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Seems I had a case of happy-finger on the print button when I worked through 12/7. Whatever the reason, there is a lot of news today, much of it not war-related.

Demand is Urgent – 2-3
The International Situation – 3
Soviet Drive is On – 4-6
Britain is Sending Arms to Finland – 7
Incidents in European Conflict – 8
Nazi Consulate Aide Here Beaten to Death in Home – 9-11
Free Enterprise Vital to Recovery, Industry is Told – 12-14
Kennedy Arrives to See President – 15-16
World Fair Opening Date Is Advanced to May 11 – 16
Dies Aims To Call Trotsky, Rivera – 17
Boy From Foundling Home Adopted by R.K. Mellons – 17
Missing Poet Found After Sixteen Years – 17-18
Van Gogh Canvas is Sold for $19,000 – 19
List of Day’s Gifts to the Neediest Cases * - 20-23

* With all the stories ending with “DO NOT FORGET The Hundred Neediest” I thought I should run a report on the campaign behind the slogan at least once. This is it.

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1939/dec39/07dec39.htm

Soviets attack Kollaa, capture Soumussalmi
Thursday, December 7, 1939 www.onwar.com

In the Winter War... In the area north of Lake Ladoga the Finnish positions at Kollaa are attacked. Farther north, Soviet troops enter Suomussalmi on the east side of Lake Kianta after it has been evacuated by the Finns.

In Moscow... The Soviet government announces a naval blockade of the Finnish southern and western coasts.

In Stockholm... Sweden declares its neutrality in the Winter War.

In Copenhagen... Denmark declares its neutrality in the Winter War.

In Oslo... Norway declares its neutrality in the Winter War.

In Paris... British King George VI has lunch with President Lebrun and the French Prime Minister, Edouard Daladier.

In the Atlantic... The German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee sinks SS Streonshalh south of Trinidad. This is the ninth and last victim. Meanwhile, a British cruiser squadron sails towards the River Plate estuary, anticipating an interception of the German warship.

NAVAL EVENTS-7 December, 1939 German pocket battleship ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE sank steamer STREONSHALH (3895grt) south of Trinidad in 25‑01S, 27‑50W. _____ Heavy cruisers EXETER and CUMBERLAND were on patrol in the Falkland Island area. The Admiralty anticipated that the German pocket battleship might attack Port Stanley on the anniversary of the Falkland Island naval battle in which a British force under Vice Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee defeated a German force under Vice Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee on 8 December 1914. When the attack did not materialize, they entered Port Stanley on the 9th. EXETER left late that morning to escort Falkland Island Company ship LAFONIA (1961grt) to Rio de la Plata. __________________ U.23 sank Danish steamer SCOTIA (2400grt). Danish steamer HAFNIA (2031grt) was nearby and searched unsuccessfully for any survivors. She also observed U.23 searching. _____ U.38 sank British steamer THOMAS WALTON (4660grt) south of Vestfjord. Thirteen crew were lost, with 12 survivors picked up by German steamer SEBU (1894grt) and landed at Bodo, and another 22 rescued by Norwegian steamer IRMA (1392grt). _____ U.47 sank Dutch steamer TAJANDOEN (8159grt) in the English Channel. Six crew were lost, but British steamer LOUIS SCHEID (6057grt) rescued 62 survivors. Dutch steamer NAALDWIJK (2041grt) searched for those who were missing, but without success. ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 6 DECEMBER 1939 GERMAN DESTROYER MINELAYING OFF CROMER AND HMS JERSEY TORPEDOED German destroyers ERICH GIESE, BERND VON ARNIM and HANS LODY departed Wilhelmshaven to lay mines off Cromer. En route, ARNIM had a mechanical breakdown and returned to port, but GIESE carried out her lay during the night of the 6th/7th escorted by LODY. While the minelay was in progress, destroyers JERSEY and JUNO, patrolling in the area, were sighted four miles SE of Cromer Knoll Light. GIESE torpedoed JERSEY at 0235/7th and left her badly damaged with Lt (E) J Le C Morris, Gunner (T) G L Blowers and eight ratings killed, and Cadet A R W Archibald, Surgeon Lt H G Silverster and ten ratings injured. Sister ships JUNO, JACKAL and JANUS assisted JERSEY was towed by JUNO, and screened by JACKAL, which departed the Humber at 0600. JANUS, also in the Humber, did not leave until later in the morning when the visibility improved. Tug YORKSHIREMAN (251grt) later took over JERSEY and took her to Immingham. JUNO and JACKAL attacked a submarine contact near the location of her torpedoing. JERSEY received temporary repairs at the Humber Graving Dock until 7 January and then proceeded to Amos Smith Dock, Hull where she was under repair until 23 September 1940.

War Diary and War Standing Orders of Commander in Chief, Submarines, Admiral Donitz
5-7 December, 1939

5.12
C-in-C Navy (Raeder) paid a short visit to Group Headquarters and to B.d.U.

U26 entered port. She did not carry out her minelaying operation off Gibraltar as the weather there was too bad. She was afterwards in the Mediterranean, as ordered, but apparently struck a poor time for traffic.

The result of her patrol is one steamer sunk. Very little for 44 days. The stormy weather is mainly to blame. The C.O. cannot be blamed for not carrying out the minelaying operation because he did not consider it possible in view of local conditions.

These things can only be judged at the time. But he did not take long enough to make his observations; he should have at least made one more attempt in different weather conditions.

It was a mistake to send U 25, U 26 and U 53 into the Mediterranean. U 25 had to return before she ever got there, U 53 did not get through and U 26 hardly encountered any shipping worth mentioning. This patrol shows all the disadvantages of a long outward passage. The boat can only operate for a few days and the operation is without success if she does not come upon any traffic in those few days.

________________________________________________________
6.12.

B.d.U. requested Naval War Staff to extend the limits within which darkened ships may be attacked without warning. This is desirable:

1) in view of U 38’s present operation off and in the Westfjord. It is most probable that the English ships there are darkened. Nearly all of them are painted grey, to make them less visible, and are armed.

2) for U-boat operations in the Mediterranean and off the Portuguese coast. Returned boats say that they sighted darkened ships there and were never certain what to do. Action according to prize law is very difficult and dangerous for the boat especially near Gibraltar.

Naval War Staff would not give their approval, as there might be German ships off the Norwegian and Spanish coasts.

_______________________________________________________

7.12.

U 29 reported that she was returning. The boat could not carry out her minelaying operation because of anti-S/M activity and weather conditions (11 days of gales) and now has to return home as her fuel stocks are exhausted. Thank God our fears for her safety were without foundation.

U 41 entered port. She sank:

1) Trawler Creswell
2) Tanker Arne Kjode
3) S.S. Darine
4) Trawler Les Barges

On her way out the weather was bad and sometimes stormy and she did not encounter much shipping. Northwest of Cape Finisterre in good weather, she came upon the convoy reported by U 53, but could not maneuver into a good attacking position.

She fired a number of failures and misses, reasons for which are being investigated. She still had the old type pistols. The results of her patrol were only fair, due to these failures, but nevertheless shows ability and determination.