THE WAR STEP BY STEP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 71, 6 October 1939, Page 8

THE WAR STEP BY STEP

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 4.

Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, returns to Rome.. Negotiations with Germany seem to have deadlocked. Italy is believed to have yielded nothing, and some observers think she is inclining to Allied side. Hitler reported to be most dissatisfied.

Russia's attitude still obscure.. She may enter war if Russo-German peace refused, or she may take view that she has realised her Avar aims and ob.scr.vc neutrality. Reports of Soviet troops massing on Afghanistan and Tibetan border with consequent threat to India. Soviet continues pressure cn Baltic states. Refusal of Nazi peace offer to Allies thought to be certain. Artillery fire and air battles on Western Front. British preparations continue. Troops in good spirits "Berlin or Bust'' their motto. British planes over Berlin. United States refuses to recognise the partition of Poland. Repeal of Neutrality Bill hoped for. South American raider stated to be a German pocket battleship. Repotts that submarines are being refueled and provisioned of! American and South American coasts. French cruiser stated to have sunk Dominican coastguard cutter which was refueling submarines. Swedish and other neutral shipping suffers heavily. Eight steamers captured and others sunk. Germans say that British ships are armed and announces that measures will be taken against them.

In New Zealand 7000 men have been passed fit for the army t total enlistments being 14,742 and 11,472 having been medically examined.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4. Mr Chamberlain tells the Commons that no throat will induce the Allies to abandon the struggle. Thy rule of violence must be ended, Mr Lloj'd George suggests that a meeting of the powers should be held i! a neutral state puts forward such a proposal. Sections of House ask for secret session: Mr Cliambci lain unwilling. Germany professes inability to understand Britain's desire to continue the Avar! Pan-American conference approves proposals for . r »0 mile "safety belt'' around, shores of America. Flood of argument on American Neutrality Bill continues. Ex-President Hoover iu a statement says that the Allies cannot Josethe Avar, Avhieh at the worst can only end in a stalemate. Storm of indignation in Denmark over sinking of Danish and other neutral ships by Germans Convoys may be instituted. Gcrmanv still capturing or sinking neutral ships in Baltic. Patrols active on Western Front. French now hold 65 Atllages and 150 square miles of German territory. Maginot Line now out of range of German guns. French claim to haA~e shot down 21 German planes and lost eight during month. Russia understood to be proposing a pact of mutual assistance to Turkey. which is to be invoked only if a third power should attack. LatA'ia, Lithuania and Finland expected to sign a pact Avith Russia similar to that of Estonia. Tn New Zealand the stream of recruits continues to (low ir.tn camps. Announcement that a special Maori rifle battalion will be fo IMK'O.