Peril Kept Secret – 2-3
Russian Prisoners Are Protected in Finland; Camp for Them Away From Bombed Areas – 4
Rumors of Impure Water Ridiculous, Says Goodman – 4
Italy is Disturbed By Neutrals’ Fear – 5
Indian Controversy is Nearer Solution – 5
Linked to ‘Terror’ – 6-9
Noted Reich Spy Reported Caught – 9
Britons Must Cut Living Standard – 10-11
Croats Greet Prince Paul as Sealing Unity; Peasants Salute Yugoslav Regent in Zagreb – 10
The International Situation – 11
Russia Shows Ire – 12-13
Soviet is Believed to be Misinformed – 13-14
Russian Prosecutor is Accused in Pravda – 14
Australian Accord with Us Held Vital – 14
Allies Give Turkey £43,500,000 Credits – 14
Soviet Bombs Hit U.S. Envoy’s Home – 15-16
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/jan40/f15jan40.htm
Belgium refuses Allies transit rights
Monday, January 15, 1940 www.onwar.com
In Belgium... The Mechelen incident of January 10th has been followed by much diplomatic activity. For a time the British and French have believed that they will be invited to move troops into Belgium even before a German attack but this possibility is now firmly ruled out by the Belgian government.
The Winter War... The Soviet forces begin to bombard the Finnish lines around Summa. This softening-up process will continue until the end of the month, giving the defending Finnish troops little rest and doing considerable damage to their defenses.
In Cairo... General Sir Archibald Wavell is appointed the British Commander-in-Chief Middle East.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/15.htm
January 15th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Coastal Command: A German submarine bombed in the North Sea.
Destroyers HMS Offa and Oribi laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
BELGIUM: The government refuses to grant transit rights to enable Allied troops to cross Belgian territory.
GERMANY: Following on from the Mechelen incident of the 10th, Hitler issues his ‘Basic Order No. 1’ on security, and stipulated that it be displayed on posters in every military headquarters. Henceforth, no-one was to be given any classified information that was not directly relevant to his job, and even then, he was not to be told earlier, or more, than was absolutely necessary.
FINLAND: Russia starts bombing the Finnish lines at Summa.
EGYPT: Cairo: As Italy looks at Britain with growing hostility from its African colonies, the man now in the front line is General Sir Archibald Wavell, Britain’s C-in-C Middle East.
An officer in the Boer War at the age of 18, he lost an eye at Ypres and later became an advocate of mobile warfare. As GSO (General Staff Officer) 1 of 3 Division he was closely involved in the training of the Experimental Armoured Force when it was formed as part of the division in 1927, and from 1930 he commanded the 6th Infantry Brigade. A poet and an intellectual, Wavell is both an outstanding staff officer and a formidable leader of men; his book ‘Generals and Generalship (1939)’ is a classic.
U.S.A.: Joint amphibious exercise begin in the Monterey, California, area to (1) provide training for the Army and Navy in planning and executing Joint operations, (2) train Army troops in embarking and disembarking, and (3) afford an opportunity for elements of the General Headquarters Air Force (GHQAF) and Navy patrol squadrons to work together and with ground forces. (Jack McKillop)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: SS Gracia in Convoy OB-71 was damaged by a mine laid on 6 January by U-30 about 5 miles WSW of the Bar Lightvessel, Liverpool.
At 0013, SS Fagerheim was hit by one torpedo from U-44 about 80 miles South-West of Quessant, broke in two and sank. The survivors were rescued and taken to Vigo, Spain.
At 0705 hours, the neutral Arendskerk was spotted by U-44 about 100 miles SW of Ouessant and tried to escape when the U-boat was sighted. It needed seven shots across her bow to stop the vessel. When the papers were checked it became clear that she carried contraband and the crew was ordered to abandon ship. At 1010, one torpedo struck in the engine room, breaking the ship in two. The afterpart sank, but the forepart remained afloat and had to be sunk 30 minutes later by 18 shells from the deck gun. The survivors were picked up by the Italian merchant Fedora, transferred to the Dutch merchant Poelau Bras and landed at Lisbon. (Dave Shirlaw)
An amusing piece by Walter Duranty, wherein he demonstrates his own misinformation, confusion, disorientation if not outright discombobulation in being unable to comprehend that ALL Soviet "reporters" were simply mouthpieces for good old Uncle Joe Stalin.
Soviet reporters were not "misinformed." They were simply "reporting" what they were told to report.
Can we even believe that Walter Duranty didn't understand that?
Thank you. :) Pinging to my daughter as well...