BELGIUM ORDERS ARMY MOBILIZED; 18 SEIZED IN PLOT TO OVERTHROW U.S. (1/15/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, Cabrillo College Library | 1/15/40 | James MacDonald, Herbert L. Matthews, Raymond Daniell, Walter Duranty, Harold Denny

[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]

EVOLUTION OF PLAN YELLOW OCTOBER 1939-JANUARY 1940

This will also be posted on my profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Some of the copy is kind of light. I had a little trouble with the Cabrillo College fiche reader/printer.

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

[abb]

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.

[abb]

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)

[BroJoeK]

"Soviet is Believed to be Misinformed – 13-14"

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?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Can we even believe that Walter Duranty didn't understand that?

Maybe he was to busy being the smartest guy in Riga.

Pravda's article shows once more how profoundly Soviet journalists - who once claimed to know and even represented, in some measure, the mass opinion of foreign countries - have lost touch with that opinion and failed to understand it.

[LibertyRocks]

Thank you. :) Pinging to my daughter as well...

[beebuster2000]

great post today homer. i wonder what ever happened to the
“sports club” guys arrested in the plot?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Special deal today only! Family members can be added to an existing subscription at no extra charge!

[CougarGA7]

Day 47 of the Winter War, January 15, 1940

Viipuri: the city is subjected to surprise attacks from the air. The sirens start up at 23 minutes past noon as the first bombs explode. The late warning means there are still many people on the streets and in shops and offices. Three people are killed and several injured. The attack devastates the area around Punaisenlähteentori square.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Finns advance in Salla

• Undeterred by his jammed machine gun, Staff Sergeant Siltavuori, a squadron test pilot, downs an enemy DB bomber by cutting its rudder with the propeller on his Fokker.

• Northern Finland: Finnish troops begin to pursue the retreating enemy in Salla by advancing from Joutsijärvi in the direction of Märkäjärvi.

• Ladoga Karelia: Viitavaara on the River Aittojoki is finally lost to the Russians.

• Eastern Isthmus: in Taipale, Finnish troops repulse an assault by a fairly small enemy detachment.

• Finnish patrols on the eastern border are still vigorous and effective.

• Viipuri: the city is subjected to surprise attacks from the air. The sirens start up at 23 minutes past noon as the first bombs explode. The late warning means there are still many people on the streets and in shops and offices. Three people are killed and several injured. The attack devastates the area around Punaisenlähteentori square.

• Abroad: the Swedish Government responds to the Soviet note accusing Sweden of abandoning its neutrality and the Swedish press of publishing anti-Soviet material. The Swedes reject the accusation and affirm their commitment to freedom of the press.

• The German Foreign Ministry denies rumours of German attempts to play a mediating role in the Finno-Soviet conflict and claims that the visits of the German Ambassador in Moscow to Foreign Minister Molotov have merely concerned economic relations between the two countries.

• The Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf donates her gold medal from the Swedish Academy and her Nobel Gold Medal to the collection in aid of Finland.