The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-05-29
DIARY OF THE WAR

FRIDAY-Nazis held two areas on
Crete and claimed to have sunk four
British cruisers and several destroy
ers in that vicinity. British reported
they had smashed every German eff
fort to land men by sea, sinking 30
vessels. Germans continued to land
troops by parachute and air trans
port and fighting reached a new
peak of fury. France was warned to
stop siding with the Germans. Brit
ish were apprehensive of a German
attempt on Gibraltar with many Nazi
soldiers already said to be in Spain.
Free French forces were moving into
Syria. The fighting in iraq continued.
SATURDAY-British claimed the
edge in battle of Crete, recapturing
the middle area. Germans were using
Syrian airdromes. A French colonel
and 200 troops left the colony and
entered British territory to join up.
Darlan said Hitler had not demanded
the French fleet, colonial concessions
or a French declaration of war on
Britain. Five thousand Nazis were
drowned off Crete by British naval
action. Axis powers were trying to
WOO Switzerland.
SUNDAY-Britain's battle cruiser
Hood, worlds largest warship, was
blown to pieces when struck by shell
from German battleship Bismack be-
tween Greenland and Iceland. A shell
struck the magazine and 1900 were
believed killed. British declared they
were chasing the Bismarck and that
it had been hit. Britain still has
fifteen capital ships. Battle for Crete
continued undated. Germany an
nounced British naval units had been
driven from waters around Crete.
British reported their bombers were
striking hard at the invaders. Ger
mans were landing air troops without
regard to their lives. The war in
Africa simmered and floods hamp-
cred troop movements in Iraq.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS naval COM
mander warned America that con-
voying of supplies to Britain would be
an "open war act and unprovoked at
tack" which would justify Nazi ac-
ton. British pursued the German
navy. British declared it would be
possible to hold Crete. King George of
Greece moved to Cairo after escaping
Nazi trops and bombs. The pro-Axis
regime in Iraq was reported break
ing up. Nazis renewed heavy raids on
England. Nazis claimed control of
western end of island of Crete.
TUESDAY - Norway reported a
naval battle raging. Berlin reported
damage to another battleship of
Britain. British admitted their posi-
tions in Crete had been broken in the
western section but said other points
were holding. Germany claimed the
cruiser section of Britain's Mediter-
ranean fleet was sunk. There was
concern over Britains navy. -Four
more Italian divisions fell in Ethiopia
WEDNESDAY, - Britains navy
sank the German battleship Bismarck
The issue in Crete was hanging in the
balance as more Nazi troops landed
by air. Nazi losses in Crete were put
at $4,000. Axis columns pushed into
Egypt a short way British continued
to clean up scattered Fascist forces in
Ethiopia. Britain renewed bombing
detectives in Iraq.
THURSDAY-British and Greeks
suffered reverses in Crete and ap.
parently Germans would soon take
complete possession. Germans claimed
sinking of four British transports
German land successes around Salum
were admitted by British. British re,
ported keeping Axis reinforcements
out of Libya however, sinking tanker
and Italian liner. Many more ia
miliar landmarks in London were
smashed by Nazi raids. British
bombed French bases in Syria thai
had been handed over for Nazis' use