FINNISH LOAN GAINS IN SENATE AS HOUSE FIRES ON SOVIET TIES (2/8/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, Cabrillo College Library | 2/8/40 | Turner Catledge, Raymond Daniell, K.J. Eskelund

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[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” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
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]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
Finland – The Decisive Offensive, 1-21 February 1940
Evolution of Plan Yellow, October 1939-January 1940
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

[Homer_J_Simpson]

First Lord to Secretary 8.II.40

SPECIAL ENTRY CADETSHIPS

It seems very difficult to understand why this candidate should have been so decisively rejected, in view of his high educational qualifications, his Service connections, and his record as set out by his father in his letter of January 4. One has to be particularly careful that class prejudice does not enter into these decisions, and unless some better reasons are given to me I shall have to ask my Naval Secretary to interview the boy on my behalf, before assuming responsibility for writing to his father as proposed.

Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Finnish Loan Gains in Senate as House Fires on Soviet Ties – 2-3
Arming of Finland Speeded by British – 3
Schools in Britain Becoming Normal – 4
Smuts Shows Scope of Nazis’ Activities – 4
British Railways Get Profit Pledge – 5
The International Situation – 5
1,500 Russians Die as Drive is Pushed in East, Finns Say – 6-7
Soviet War Planes are Held Obsolete – 7
Parley at The Hague Under Police Guard – 7
Soviet Ship Brings $5,600,000 Gold to U.S. To Replenish Commercial Balances Here – 8
Saracoglu Sees War Kept from Balkans – 8
Roos is Executed by French as Spy – 9
50 Depart from Here to Fight with Finns – 9
Red Fliers Bomb Russians In a Raid on Prison Town – 9
Finding of Small Balloons Scares English Villages – 9
Americans Slain in Polish Terror – 10
Incidents in European Conflict – 10
Finns List Heavy Losses Of Soviet War Materials – 11

[abb]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/feb40/f08feb40.htm

Finns suffer artillery ammo shortages
Thursday, February 8, 1940 www.onwar.com

The Winter War... The Finns are very tired and their artillery is running short of ammunition. Throughout this period (of Soviet attacks beginning on February 1st) the diplomatic exchanges via Sweden continue, but achieve nothing in the face of Soviet refusals to modify their terms.

In Paris... Police raid the Soviet Press Agency and discover that it is being used as a front for pro-German propoganda.

On the Western Front... Two French soldiers capture a German patrol in Forbach Woods. One of the soldiers, Joseph Darnand, later heads the Vichy French secret police (January 10, 1943).

In the United States... “Harry Sawyer” (Sebold) arrives in New York to lead a German spy network in the USA. His special equipment includes “microdots”. (Sebold is a double agent, working for the FBI).

[abb]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/08.htm

February 8th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM: Destroyer HMS Holderness launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

EIRE: U-37 landed an agent in Donegal Bay. (Dave Shirlaw)
FRANCE:
Paris: Police raid the Soviet Press Agency and discover that it is being used as a front for pro-German propaganda.

On the Western Front, two French soldiers capture a German patrol in Forbach Woods. One of the soldiers, Joseph Darnand, later heads the Vichy French secret police. (Jack McKillop)

GIBRALTAR: U.S. freighter SS Scottsburg is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities. (Jack McKillop)

U.S.A.: William Sebold, aka Harry Sawyer, arrives in New York City from Genoa, Italy, to lead a German spy network in the USA. His special equipment includes “microdots.” Sebold, a naturalized U.S. citizen, had returned to Germany in February 1939 to visit his mother and was approached by German intelligence. He was recruited in September 1939 but because his U.S. passport had been stolen, he was allowed to go to the U.S. Consulate in Cologne to get a new one. While there, he told consulate officials about his recruitment and offered to work with the FBI on his return to the U.S. His testimony helped to convict 33 German agents in 1941. His story was the basis for the 1945 movie “The House on 92nd Street.” (Jack McKillop)

[agere_contra]

Thanks Homer, another great post.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I think I even got the correct photo today.

Day 71 of the Winter War, February 8, 1940

Ladoga Karelia: the enemy wipes out a Finnish ski battalion to the northeast of Lake Ladoga. Photo: SA-KUVA

Finnish evening at the Paris Opera

• The Soviet Union asks Finland which island it would be willing to surrender to house a Soviet base.

• Central Isthmus: Soviet infantry supported by tanks and protected by ski-borne armoured sheets manage to reach the front of the Finnish positions in Summa. By midnight the enemy has been forced to withdraw, leaving almost 150 armoured sheets in Finnish hands.

• Eastern Isthmus: two Soviet divisions launch a massive assault in Taipale at 10.15 in the morning.

• The enemy directs heavy shelling onto the eastern part of Kirvesmäki and the western strongholds in Terenttilä.

• The Finnish positions being shelled are also bombed by nine enemy aircraft at the same time as fighter aircraft strafe the front lines.

• Two of the Terenttilä strongholds are lost to the enemy. Finnish losses total 219 men, of whom 32 are killed.

• The enemy assault on Kirvesmäki fails with the loss of two assault tanks. In the north, 1,500 Russians are killed in Kuhmo.

• Ladoga Karelia: the enemy wipes out a Finnish ski battalion to the northeast of Lake Ladoga.

• An enemy detachment of around 250 men is surrounded to the east of Lake Nietjärvi.

• Government ministers Ryti, Walden and Tanner discuss the offer of help from the Allies and decide it should be used to exert pressure on both the Soviet Union and Sweden.

• Second Lieutenant Wilhelm Bekassy, a Hungarian volunteer, disappears while flying his Fiat G50 fighter, bought from Italy and assembled in Sweden, from the Swedish city of Västerås to Säkylä in southwest Finland.

• The Swedish national collection in aid of Finland has so far generated around 15 million krona.

• The British Labour Party delegation visiting Finland leaves for home today.

• Abroad: the Paris Opera is putting on a special gala evening to raise funds for Finland.

  © The Finnish Defence Forces 1999.

[CougarGA7]

Apologies to everyone for my absence. While out of town without a computer I blew up the clutch on my truck and was stranded. I will be picking up my Winter War duties again tomorrow. We also have a radio broadcast coming up in about a week that should be interesting.

[PAR35]

If you had headlined the foreclosure story instead, you might have picked up some new readers.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Maybe I should rethink my headline policy. “Finnish Loan Gains in Senate” doesn’t even attract readers from the ping list. Certainly not as many as “Pinocchio.”