BRITAIN AND FRANCE STATE WAR AIMS (11/13/39)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 11/13/39 | Raymond Daniell, Marcus Tollet, G.E.R. Gedye, James B. Reston, Winston Churchill

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime”.)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The International Situation – 1
Repy to Neutrals – 2-3
Incidents in European Conflict – 3
7 Flying Fortresses Welcomed by Peru – 4
Mussolini Increases Italy’s Army by 23,000; Specialists Enrolled to Strengthen Units – 4
Finns May Go Home – 5-6
Churchill Taunts Hitler to Combat – 7-8
Text of Churchill’s War Broadcast – 9-10

[abb]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1939/nov39/f13nov39.htm

Finns end negotiations with Soviets
Monday, November 13, 1939 www.onwar.com

In Moscow... Finnish delegates, led by Paasikivi, leave for Helsinki after negotiations, over an exchange of territory and border revisions, break down. The Finns are especially unwilling to meet the Soviet demand for the cession of Hanko because it would give the USSR complete control over the Gulf of Finland and the most important part of the country. Meanwhile, in response to the breakdown of the talks, Stalin orders preparations for war against Finland.

In Britain... The HMS Blanche strikes a mine and is sunk off the Thames estuary. It is the first Royal Navy destroyer lost during the war.

In the Shetland Islands... German bombers drop bombs on British territory, for the first time, in a strike targeting naval vessels and flying boats. No significant damage is done. A rabbit is reported to have been killed.

In London... General Henry Crerar sets up the Canadian military headquarters.

In Bucharest... King Carol of Romania offers himself as a secret mediator between the British and French and the Germans.

[abb]

http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-15B-Blanche.htm

D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e

1 9 3 9

September
Joined 19th Destroyer Flotilla at Dover for escort duties including covering passage of ships taking troops of BEF to French ports.

October
Channel and North Sea convoy defence in continuation.

November

11th Escorted HM Minelaying Cruiser ADVENTURE with HM Destroyer BASILISK for passage from Humber to Portsmouth.

13th Stood by HMS ADVENTURE after she was mined near the Tongue Lightship in Thames estuary.

Ship also detonated another magnetic mine which caused major structural damage aft and disabled with significant flooding.

Taken in tow by tug FABIA but but during passage to Sheerness the ship capsized in position one mile north of Spit Buoy (51.29N 01.3) One rating was killed and 12 others injured,.

(Note : HMS BLANCHE was the first British Destroyer to be lost by enemy action in WW2. The mines which were responsible had been laid early the same night by German destroyers KARL GALSTER, HANS LUDEMAN, HERMAN KUNNE and WILHELM HEIDKAMP)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Over time I have seen that the sports and movie review posts get significantly fewer views than the general news posts. Often the number of views for those is less than the number of people on the ping list, which rarely happens with the main news. So I have triplicated the ping list. There is now the main list, which includes everyone, a movie ping list, and a sports ping list. For now they all have the same names. (Except for the person who freep mailed me this morning.) If anyone wants off any of the three notify me by reply - public or private - and I will tailor the lists accordingly.

Thank you all for your continuing interest in these historical posts.

Homer

[Sherman Logan]

Please take me off all but the General Ping list.

Sounds like a Chinese warlord of the time!

[PzLdr]

So Mussolini keeps expanding his army. Too bad for them he didn’t modernize their equipment.

[CougarGA7]

I know I posted this yesterday but since the text of his speech ended up in today's paper I figured I should re-post the audio for those interested.

BBC - Winston Churchill on Ten Weeks of War

[PAR35]

Thanks for the options. I’ll stay on all 3 for now.

[VaRepublican]

Ya know what Homer? I find myself skimmimg these articles and even bypassing. I am here living my life and trying to make a buck and provide for my family. It seems the news is horrible and there is nothing I can do about it, wow does this sound familiar?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

It seems the news is horrible and there is nothing I can do about it.

As you are a Virginia Republican I believe you did something about it last week.

[beebuster2000]

churchill beats the war drum. italians continue as dupes, cant believe what that madman hitler has gotten them into.

[VaRepublican]

I suppose my point was, were the American people doing the same thing back in 1939?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I know I posted this yesterday but since the text of his speech ended up in today's paper I figured I should re-post the audio for those interested.

Excerpt:

I have the sensation and also the conviction that that evil man over there and his cluster of confederates are not sure of themselves as we are sure of ourstelves, that they are harassed in their guilty souls by the thought and fear of an ever-approaching retribution for their crimes and for the orgy of destruction in which they have plunged us all.

Churchill must have had a really top-notch teleprompter.

[BroJoeK]

"Churchill must have had a really top-notch teleprompter. "

And speech-writer. ;-)

More seriously, Churchill does not sound here as if he understands the many military disasters that the allies will soon face.

[agere_contra]

That’s not surprising: everyone expected France to be able to hold off Germany. The Allies even had better tanks (!)

We have the advantage of knowing about Blitzkrieg for sixty years. The allies knew nothing about it.