The Observer‘s lead story (5) is about Japan’s continuing advance in Burma. It’s very hard to work out what exactly is going on based on the summary report: there are at least three fronts, their relation to each other is not stated, and the map provided is too small-scale to be of much use. The […]
Lots of interesting things in today’s papers about the campaign in Burma, the future of India, Anzac Day, and so on — but there’s also a lot on bombing, so I’m going to talk about that. The predominant theme is, as the Daily Mirror‘s front page headlines above claim, that Bomber Command is now delivering
Yesterday’s muted announcement of a British retreat in Burma is followed today by more prominent headlines of a further withdrawal, albeit this time in the Taungdwingyi sector. But while the front page of the Yorkshire Post (above) grimly declares that OUR retirement through Central Burma is bringing us nearer the plains of Mandalay and the
Most newspapers today lead with the story of a successful Commando raid on the French coast near Boulogne early yesterday morning — though only the Daily Mirror (above), rather bizarrely, focuses on the fact that ‘All wore gym shoes’ (1) (apart from the ex-Limehouse police inspector who wore slippers). More colour is provided by the
I’ve now finished my (somewhat piecemeal) post-blogging of the Blitz. It’s time to step back and see if there is anything to made of the whole thing. I’ll start with the things I wish I’d done differently. I had intended to use a greater diversity of sources, especially the Popular Newspapers during World War II
Hitler is on the move again! Yesterday, German airborne forces attacked Crete. According to the Manchester Guardian (5), Churchill informed the House of Commons of this news last evening, but his information was dated 3pm. However, ‘at noon the situation was reported to be in hand’. The attack began early in the morning with intense
For the first time in a while, The Times and the Manchester Guardian differ in their lead stories. The latter (above, 5) focuses mainly on the surrender of seven thousand Italian soldiers in northern Abyssinia, but also notes a repulse of German armoured columns near Sollum and a new RAF attack on Vichy aerodromes in
There is a lot going on in the Mediterranean and African theatres at the moment. The big news, as reported here by The Times, is that Italian forces in northern Abyssinia have asked for surrender terms (4). They, along with the Duke of Aosta, Viceroy of Abyssinia, are holed up in ‘the mountain stronghold of
It’s Sunday, which means the Observer, which today leads with the situation in the Middle East (5). Vichy has said that it doesn’t consider the British bombing of its aerodromes in Syria to be ‘acts of aggression’ (though it’s hard to see what else it could be). In any case there are many things which
Without even waiting for a response to Eden’s warning, on Thursday RAF aircraft bombed three Vichy aerodromes in Syria, as The Times reports (4). According to RAF HQ, Middle East Command: At Palmyra three Ju90s, two other German aircraft, and one Cr42 were machine-gunned. At least three of these aircraft were severely damaged and one
