DAY BY DAY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15211, 28 November 1942, Page 2

DAY BY DAY

A REVIEW OF THE WAR NEWS Highlight of today’s news is the announcement from Vichy that the French fleet at Toulon, the destiny of which was of very great importance to the Allies, has been effectively scuttled by the French, crews. The immediate events leading to the scuttling were the German occupation of the port of Toulon, the mining of the entrance to the port by the Germans as a safeguard against escape end the reputed decision of the Frenchmen to escape and not to oppose expected Allied landings. The importance of this dramatic event cannon be over-stressed as it definitely decides the issue of naval supremacy in the vital Mediterranean area. There can be little doubt now in which direction the sympathy of the majority of Frenchmen, is directed. A little clearer picture of the Tunisian campaign is seen through the maze of conjecture and German radio claims. Morocco radi Q claims some justification in reporting the First Army to be but twenty miles from Tunis- German concentration of power there will certainly be affected by the Toulon incident. Success in Tunisia it is - felt, will in turn have effect on the progress made in Libya where really stiff Nazi resistance lias vet to be encountered. Realisation of this fact, fully awakens us to the excellent timing of the splendidly executed North African assault by the Allied armies. The Japanese who, it is now confirmed. succeeded in reinforcing their forces at Guadalcanal are being given no rest by the United States marines and the Allied air forces there. In New Guinea the Japanese suicide resistance continues and the losses to the enemy are said to he terrifically heavy.