Will
routes to the brilliantly executed evacuation of 333,000 troops from Dunkirk and, subsequently, to securing that the betrayed fleet of France should not be put to use against herself. Once those operations had been successfully carried out, the Navy went back to its daily task and recent mer- chant shipping losses show a de- eline of nöt for from fifty per The Germang were boasting only a few weeks ago that British cent of what they were at their sea losses amounted to such a height. high tonnage total, that she was actually blockaded and would in the near future be forced upon her knees by famine and want of raw materials. That was at the
temporary and apparent-activity was so intense that many ly overcome, is among the people in Belgium, with whom I most significant develop-was in contact, actually believed ments of the past few tain being on the verge of collapse have now reached such a peak of food and of all other cohunodi- weeks of tortuous Hitler- and her people starving. How enu that the British Government has ties necessary to win the war are
tirely untrue were these lies about been able to establish free ex- at Great Britain's disposal.
This means that she will ian diplomacy. In order shortage and queues of depressed ports.
people in front; 41. to delude France into a and anxious
closed shops I have seen for my- course of action which self during the two months and would gain him strategic more that I have been in En advantages, Hitler was prepared, on the surface, to give yet another display of his contempt for his Axis partner. On this oc- casion, however, Musso- lini demurred, unmistak- ably, and the Fuehrer's rush trip to Florence was necessary to assure Il Duce that in the final double-cross, France would be the sufferer.
In the result, however, Hitler loses at both ends. The purpose of the Flor- ence trip will not be lost upon the more intelligent minds at Vichy. Mussolini, with a long list of reasons for suspicion, will have had his doubts lulled but not eradicated.
Even during the months that Hitler's successes were dazzling and fright- ening Europe, some reve- lation of British power, some idea of the strength that the nation could put forth when organised and led with conviction, was provided in the successes of the Air Force and Royal Navy, and these kept
anything we wanted.
But even when torpedoing was at its height, losses from this cause had only just attained the figure
With my be able to afford to pay for in-moment when the bulk of British at which they stood when, after forces were distracted the heavy losses of the first
knowledge of shipping matters, creased importe: in other words Naval the surveillance of sca months of "unlimited submarine
know that stocks of raw materials the whole world's output of arms. from
Hitler's blockade of Britain is not too successful judging by this photograph. warship keeping a watchful eye on the convoy as it passes up Channel on porti-marking the end of another safe voyage thänka to the Royal Navy,
It shows a Britich route for home
The Dodecanese Islands
Italy's leaders anxious On its western edge the high against the time when plateau of Anatolia, in Asia Minor, Hitler would call upon or modern Turkey, breaks down which politically is the chief part
warfare" in 1917, the British Gov- ernment could declare that sink- 'ngs had been reduced to such an extent that the danger of being cut off was definitely under con- trol.
Now, in spite of the losses by submarine, mines and air bomb- ing the British merchant fleet is larger than in September of last year what with the Norwegian, Danish and Allied ships which are now cooperating with Great. Britain under the protection of her fleet.
·
In effect, such is Britain's naval power that only 47 out of twenty- eight thousand ships in convoy have been sunk.· On the other hand Great Britain's blockade of Germany and of all the occupied countries of Europe, by stopping their imports of South American cereals, coffee, etc. has plunged the Central Powers into the heaviest economic crisis they
have ever faced.
Under the very
nose of the Germans t Cherbourg and Calais, British and Allled ships are daily sailing the Channel to London and other British ports. Food stocks in Britain are larger than they have ever been.
Italy for action. When the into a series of long peninsulas By R.N. Rudmose sporige hshing is the most impor- of war.
Aegean Sea.
Brown
they are
Long before the war, the Ger- man standard of living had been from armed forces. In addition to leut down to its lowest level and can be extorted subsistence agriculture there are, nothing inure several other industries, of which from this source for the running When the subdued pro- tant. This has fallen from ita old ples, when all Germany's neigh- North prosperity, probably because the bours to the South-East,
been forced to signal did come, reluct-extending into the
Beyond to the west is the island-
Introduction of diving dress, which and West, have ance was overcome only studded sea. The whole of this
temporarily increased the output, give up their. stocks, to hand over work to the has depleted resources. Then, too, their reserves, to by the clear opportunity sea, its coasts and its islands, may
there is some octopus fishing, some triarrow of their bones for In- be regarded as Grecian both lin-
when they for the stab in the back guistically and historically. The
silk manufacture, a little pottery-satiable Nazidom, malting and some wine manufac-have been brought to starvation, of France, and Hitler's as-Aegean Sea is a Grecian lake. But
ture, the last on volcanic solls nay when they are starving by it is also a highway, and from surances that the British time to time other Powers have spelling, but she has been unable which flavour the output. True to millions such as is already the In the to change the Greek traditions of their age-long traditions, the out-case in Poland, and is imminent Isles would be smashed impinged on its borders.
centuries. so the Greek names come of circumstances, many of in Denmark when south-east, off the coast of Ana- within two months.
festoon of islands may well stand. Few of these is the inhabitants are town-dwellers, themselves facing the fate they tolia, a long called the Dodecanese is one of lands are large; most are only ten for the islands have had trading brought deliberately upon others, to twenty square miles in area. communities for many centuries. then the haughtiness of the "Her- The attack upon Greece Italy's least-known oversca pos-
As the name implies, Rhodes, with 545 square miles, is Rhodes, on the island of that renvolle" will give way and we is, by and large, confirma-there are twelve main islands, but the largest, Kos, with 112 square manic, has a population of 27,000, shall see them as. tory of the conviction that there are also many smaller islets files, comes next. The total area and Calino 15,000. Among the ur- them in 1918, begging for mercy. in the group. From north to south of the group is only a little over ban population Jews are numer- Mussolini is fast losing the twelve main islands are Pat-1.000 square miles. Several of the dus. Patmos is famed for the mon- eleventh confidence in himself and mos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos. As-islands are lofty, rising to three astery founded in the
feet in gentle century, and Kos had an ancient tropalia, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos. four thousand
is flat lund city of fame. in Hitler's pictures of the Charki, Rhodes, Karpathos, and stopes, but there
around many coasts. With vary- Axis, way to victory and Kasos.
ing structure, the Islands have différent values. Some are made the glory of force.
of ancient crystalline rock and yield poor soil and are little cultivated except in the yal- olleys. Others, built of limestone, their tend to be arid in the modest rain- The islands have a long and where they can fight the common fall of the Mediterranean climate, Varied history and were likely foe and help to restore but others again, With newer clays though outposts of the Minoans freedom of the world and of their or volcanic soils which hold the in the declining years of their own, country, Denmark.
give abundant opportuni-civilisation, but they have always maga
With his fleet unable to
sail the sea he claimed as
sessions.
Italy has, changed several
or modified
his own, his armies in these names
Egypt stuck at Sidi Bar-
Brussels saw
Danish seamen are eager to see this happen as soon as possible.
are doing their share in and
the downfall of bringing, about Nazi tyranny. They are willing to take their share in the strife, side by side with their brethren of the British Merchant Navy, by manning Danish ships as auxiliary cruisers, as mine-. sweepers or in any other sphere
the
rani, the totally unprofurther complicated his water. Bultivation. Thus there is been pre-eminently Greek. I Not only spectacular Heroism is voked attack on Greece is readily explained as a des- problem of achieving & a great variety of produce, though 1308, however, Knights Hospital needed. The war is not woh only de the at Rhodes and or bombing German aerodromes, perate attempt to entice finally satisfactory soluley, and vines do well; ted olive, stalled themselves frusalem line by sinking German submuririts
tion.
almond, and fg, and even the claimed adjacent islands, which but also by steady and-sllent Britain into a division of
date palm, are cultivated in, they held until dispossessed by the work. Stokters as well as the her forces and to break Hitler's career of vic-places. There is a little tobacco Turks in 1822: Under Turkish masters, or, the mess-boys salt are some prosperity, needed to keep up Britain's com- the grip of the Navy on tory stands checked in and some vegetables, Goats thrive rule there was
manage to survive cattle are tonomy; but the population fell in with the yet free countries abroad, the Middle Mediterran- Western Europe in its mine ground, and sheep and eventually a measure of au- munications with the Empire and with the "lines behind the lines." which ean, which imperils the most confident and strid- scarce, as always is the case in numbers. During the war
the Mediterranean, with its lack Turkey in 1012 Italy seized the are not less necessary than the islands, and she gained sover fighting squadrons themselves, in whole system of transport ent hour. When to escape of summer verdure.
eignty over them in 1924, but order to supply them with food, Greece has never abandoned hope arms, munitions and lost but not and supply between Italy from the mess, he is will- and Libya.
ing to attempt to rat on
of regaining her rule over those least, with the moral support outlying Greeks. The value of the which gives the final victory. his closest political inti-
falaridy pa a naval base must not The crude shameless- mate, Mussolini, that ness of the attack, how-worthy's mood as well ever, has merely added a be hung for a sheep as for determined people to the a lamb-can be under list of Italy's enemies and stood if not condoned.
be overlooked. The harbours are It is certain that no Danish any other Dane
In view of the relatively limit-small but good, and among the seaman, nor
food production the population group a fleet might lurk. As a worthy of the name, will take up Is, surprisingly large, rather over source of supplies, however, the work for Germany and help to 'country, of his dear 140,000, who are nearly all Greeks, islands could have-little value prolong the war did the sufferings
with a few Jews. There are bold There are no railways, and only of his own to be 12 per cent of Italians abart a few roads of value.
ones at home.