THE WAR STEP BY STEP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 75, 16 October 1939, Page 2

THE WAR STEP BY STEP

MONDAY OCTOBER 9.

Liner Iroquois searched ibr explosives; none found. Britain brands German allegations that ship will be sunk by English action as a clunky lie showing the "criminal mentality ol' the Nazi leaders. Troops of British Expeditionary Force still being transported to France. Difficult task being accomplished in, Unexpectedly good time. Foreign .submarines seen oil West Indies and southern United States. U.S.A, expanding army to peacetime limit of 280,000. Hitler reported to be planning exrchange of over 1(HiO Geruianr; in eastern Europe. Sixty thousand enlist in Canada. Expeditionary Force expected to leave for Europe early in New Year. Soviet likely to put pressure on Finland, though Germany has always regarded this country as a Scandinavion state ar?d outside the orbit of Soviet influence in the Baltic. Britain makes available for new Polish army. France lending 1)00,000,000 francs.

Heavy rain on Western Front brings operations to a standstill. Little artillery activity.

OCTOBER 10, Talk of large-scale German push on Western Front before the bad weather sets in. Outflanking movement thought unlikely and direct assault on Maginot Line most probable. Frereh confident they can with stand most determine. 1 , attack. Persistant Geiman patrols drive.i i; ; ick. Covtant artille.y fire. planes carry out daring reconnaisnnce of the line at low altitude without casualties. Germans taken by surprise. Pilots report that line is in obviously unfinished state. Finns stand firm against Russian demands and seek support from Germanv and other Scandinavian states.

Italian press str'kes new note. It can understand some of Anglo-French motives. Admits Hitler's proposals are vague and do not point the way to facing new problems. Big German exodus f |- om Baltic states which arc now under Russian dominance. Russia proceeds with tlv;: sovietisation of her portion of Poland Statement from Moscow that Germany i.s to be granted immediate .sup plies of raw mnteHa?;;. Xevutr'als doubt whether this is possible.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11. ? Intense artillery fire on Western i Front. Floods on Rhine threaten . section Siegfried Line. Observers believe Germans may be preparing for ■ one of three possible offensives, either at Saarbrucken, an attack • through Luxemburg, or a drive from the north and an attack at the Swiss end of the line. German freighters laden with grain concentrating at Montevideo Conjectures as to purpose. Submarine and two tankers seen off Flor- " ida. Many small German ships going northward from Scandinavia, either to attempt to blockade Britain or to act as supply ships for submarines. Athenia death roll announced as 9-1 passengers and 16 of crew. Ger-| man bombers attack British warships in North Sea. Planes driven otF, three or four damaged and crashing in Scandinavia on way home. German squadron escapes in darkness when chased by British naval vessels Russian troops mass on Iran and Afghanistan borders, causing uneasiness. Portugal reiterates fidelity to British alliance. Daring British air reeonnaisance of full extent of West Wall. Finland alarmed at huge Russian army on border. Fortification measures announced, Sweden following suit. Finnish envoy goes to Moscow. Russia has made no definite demands and Finns say they will resist request for military bases. Russian economic aid to Germany not thought likely. Petrol and oil cannot be exported. American belief that substantial peace moves can be expected stated to be hampering repeal of arms embargo. American mediation stated to depend on the Allies. "* - - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12. Wild rumours in Berlin of armistice and also that King George had abdicated. Miller reported to have ordered that Allies are to be driven out of Germany. Attack will meet stern resistance as the allies are fully ready. French show little disposition < to strike leaving it to the winter and blockade to destroy Nazism. (Continued at foot of next colnim:)

Hitler defiant. No power can beat Germany lie says. New Zenlanders enlist in London for service .with the special force. Italy hopes that a peace may arranged through the neutral state. Stalin out-manoeuvring Hitler in. the Balkans ihe terms being war materials against teriitory. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13. Artillery fire and raiding on western front in hc-avj- rain and mud. German planes trying to cross French lines to photograph Purpose apparently to gather information for an offensive. In the House of Commons, Mr L. Hore-Belisha, says that in five weeks 158,000 men have been transported to France without the slightest casualty. Twenty-five thousand vehicles including tanks had been moved from England. British strength now about 1,000,000 men. Finnish delegation goes to Moscow. Finns say they will not yield to threats. America sends note to Soviet, urging that no attack be made on Finland.

Scheme to establish -vast air for£e training centres in Canada is warmly approved. Canada, New Zealand and Australia will co-operate and furnish thousands of pilots. Aircraft factories to he established there.. England to pay 50 per cent of Caßfulfl 125 per cent and New Zealand and Australia i' 2% per cent each. Liner Iroquuis arrives safely at New York. Polisii campaign reported lo have cost Germany 91,278 dead. 148.345 wounded, 190 tanks destroyed, damaged and 426 planes destroyedTrawler fired on and sunk when entering Lyttelton Harbottr. Skipper killed.