Imperial Valley press., 1941-07-24


give Germany a freer hand in the
west by preventing full concentra-
ton of American attention upon
the main theater of war in Europe.
japanese warsnips appeared along
the French do-China coast Thurs
day, maneuvering off Saigon and
the great but uncompleted French
naval base Of Camranh.
Shanghai understood that the
Japanese would move into Indo-
China on Monday and Saigon be-
lieved that formal announcement
of the action would be forthcom-
ing Thursday night or Friday.
London indicated that the United
States and Britain are moving in
close consultation to deal with the
New Japanese threat. 1t was be-
lieved that economic and fiscal
sanctions of some sort might be
applied. Freezing of Japanese cred
its was mentioned and some quar-
ters talked of a complete trade
embargo.
The japanese occupation, how
ever, was expected to run off
smoothly, placing the japanese
forces in the possession of Strong
bases from which to threaten the
Burma route of supplies to China,
Thailand, the big British naval
base of Singapore and, ultimately,
the Dutch East Indies and the
Philippines.
RUSSIA HOLDS LINE
In Russia the fighting lines SEEM
ed to be fairly stabilized at the
moment with hostilities in con-
stant progress on a front as much
as $50 miles deep.
Two big air-naval engagements
were reported in the Mediterranean.
Rome claimed success in a joint
air ard naval attack on a British
convoy in which it was said that
several merchant ships were sunk.
destroyer sent TO the bottom and
seven British planes shot down. A
British battleship, three cruisers,
one destroyer and several merchant
men were said to have been dam
aged.
Cairo reported a British success
against an Axis convoy attacked
off the island of Pantelleria Tues
day in which three Axis ships of
10000 tons were sunk and a 5000
ton ship damaged
The Royal air force made two
daylight sweeps of France. 1t was
indicated that Germany may have
shifted some of her crack pilots
back to the western front. Berlin
claimed record total of So British
planes Shot down Wednesday. Lon
don admitted loss of 10 to 5 for
the Germans.
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden
told the House of Commons that
unless Spain showed a more friend
ly attitude to Britain that economic
help TO that nation would be cut
off
NAZIS SLOW DOWN
In Russia it seemed plain that
the German drive had been SLOWED
down materially by stubborn Soviet
resistance and the failure of en-
circled troops behind the advance
fighting lines to surrender.
Nazi spokesmen emphasized the
difficulties that Nazi forces have
encountered and the same note was
struck by the German high COM
mand which spoke of stubborn local
resistance and difficult terrain but
still insisted that operations arc
proceeding, as they put it, accord
ing to plan.
The Nazi propagandists complain
ed that the Russian troops were not
behaving in the accustomed fash
ion Of German opponents. In all
other campaigns, it was explained,
when troops were encircled by pan
ger forces they surrendered. The
Russians, the Nazis said, possibly
due TO lack Of communications keep
right on fighting which forces the
Germans 10 stop and wipe out the
Red army units one by one.
There was no indication of any