No. 15 Group RAF moves into the new Command area and a new No.19 Group takes over Plymouth and the watch on the Bay of Biscay.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Ormonde sunk by German aircraft off Scotland.

GREECE: Athens: The Athens News Agency 'Athinaiko Praktoreio' reported:

The Greek general staff reports that the Greek troop offensive that began on Friday is continuing with undiminished violence. Yesterday Greek forces again won important victories in which prisoners and large amounts of war materiel of every kind fell into their hands. Greek assault troops succeeded in penetrating strongly fortified Italian positions at various points on the front, which has shifted along its whole length between Lake Ochrida [on Yugoslav-Albanian] border and the coast.

ITALIAN SOMALILAND:  1st South African Brigade begins an important battle to seize crossings over the lower reaches of the Juba River. 

SINGAPORE: Britain mines the waters around the colony.

U.S.A.: New York: The editorial in the New York Times reports the fear of inflation in Britain, "... not even the thunder of falling bombs and the ever-present apprehension of invasion can submerge that old fear. Lord Balfour ... pointed out that ...prices had increased 64% between August, 1939 and last September and that the cost of materials had increased by 48%."

ATLANTIC OCEAN:

'The Times', February 16th, 1941.

How her ship was sunk, experience of the Gestapo as a captive in a German raider, how she was marooned on a small tropical island, carol singing among the coral reefs and palms, rescue, a wonderful Christmas dinner of bread and cheese and hot coffee in the rescue ship - these are the things of which a young London woman tells in a letter home from Australia. She was one of the escorts who had accompanied children to Australia from this country for the Children's Overseas Reception Board, and was returning to Britain in the 'Rangitane'. But within a few weeks she was to see Australia again, after some terrifying and exciting experiences; and in this letter to her mother she says:-

"Early one morning we were shelled by two enemy raiders at close range, a third standing by. The shells came straight into the cabins occupied by the 22 C.O.R.B. escorts, causing fire, gas, and complete destruction in a few seconds. We lost five escorts and a sixth died on the raider. The shelling ceased and we were ordered to the boats. A great number were wounded, and even some of the dead were put into the lifeboats. Some boats sank, as they had been riddled in the shelling. Mine, with others, was ordered to the black raider, over whose side hung the German flag - red with a black swastika in the centre. The Germans were very gentle and kind to the wounded and gave a helping hand to all, as even those who were not hurt were terribly dazed."

"We were given a cup of strong black coffee, and the Germans doctors started at once on the casualties. They were very fine surgeons, and their cases could not have had better attention. Fortunately, we had six C.O.R.B. nursing sisters with us, and they were all unhurt and therefore ready to help nurse the wounded. Our quarters consisted of a central hatch, where two armed sentries were stationed, off which were four holds. Two were for the men, one for us, and the fourth was equipped with rough bunks for the wounded. Each hold had a Dictaphone to record our remarks. Each hold was fitted with a trestle table and benches, lockers and a lavatory, and two enamel wash bowls. They were clean and freshly painted, and well lighted. A shaft occasionally brought us fresh air. We were each provided with a hammock, a clean towel and a cake of salt-water soap."

"On the evening of the third day, after having been ordered a fresh-water shower bath, we were told to pack as we were to be transferred to another boat - the third raider, where all the women would be together. We were taken up on deck and were examined and questioned by a Gestapo agent, and had our money and papers taken off us. On the third raider, the 'Tokio Maru', a German boat flying Japanese colours, but unarmed and evidently a supply ship, we were put four in a two-berth cabin, but were quite comfortable. After almost four weeks of aimless sailing, with food getting from scarce to desperate, the Germans were forced to land us, which they did on the Saturday morning before Christmas on the tiny desert island of Emirau, or Squally Island, which lies just below the Equator."

At 1556, the unescorted SS Ramapo was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-108, broke in two and sank after 11 minutes west of Bermuda. The U-boat surfaced and questioned 34 men in lifeboats, however the survivors were never found.