The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-08-20
DIARY OF THE WAR

were in attack forces on four fronts,
in new conflict in Mediterranean, on
a bombing mission over continental
Europe in southwest Pacific and in
China. Japs were reported driven
from many positions on three islands
in Solomons and Jap naval forces had
lost control of Tulagi harbor. Big
bombers smashed four Jap transports
out Of Rabaul and d Dutch sub there
hit two enemy vessels. Germans
claimed advances to within $50 miles
Of Caspian sea in effort to isolate
Russia from Allied forces in Middle
East L. S. bombers rained bombs ON
several Italian cruisers in Grecian
port. In convoy battle Germans
claimed they fired the L. S. carrier
Wasp and broke up the convoy, also
Gripping some British ships
SATURDAY - American offensive
was increasing in South Seas as Navy
pushed supplies through and pro
tected lines Of communication. Shore
positions were being consolidated. Jap
bases and reinforcement conveys were
being blasted by bombcrs from Aus
tralia. Tokyo claimed sinking 35 AL
lied warships and transports. Red
armies were on offensive along north
ern fronts but in Caucasus the Ger
mans were making a tremendous eff
fort to ovelrun the Grozny oil fields.
The Mediterranean convoy reached
Malta with loss of British carrier
Eagle and one cruiser. Japan declared
it would not tolerate the use of India
for Allied war purposes. y returning
journalist from Japan placed their
army at million under arms with
reservoir Of million more.
SUNDAY-U. S. Navy blasted five
Jap ships at Kiska during a lombard
ment there. l.. S. marines were re-
ported having taken important coast
al bases on Solomon islands, JapS ad-
mittcd fierce fighting there for first
time. German armies threatened Stall
ingrad in furious new attack and
without regard to casualties. U. s.
planes were aiding Raj in Egypt.
British fleet shelled Italian island of
Rhodes.
MONDAY-Marines were tighten
ing grip on Solomon islands as battle
ended its tenth day. Japs grudgingly
admitted battle was continuing. De-
tails were still lacking. A sea battle
in Dover straits was reported. T. S.
army fighters along with Canadians
made long sweeps over France and
participated in convoy patrols and in
Perception sorties. Reds massed guns
in an effort to stop Germans pushing
toward Stalingrad The German push
in Caucasus was blocked but Nazis
pushed on toward Caspian sea. Count
er drives in Northern section were
having success. Seventeen died in an
army plane crash in Massachusetts,
Eight ships including two destroyers,
were launched from a Maine shipyard
TUESDAY-U. S. air force bomb
ers made first attack on Nazi-occu-
pied France, blasting Rouen. 1t was
disclosed Churchill was in Moscow in
conference with Stain and other
British and American officials Rus
sian armies gave up some new ground
northwest Of Stalingrad and in foot
hill approaches to GroZny oil wells.
MacArthur's bombers made new at
tacks on Timor island. A detailed re-
port of Solomon islands battle says
that the Marines are we'll established
there and that the Navy saved the
transports from the Japs.
WEDNESDAY - Fresh American
forces arrived in Middle east area as
British reorganized its command there
by naming Harold Alexander to sue
coed Auchinleck U. S. army bombers
also were in the Egyptian battle for
the first time, raiding Matruh, To-
bruk and other points Probability of
a decisive naval engagement in south
Pacific was indicated as bitter fight
ing continued on Solomon islands.
Russian armies showed signs of hold
ing in Volga and mid-caucasus sec
tions. Brazil was on verge of war over
Axis sub attacks which sank five
Brazilian ships in 8 days and took
lives Of hundreds of Brazilian soldiers
and civilians. Axis admitted bitter
fighting on Pacific islands, saying
Americans had landed in force Reds
claimed German losses of 100000
men in three months; Soviet losses,
100000.
THURSDAY-Picked U. S. British
and Canadian soldiers completed
greatest commando raid of the war on
French coast, smashing Wanted Ger
man defenses at Dieppe in all-day bat