The Republican., 1942-05-07
DIARY OF The WAR

protect approaches to India In Aus
tralia new allied raids on Jap base at
Lac smashed twenty enemy planes on
ground. Japs made a counter-raid ON
Port Moresby. Guns of Corregidor in
Manila Bay smashed enemy batteries
and destroyed a truck column on
Bataan. Japs were landing reinforce
ments on Mindanao. Another British
air raid struck at Paris airplane
motor and rubber factories, at Naz
airdromes and docks. Germans raided
Norwich in England. Admiral Stark
reached London as commander of
American naval operations in Eu-
rOpean waters. 1t was disclosed
American bombers and fighters were
in service with Soviet armies and
that American supplies were arriv-
ing according to schedule Russians
reported continued gains against
Nazis and later admitted strong tank
thrusts around Orel. South Africa was
speeding plans to meet war if it
came to that area.
SATURDAY-Japs appeared to be
trying to follow Burma read into
China as they had gone beyond
Lashio. In Central Burma British
withdrew to right bank of Ilrawaddy
river west of Mandalay Chunking
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through India were in operation. AL
lied bombers caught 80 Jap planes
aground at Lac and three were shot
down near Salamaua. Enemy planes
raided northeastern tip Of Australia.
Corregidor's guns shot down three
Jap planes and damaged others.
Hitler and Mussolini completed two
day conference. In Belgium a Nazi
gas and explosive factory blew up,
evidently by sabotage British re
sumed aerial assault in force Russia
announced sinking of German battle
ship in Baltic
SUNDAY-All-India congress de
cided to urge its people not to fight if
their country is invaded by Japan but
to resist by non-violent non-cooper-
alton. u. S. troops We're going into
Africa in increasing numbers. Japs
reported capture of Mandalay but
Chinese said enemy drive was halted.
Jap planes over Australia brought
people there on the alert against an
invasion attack. Red tanks were driv-
ing deeper wedges between German
positions and were recapturing strong
points. Hitler called on German labor
to back up combatants at front in a
May Day message.
MONDAY-A Jap column struck
west from Mandalay toward India
Chinese and volunteer flyers attacked
Lashio and Chinese troops under
StillWell, L. S. A., were still harrass-
ing the enemy. British declared Gnei-
senau and Scharnhorst and Prinz
battleships were knocked out for
many months by bombs and torpedoes.
British continued its air attacks with
special targets in Copenhagen and
France, northern Italy. Russians took
oath to defeat Nazis this year Allied
pilots in Australia destroyed nine
planes and crippled six, and damaged
two transports around New Britain
and New Guinea. British bombers
bombed Axis sub base near Turkey,
and airdromes in Greece and nearby
Gen. Brereton pledged I. S. ready to
defend India. Corregidor's men again
rescued American flag when it was
shot from pole.
I u + S D. Y - British occupied
French island of Madagascar off
Africa to guard supply lines to Indian
ocean and Australia. British airmen
turned upon German naval bases and
airdromes in Norway, France and
Germany The Japs in Burma were
pushing on in three strong columns
and were within 25 miles of China
$50 miles from India. Jap infantry
tried to march on Port Moresby in
New Guinea but withdrew. Corregidor
underwent Is air attacks and Japs
sank gunboat near the fort with no
loss of life. Nazis executed 72 Dutch,
55 French because of assaults on
soldiers in occupied countries. Reds
announced their troops were waging
offensive battles.
WEDNESDAY-Japs made land
ings on Corregidor and a desperate
battle was in progress. With Ameri-
can-Philipino forces vastly outnum-
bered it was feared the fall Of the
fortress was not far distant Mean
while British were moving on the
naval base on Madagascar but the
French were resisting; however Brit
ish had advanced six miles after max
ing a forced landing. Laval was irri-
tated at u. S. approval but declared
he would not take first step in any
rupture with relations with U. S.
British followed up day bombing at
tacks with more night bombings
against Nazis, going as far as Pilsen
to bomb Skoda munitions works Reds
were attacking three vital Nazi bases
of Kharkov, Kursk and 'Taganrog.