24 Mar 1941
Page 1
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Newspaper
Canberra Times
Location
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Date
Mar 24, 1941
Page
1
Reports from Ankara and Moscow indicate rising opposition in Yugoslavia to appeasement with Germany as Cabinet tensions continue. Moscow and Ankara path signals suggest shifts in the stance toward Axis alignment, with international powers weighing responses to the crisis.
Diplomatic notes from Belgrade report Yugoslavia seeking guarantees of security and independence through Russo Yugo Slavic cooperation while avoiding German troop commitments. Soviet, Greek, and British discussions in Belgrade and Cairo frame cautious support and reference Lend Lease. Yugoslav army extends cancelled leave as tensions rise.
Belgrade reports show ministers resigning over a pact with Germany as Premier Tavetkovitch and Foreign Minister Cincar Markovitch delay Vienna talks. Serbs Croats and Slovenes face divisions while demonstrations grow and political leaders are summoned to address the crisis. The Stryadinovitch case is cited in Cairo as he is held by British authorities.
A Greek military communique from Athens reports Italian patrols on multiple fronts with light Corfu damage and no casualties from strikes on Kygagissin Epirus and Osndia. Italians relied on tanks for three days but faced strong anti tank fire. Saturday night push north of the Vostuza River ended with heavy losses for the attackers as Greeks found Italians entrenching.
The raid on Plymouth killed and wounded many as 20 000 incendiaries and hundreds of explosives were dropped. Mr Menzies toured the city guiding a convoy for women and children and visiting the mayoral home where fires raged. Police and fire crews aided safety efforts as survivors were sheltered in communal centres.
German bombers attacked Plymouth for hours with thousands of fire bombs and explosives. The Air Ministry fears heavy casualties as sections of the town lie in ruins and a church and police station are wrecked. Australian journalists Justin Arthur and Eric McLoughlin witnessed the siege and reported streets littered with debris and residents salvaging belongings.
The Maritime Commission spokesman said about 400 merchant ships will be built for Britain under the Aid Act. Existing yards are at capacity, so additional yards will be added. The new vessels will likely mirror the 200 freighters already authorized, with 51 shipyards contracted. Keels are expected to be laid April 4 and the first ship completed in November.
The German communiqué reports sinking 22 armed merchant ships totaling 118000 tons after a long operation in the North Atlantic. U boats attacked convoys off West Africa, sinking eleven ships about 70000 tons, with air forces adding losses of 80000 tons and 6000 tons damaged. A tanker of 12000 tons was hit, a 3000 ton ship broke in halves, and bombers sank a 4000 ton merchant team in the Bristol Channel.
After Mogadishu fell, British troops freed 1,300 political prisoners in a camp called Denane in Italian Somaliland. Most were Abyssinians held over five years since the Italo Abyssinian War, with others including anti Fascists, Somali and British Indian traders, and 70 seamen from ships attacked by Nazi raiders.
Air Ministry reports multiple bomber raids across occupied Europe and Norway. British Bomber Command hit a tanker off the Belgian coast and warships near Frisian Islands. Coastal Command attacked Norway jetties and aerodromes with all aircraft returning safely. A Blenheim dive over Norway described as the high point of a half hour.
The report details heavy airstrikes across Germany including Gelsenkirchen Bremen Dusseldorf Wilhelmshaven and Kiel. Fires and explosions lit up docks factories and storage areas as the bomber campaign damaged shipyards submarine bases and rail facilities.
In a wartime briefing Lord Beaverbrook states British aircraft production shows gains with footnote style figures and a tally indicating progress amid widespread production and deployment efforts.
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