NEWS OF THE WEEK
TF the war were confined to Europe, Africa and the Atlantic, the Allies would have good reason for satisfaction, but in the Far East the tide continues to run against us, and it must be frankly recognised that the position is grave. The Japanese are keeping up in Malaya a heavy pressure before which our troops are still retreating, and there is no sign yet that a stand is about to be made to stop the victorious enemy advance towards Singapore. The battle-front is now only 130 miles from the naval base. But General MacArthur is putting up a gallant fight in the Philippines, where he is at least holding up troops and transports that might be used against Singapore and the Dutch islands. Farther west the Axis is receiving hard blows wherever it is engaged. The Russian armies are steadily and relentlessly pushing forward, seizing or threatening strong points of resistance and destroying the man-power and equipment of the enemy on the largest scale. Mojaisk, the fortified town in the salient nearest to Moscow, is threatened with encirclement, and there is fighting twelve miles from Kharkov. The operations south of Leningrad have virtually raised the siege, and food is being brought into the city. In the Crimea, too, the besiegers of Sevastopol are now themselves in danger, and everywhere in the peninsula the Russians, helped by fresh landings, are advancing and driving the enemy towards the bottle-neck of Perckop. In Libya the campaign is proceeding to our advantage. Sollum has been captured and the garrison at Halfaya, although in a strong position, is not likely to hold out long. But General Rommel is a skilful leader. In spite of heavy losses he has kept the nucleus of his army intact in his retreat to El Agheila, where he appears to be preparing another stand, possibly in the hope of receiving reinforcements somewhere between there and Tripoli.
