THE WAR, STEP BY STEP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 109, 12 January 1940, Page 2

THE WAR, STEP BY STEP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9th Reports have reached London to the elYect t'hat Field-Marshal Goering lias been shot and it is alleged that lierr Hi mmicr, chief of Hitler's Gestapo, was responsible for the action. It is reported that the Germans are commenting on the appointment of Mr Oliver Stanley to succeed Mr Hore-Belisha as War Secretary on the grounds that he is equally as efficient a representative of Jewry. Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano and his Hungarian vis-a-vis Count Czaky discuss Balkan problems. A German war communique, issued in Berlin, says the Navy recently repeatedly intercepted groups of Poles of military age who were trying to reach enemy States from the Baltic countries. The Air Force reconnoitred over England. and France. There have been no important events on the Western Front. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10th It is learned on the highest authority that Count Czaky, Hungarian Foreign Minister, and Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, concluded a defensive military alliance designed to assure Hungary of Italy's support against aggression from either Russia or Germany. It is understood Yugoslavia is unwilling to join an outright alliance, but is prepared to enter a triple friendship pact, under which, it i:presumed, Italy will be permitted to move troops across her territory. 1.-1,000 ton British li ner stages a two-hour fight with U-boat. Submarine 'lees. All of the crew of the British freighter Cedrington Court, sunk by mine, were saved. The latest casuality list issued by tfie Admiralty covers the period to December 14. It is as follows: Officers. seven killed, one (lit § of wounds three died, four missing and believed killed, two prisoners of war, three wounded. Ratings: 58 killed, three died of wounds, 14 died, seven missing and believed killed, 103 injured in the course of war service. At the King's request the rationing of the Royal household will be as strict as possible. The King and Queen, and other members of the RoyaL Family, in readiness for the rationing of bacon, butter an-:l sugar, which begins to-day, have been issued with travelling ration cards similar lo those used bj r commercial travellers and others, who have to move continuously about the country. General Gainelin. 'Allied Comma n-der-in-Chief, invests General Viscount Gort, V.C., British Comman-der-in-Chief, and Gene;"il Sir Edmund Ironside, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. The United States steamer Manhattan, which was detained at Gibraltar last night as the cargo was

not rovercd by a navicert, was released after an undertaking was given by the ship's agents that any .suspicious cargo items avouUl be | held at British disposal. A special communique from, Kel-v jsinki states that the Finnish Army ! wiped out the -1-1 th Division ,of the Red Armj' near Suomussalmi, on the Soviet frontier at tliQ. "waist" of Finland. Thousands were killed and over 1000 were taken prisoners. The booty includes 1180 horses, 102 guns and 43 tanks. Finland is wikl with jubilation over this, the third and greatest con quest of the campaign ending in the crushing defeat of llie Russian division of 18,000 men. It also resulted in the capture of four times the Avar material secured after the victory over the 163 rd Division in the same area in Christmas week. The litli Division, which was unaware of the destruction of the 163 rd, was annihilated between Suomossalmi and Raate, a small frontier village, while endeavouring to outflank the Finns in the hope of reinforcing their comrades. The remnants of the invading division were driven back into Russia in desperate condition, the Finnish ski patrols having severed the branch railway on Avhicli the Red troops depended for supplies-. Russians bomb open towns in the Gulf of Finland. Three more Russian 'planes shot down by the Finn defenders. A Moscow communique says thjat the Russians routed a Finnish detachment north-east of Lake Ladoga The Paris wireless reports that 20 officers of the German Staff have gone to Russia in order to help vilh the re-organisation of the Red Army