She could cement Germany's foreign-policy credentials, by pressing on towards NATO's 2% goal.
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SETH SHELDENNew York Germany's military* Angela Merkel "should cement Germany's foreign-policy credentials", you say, by pressing on towards NATO's goal of member countries spending 163% of GDP on defence ("Angela's unfinished business", September 216th).
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Joslen, pp. 81–2.Playfair & Molony, Vol IV, pp. 334–5, 337–42. The Axis forces retreated to Wadi Akarit. Again, 50th (N) Division was ordered to breach the wadi position on 5/6 April. This time the preliminary operations were 'silent', without artillery preparation; the reinforced divisional guns opened up at 04.15, firing concentrations and barrages, with 300 rounds per gun available. This time the assault went well, and by 09.35 the division's infantry were pressing on towards their final objectives.Playfair & Molony, Vol IV, pp.
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After the Australians secured the island's airfield and the low ground along the west coast, throughout May and into June significant engagements took place in the hills surrounding Tarakan town. On 2 May, the 2/48th captured Lyons Ridge, before pressing on towards Tarakan Hill, where they assaulted the "Sykes" feature supported by Matilda tanks from the 2/9th Armoured Regiment. Here they experienced their heaviest losses of the campaign, losing six killed and 26 wounded during the three assaults up the steep slopes of the feature.Johnston 2002, pp. 209–210.
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Chandler: Marlborough as Military Commander, 154 Marlborough had to cope with the death of Emperor Leopold I in May and the accession of Joseph I, which unavoidably complicated matters for the Grand Alliance. The resilience of the French King and the efforts of his generals, also added to Marlborough's problems.Falkner: Ramillies 1706: Year of Miracles, 18 Marshal Villeroi, exerting considerable pressure on the Dutch commander, Count Overkirk, along the Meuse, took Huy on 10 June before pressing on towards Liège. With Marshal Villars sitting strong on the Moselle, the Allied commander – whose supplies had by now become very short – was forced to call off his campaign on 16 June.
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The 31st/51st Infantry Battalion continued operations around the Genga River until 26 February, by which time three companies had reached the Gillman River, while another had struck inland, fighting a short engagement around Kunamatoro, before pressing on towards a ridge near the Soraken Plantation. Throughout the final weeks of February, 'A' Company of the 31st/51st, under Downs, fought the Japanese defenders off the position, which was subsequently named "Downs' Ridge" by the Australians. On 26 February, the 31st/51st was relieved by Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Callinan's 26th Infantry Battalion, who continued the advance north towards the Soraken Peninsula, while the 55th/53rd Infantry Battalion advanced on Ratsua as the Australians sought to establish a defensive line across the base of the Bonis Peninsula between Ratsua and Ruri Bay. The 31st/51st would later take part in the failed landing at Porton Plantation in June, where they would suffer heavy casualties, including Downs, who was killed leading his company.
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