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Sorry to say we have hit a rough patch as far as readability goes. On the last trip to McHenry Library I ran into the deadly combination of a run-down reader and bad microfilm. It will improve some as I learned to adapt by making lots of copies to capture a small area. When everything clicks I can get a full newspaper page in four copies. With some of these I was making seven or eight copies to get half that much. The worst will be from now to February 27. On the 28th a better functioning machine opened up so I switched. I stayed on that until March 12. For my next news gathering trip I will try the Monterey Public again and see how that goes. War is hell. Thanks for your patience.

In other news, the index by author at the bottom of Homer’s profile is now updated to include all of October 1939. The missing period is now only two months – November and December 1939.

Shipping is Warned – 2-3
Independent Albania Urged as a War Aim – 3
The International Situation – 3
British Chase Foe from Sudan Front – 4
Advance by Greeks Reported General – 4
London to Store Bells of St. Clement Danes – 4
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the War – 5-6
Luxembourgers Ordered to Take German Names – 6
Best Sellers of the Week * – 7

* Quarterly feature to follow evolution of American reading habits. “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “Random Harvest” are competing for the top spot in fiction this time around. Here are the earlier lists. They are near the end of the post in each case.

11/18/40 Thread
8/19/40 Thread
5/13/40 Thread
2/19/40 Thread
10/23/39 Thread

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1941/feb41/f17feb41.htm

Bulgaria and Turkey sign friendship pact

Monday, February 17, 1941 www.onwar.com

In Sofia... Under German pressure Turkey and Bulgaria sign a friendship agreement by which Turkey accepts that the movement of German troops through Bulgaria is not an act of war. This more or less confirms that there is no possibility of Turkey being persuaded to ally with Britain.

Luxembourgers ordered to Take German Names.

Berlin, Feb 16 - All citizens of Luxembourg, as well as all Stateless persons residing there, must “Germanize” their first names by decree of the Chief of Civil Administration, it was reported today.

They may either adopt the German equivalents of their present names or, if this is impossible, choose new German names.

If their last names are French or otherwise changed versions of original German names, the original German must be adopted. the decree stipulates.

You really have to stop and think about this little article.

What are the Germans doing and why? If you were in Luxembourg, what would you think and do? Would you go along with it and think it was no big deal? Would you protest? What are your choices?

Germany was trying to slowly and methodically destroy their heritage. I was in Mongolia after 80 years of communist rule and they were rediscovering their heritage. The communists did not destroy it but they did suppress it for 80 years. The Mongolians were very proud of Genghis Khan.

Our heritage has been destroyed. Will we fight back.

What new name will you be issued Comrade?