assistance. Bremen heavily jaided. Ratification of Syrian armistice awaited. ( July 14. Ainustico with "Vichy* ovci Syria formally signed. Germans claim big advances in northern sectors in Russia, Russians report destruction of 13 enemy supply ships and a destroyer. British submarines sink five ships in iMeditorranean and planes destroy and damage others Mr Churchill reaffirms ‘‘no truce or parley” with Nazism.

June 15. Premier announces Russia is an Ally of Britain; Germans driven back 19 miles from Dnieper. Allies occupy Beirut. Severe bomb damage at Bremen and Hanoier. British shipping losses for June lowest for 12 months, except in January July 16.—Vigorous German drive towards Leningrad: critical period for Soviet strategy. R.A.F. bombs Duisberg and Rotterdam. Japanese Cabinet resigns on bloc after dispute on policy of aggression—north or south.

July 17.—German claim to have captured Smolensk disputed; advance still behind schedule. R.A.F. puts out of action 17 ships aggregating 100,000 tons at Amterdam; five others damaged. Hamburg and Boulogne raided. Japanese pressure on Vic 1 -’' fnv Indo-China bases alleged. July 13. —Nazis report capture of Smolensh. on wcdniaday. Raids ori Ruhr. Fight Axis ships sunk in Mediterranean. Mr Mulsuoka dropped from Japanese Cabinet.