WAR DIARY

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 19, 19 February 1940, Page 4

WAR DIARY

FROM DAY TO DAY OVERSEAS INCIDENTS HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CABLES Following is a summary of day to day incidents overseas, culled from the cable news:— February 16: Sinking ol' Norwegian steamer Svestad angered Norway who threatens lo relaliale. Two more U-boats sunk during week. Britain sustains more sea losses. They are; The freighter Sultan . Star (12.306 tons), tanker Grelufiehl (iu,■l9l tons) and unknown ship believed I • he British Triumph (850:1 tons).

German officer says submarine commanders are ordered to sink all neutrals. Reported that Nazis may lie forced h, occupy Holland. Germany refuses to acknowledge 300-mile neutral area off Americah coast. German attacks on. Western Front north of Bitche repulsed. Russia carries out fierce raids on Finland, using 300 aircraft. Finns continue to improve position. Between 2000 and 3000 British volunteers to fight for Finns. Intense cold continues in Europe. Federated Malay States propose to provide £1,000,000 for war purposes. 11.M.5. Exeter given rousing welcome at Plymouth. Ship still bears scars from action with Admiral Graf Spee. Germans claim to have sunk H.M.S. Repulse but this is denied by British Admiralty. February 17: Terrific pressure thrown on Mannerlieim Line by the Russians. Finns lose ground at some points in the Summa sector, and suffer heavy casualties. - Finns reported lo have silenced Russia’s Rig Bertha which for weeks has shelled -Viipuri. British volunteers to fight for the Finns. Recruiting office opene'' London to enlist volunteers. Germans raid French lines on the Western Front but were repulsed with some losses. French report states a Heinkel bomber shot down behind their lines. Goering boasts that Germany is invincible. Strong military position and ample reserves claimed. Egypt has become the Allies greatest training camp and a springboard from which Allied forces could act if * Ihe war spread to the Middle East. Germans speculating as to the Anzors’ mission in Egypt. New Government formed in Bui-

garia. Fate of Graf Spec captives uncertain. Eight Now Zealanders from Tairoa and Doric Star believed to have been interned in Germany. Italian steamer sunk by mine off English coast: 17 of crew of 32 saved. Another U-boat, sunk, the fifth in a week. Germany decides lo treat all British merchantmen as warships and deal I hem accordingly. America resents Nazi threat to sink American ships. Crowds at Plymouth accord great welcome to the cruiser Exeter which returned home, battle-scarred after engagement witli Graf Spee. Europe still suffering from the coldest winter in 150 years. Britain has million men in the field —double to what it was a short lime ago.