Replies

5 Suburbs Raided – 2-3
R.A.F. Casualties 4,300, 1,854 of Them Missing – 2
The International Situation – 3
Berlin is Exultant – 4-5
King Congratulates R.A.F. On Exploits Against Foe – 5
Dead and Injured Civilians taken From Debris of London Suburbs – 5-7
Churchill Reported Favoring U.S. Leases – 5
U.S. is Negotiating for British Bases, Plan with Canada – 7-8
Italy Again Raided by British Planes – 9-10
R.A.F. Intensifies Bombing in Africa – 10-11
Southeast Towns in England are Hit – 11
Croydon Bombers All Brought Down – 12
Briton Sees Nazis Balked by Fliers – 12
Famine in Belgium by 1941 is Feared – 12-13
Hungary Presents Claims to Rumania – 13
Swedes Reported Firing Upon Planes – 13
Battle of Britain Near Peak (by Hanson W. Baldwin) * – 14
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the War – 15-16
American War Observers in London – 16

* Baldwin wins high marks for this effort. I don’t see much in his analysis that will be contradicted by historians with the benefit of 70-year hindsight.

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/aug40/f17aug40.htm

Royal Navy bombards Italian bases

Saturday, August 17, 1940 www.onwar.com

In the Mediterranean... Admiral Cunningham leads three battleships and several other vessels of the British Mediterranean Fleet to bombard the Italian positions at Bardia and Fort Capuzzo. Air attacks on the ships are beaten off.

Over Germany... The RAF sends a raid against the armament works at Leuna. Although at this stage of the war the RAF intends to hit only military targets, it cannot achieve the necessary accuracy in night bombing.

In Greece... Following recently increased tension with Italy, the Greek armed forces are partially mobilized with a call-up in some districts. Among the provocations is the sinking of the Greek cruiser Helle by an Italian submarine.

Over Britain... There are no major German attacks even though the weather is reasonably good. In response to pleas from Dowding the Air Ministry agrees to give Fighter Command some extra pilots from other RAF branches and to shorten the training period for new pilots even though this has obvious disadvantages.