The War Day by Day

Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3669, 17 February 1940, Page 4

The War Day by Day

WEDNESDAY February 14— The British freighter Sultan Star, of 12,306 tons, sunk by a torpedo off Land’s End. * =K= # Two more U-boats destroyed, bringing the total for the war to at least 44. The sinking of the Norwegian steamer Snestal, of 4114 tons, by a German mine or torpedo while proceeding to the United States in ballast caused considerable am ger in Norway. The Russian carried out severe raids on Finland but the defenders retained all vital points; THURSDAY February 15— Germany threatened to sink all neutral ships that called at Gibraltar for British inspection. * # «= The Danish steamer Chastine Maersk, of 5177 tons, was sunk by gunfire from a U-boat while bound from Morocco to Denmark. • * • On the Western Front the Germans opened gunfire north of Bitche, and later the infantry attacked under protection of a box barrage, but a retaliatory barrage crushed its effect. # # * Two German raids during a snowstorm on the Western Front were shattered by French mach-ine-gun fire. * . #. . # A report from England stated that the* strength of the British Army was double what it was a year ago. fs' f FRIDAY ' February 16 — The Finns admitted that under terrible rifle pressure from the Russians they withdrew from their first line positions at a number of points.