GERMANY: Berlin: German warships are ordered to annihilate Soviet submarines.

Croatia signed Axis protocol respecting its interests.

MALTA: Valetta:

43 Hurricane fighters were delivered to the beleaguered island of Malta yesterday, greatly strengthening the RAF's air defences in what has become a key battle in the struggle for control of the Mediterranean, and, indirectly, the battlefields of North Africa.

Both Britain and the Axis powers recognize the prime startegic importance of Malta. On the day of Italy's entry into the war it made eight air attacks on the island, and since the Luftwaffe moved into Sicily and southern Italy last January these attacks have shown a marked increase. The Royal Navy has devoted much effort to keeping Malta supplied so that Malta-based forces can continue to operate against Axis targets.

Malta sits astride the main Axis supply route to North Africa, especially to the Libyan port of Tripoli. If the overall Axis aim of securing the Suez Canal is to be achieved, this supply route must be made secure. On the other hand, in order to prevent an Axis build-up in North Africa the British must hang on to the island.

LIBYA: British forces suffer setbacks during Operation Battleaxe, launched yesterday to relieve Tobruk.

The dawn attack by the right-hand column on the Halfaya Pass, made along the top of the escarpment was stopped when "C" Squadron, 4 RTR, supporting the 2nd Cameron Highlanders, ran against the entrenched 88mms which were in stone-built sangars, with only their muzzles visible.

The "C" Squadron commander, Major Miles, was last heard on the radio reporting, "They are tearing my tanks apart."

The fight at Halfaya went on until about 1000 hrs when "C" Squadron was down to one Matilda and one light tank, and the Camerons were then forced to withdraw by infantry counter-attacks covered by machine-gun fire, and retreated down the pass with great loss. Other squadrons of 4 RTR engaged the enemy along the wire to keep the enemy busy while, further south, advancing along the escarpment, the centre column, led by 7th Royal Tanks, captured Fort Capuzzo, losing five tanks in the process.

Meanwhile the main force of 7th Armoured Division was preparing to hook round the German southern flank, led by 7th Armoured Brigade, which hd been re-equipped with the new Crusaders. To keep these tanks a surprise, the column was led 2nd RTR in A9 and A10 cruisers. The first phase of this advance, to capture the Hafid Ridge, went well, but prior reconnaissance had failed to reveal that the Hafid Ridge was actually three ridges. One Squadron moving forward was decimated with only two tanks surviving an encounter with a line of anti-tank guns concealed behind dummy vehicles.

The Germans counter-attacked with about 35 tanks coming up from the south-east. The British with only 20 tanks left that were fit for action were ordered to hold this force, but they were outgunned and by nightfall five tanks were lost.

LEBANON: Allied troops capture Sidon.

In the early hours HMS JERVIS and HMS KIMBERLEY had a short engagement with Vichy French destroyers GUEPARD and VALMY with the latter again using their superior speed to retire after having straddled HMS JERVIS several times. (Peter Beeston)

SYRIA: Eastern axis: Lloyd’s 5 Indian Brigade capture Kiswe, breaking 5-day deadlock. French counter-attack begins. French mobile column captures Ezraa, cutting Lloyd’s communications with Transjordan. Another column threaten Kuneitra and remaining communications with Palestine. Lloyd detaches Free French infantry and British artillery to the rear to hold Sheikh Meskine.

Central Axis: French infantry regiment with tanks and artillery attack Australian holding force at Merdjayoun (2/33 Battalion, 2/2 Pioneers, battery 2/5 Field Arty, Scots Greys and part of 6 Aust Cav). Australians are forced out of Merdjayoun, however many French tanks are knocked out by 25-pdrs and French cannot advance further.

On coastal axis 21 Aust Brigade enters Sidon. French forces counter-attack at Jezzine but are stopped by divisional artillery. Six Gladiators of X Flight are patrolling over Kissoue at 8,000ft when they are bounced by Dewotine D520's. Fl-Off J N Craigie is shot down and killed in the first pass. Another Gladiator is badly damaged. One Dewoitine crashes in British territory. The pilot is captured. The other, flown by French ace Sous-Lt Le Gloan, crash-lands at Rayak airfield and is written off. (Michael Alexander)

FRENCH INDOCHINA: Saigon:

CANADA: Submarine HM S/M Talisman departed Halifax as escort for convoy to St. John's Newfoundland.

Two gate vessels ordered for RCN from Marine Industries Sorel, Province of Quebec.

Floating dock ordered for RCN from EA Chappelle Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: Naval Air Station Kodiak on Kodiak Island, Aleutian Islands is established.