Monday, September 30, 2013

September 29, 1939: ALLYS REJECT PEACE:


RUSSO-GERMAN
THREAT SCORNED
Hitler and Stalin Warn of Intensified War Unless
Democracies Give Up Fighting And
Recognize Dictators' Victory

By UNITED PRESS
Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia re-drew the map of Eastern Europe today and offered it to the Allied powers as a basis for peace or for war on an unprecedented scale.
Great Britain immediately but unofficially rejected the . proposal as an attempt to frighten Europe with "the Communist bugaboo.'' They professed to see grounds for future disagreement between Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin and were expected to state formally that the war against Nazism would be fought to a finish.
The agreement between Germany and Russia was an overnight documentary transformation of Europe's political balance. Its implications were tremendous. Whether the blows struck diplomatically and strategically at the Allied front would change the attitude of Great Britain and France could not be definitely known pending further developments, but all indications were that they would—by necessity as well as by inclination—stand by their past declarations that the war would not end until Hitlerism is crushed.

 

By United Press
MOSCOW, Sept. 29.—Communist Russia and Nazi Germany concluded agreements today to partition Poland permanently, to attempt to end the war now and to- consult on "necessary measures" if the attempt fails.

The implicit threat was held plainly over Great Britain and France that" if they refused to recognize the annihilation of the Polish state and stop the war, Russia- would throw her 160,000,000 citizens into the war in alliance with Germany's 80,000,000.

Premier-Foreign ' Commissar Viacheslav Molotov and German Foreign Minister Joachim Von Ribintrop reached the agreements in an all-night conference which started shortly after midnight.

 
F. R. REPEATS:
U.S. CAN STAY
OUT OF WAR

President Says Nation
A c t i o n s on Peace
Basis Alone

International News Service.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.—President Roosevelt still remained silent on the third term issue today. He laughingly declined to discuss a suggestion of former Governor Landon, his G. O. P. opponent in the 1936 election, that he renounce a third term as a contribution to national unity in the world emergency.
By United Press WASHINGTON, Sept. 29. —
President Roosevelt today reiterated his conviction that the United States will be able to stay out of the war in Europe.

 DISARMED POLES
LEAVE WARSAW
Occupation by G e r m a n s Set
For Oct. 2 As City
Admits Defeat

 
FRENCH TROOPS
ADVANCE MILE

50 German Villages Taken
By Poilus So Far On
Western Front

By United Press .', ' .,
PARIS, Sept. 29.—French .;.troops advanced about a mile along a. five mile front in the Moselle Valley, an official dispatch .said today. ('The dispatch said the French had' captured 50 German villages so far;

The advance in the Moselle Valley was in the sector adjacent to Perlear the Luxembourg line, officials said.

 
BRITISH BOMB
NAZI WARSHIPS

By United Press
LONDON, Sept 29.—British  Royal Air Force planes attacked German warships off Helgoland, the Ministry of Information announced, today and "some of the planes have not returned," to their bases.

The ministry said that the planes were met with "formidable" antiaircraft fire but they pressed home their attack "at a low altitude."

The ministry did not state –whether any German ships were hit or damaged.

 

 

Friday, September 27, 2013

September 27,1939; WARSAW FALLS

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1939:



Berlin Announcement
Comes At End of 20th
Day of Siege
WARSAW RADIO TELLS
OF CITY'S DESTRUCTION
(Associated Press)
BKRLIN, Sept. 27—The German high command tonight claimed that "Warsaw has capitulated unconditionally" and added that the "handing over
of the city probably will occur Sept. 29."

RADIO SAYS CITY
MOLDING OUT

The announcement tame several hours after an earlier communique claiming that Warsaw's defenders had offered this morning to surrender and that General Johannes Von Blaskowltz had been commissioned to arrange details of the capitulation.

The German announcement came at the end of the 20th  day of Warsaw's siege. (As late as 2:45 p.m.—6:15 a.m. M.S.T.—the Warsaw radio was heard in Budapest, the announcer declaring the city still was holding out and would resist to the last.)

PORTIONS OF GERMAN
WESTWALL WIPED OUT
BY FRENCH ARTILLERY
Entire Western Front Blaze:
With Heavy Cannonading

By JOHN MARTIN
(Associated Press Staff Wrifer.)
PARIS, Sept. 27—(AP)_French artillery was reported today to have wiped out portions of the German Westwall between Merzlg and Saarbruecken as the entire western front blazed with heavy cannonading. Dispatches said the Germans had answered the bombardment with an intense counterfire on French advance positions
in the Saar and Piilatina( e areas to protect German troops working feverishly to rebuild shattered blockhouses.

A communique issued this morning by the general staff made no reference to this reported success, and said the night had been quiet.

The communique made mention, however, of "enemy artillery flre on ur rear lines In the region of Wisembourg.


An expanding Russia, having swallowed a good share of Poland,
is expected, by European observers, to reach next for part of Rumania
and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and, possibly, Finland.
An invasion of Rumania—the goal being that nation's rich
oil fields, would, it is believed, be made in consert with a German force.

OPINION IS DIVIDED IN
GERMANY ON POLAND;
WATCH MOSCOW VISIT

Hitler Confers With Chiefs
Belief Held Poland's
Future Decided
By JOSEPH SCHILDBACII
(Associated Press Staff Writer.)
BERLIN, Sept. 27.—(AP)—The question of whether Poland should survive as an independent state or disappear from the European map occupied diplomatic quarters today as Germany's foreign minister, Joachim Von Ribbentrop, departed for Moscow.

Accompanied by the Soviet Russian ambassador to Germany, Alexander SchkvarzefT, and a group of foreign office experts, Von Ribbentrop took off from Templehof airport in a four-motored plane.
POLICY DECIDED ON
The German policy toward final partition of Poland was decided observers believed, at a conference last night of Fuehrer Hitler, Von Ribbentrop and Field Marshal Hermann Goering. No official comment was forthcoming on the conference, which continued into the early morning.

Informed quarters said sharp differences of opinion had prevailed in Germany regarding the Polish situation. A strong group of Nazis close to Goering, it was said, favored complete elimination of Poland and establishment of a Russian-German

 

 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

September 26, 1939; LONG WAR EXPECTED:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1939:
 
 
British Warned By
Chamberlain On
Over-Optimism

Hopes Of Crushing Hitlerism
Speedily Unjustified Says Premier

Prime Minister
PRAISES WAR UNITY
Says Britain And France
Resolve To End Hitler
Threat Forever
By CHARLES A. SMITH
International News Service StaffCorrespondent

LONDON, Sept. 26.— A warning- to the people of Britain against over-optimism and unjustified hopes of crushing Hitlerism speedily was delivered by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain today.

"The British people," Chamberlain reiterated, "are resolved to rid themselves once and for all of the perpetual threat; of German aggression.

 

French Expect
German Drive
On October 10

Believe Attack Through Neutral Countries
Will Start At That Time

GERMAN TROOPS
ARE CONCENTRATING
Heavy Artillery Fire
Screens Activities Behind
Lines To Some Extent .

PABIS, Sept. 26.—October 10 was chosen by French military observers ..today as the date on -which Germany will strike—by way of' Belgium, Holland and Switzerland in a desperate effort to mow down French defenses and sweep through to a swift victory for Nazism in Europe by springtime.

.During the next two weeks, artillery engagements In the Saar valley expected to intensify in violence and scope.

But the Germans will not have until that time- troops In sufficient numbers in readiness to launch the tremendous offensive upon which Reichsfuehrer Adolf Hitler's hopes are based.
 



The .big question facing the, Allies as Germany turned her armed
might-from Poland to the .Western Front Is: where will the-Nazi war
machine strike? The arrows on-the map indicate four possibilities of
action-and are the basis of Franco-English strategy. -The arrows point
to-the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. -Black line
indicate Germany's borders.                                    Central Press
 
Page 2
Britain Is Suspicious Of Russia
Sees Menace To
Small Nations
Britain Also Angered Over
Sinking By Germans Of
Swedish Vessels ,
 
NO REPORT ON ANY
NAVAL ENGAGEMENT
By CHARLES A. SMITH
International News Service Staff Correspondent
LONDON. Sept. 26—British suspicions of Russia’s reported double-pronged menace against the small nations of the Baltic' and Balkans was- shown today in black headlines in the evening Press.
"Red Army arrives on Estonian border," said the Evening Star." Rumania fears Soviet Coup; 100, divisions near border," the Evening News proclaimed.
Second Swedish Ship Sunk
Britain also "showed anger over the sinking of a. second Swedish merchant ship by a German submarine on the excuse that she carried wood pulp and cellulose which the Germans said was contraband.
• The ship was the Sulisha, 2850 tons bound from Gothenberg for Hull Her crew of 19 took to lifeboats and were picked up off the Norwegian coast by the Swedish steamer Sucica. Sunday the Gevtrud Blatt was torpedoed by a German. submarine.
According to the London Dally sketch today, Swedish ships enroute to England have been ordered by radio to speed to the nearest ports. -
Demand Convoys
Swedish ship owners, the sketch said, are reported to be demanding British convoys for boats carrying pulp and cellulose to England. A deputation of owners, it was said, called on the Swedish foreign minister and demanded that he protest to Berlin against the sinking.
The roar of guns heard off the western coast of Norway yesterday found no explanation in official British quarter;; today. Islanders off Bergen even reported seeing smoke clouds, the funnels of a large ship, and airplanes.
But the British admiralty said "we have received no report of a naval engagement off the Norwegian coast, as would have been, the case, had one occurred."
 


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Setember 25, 1939; FRENCH TROOPS LAUNCH ATTACK:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER, 25, 1939:


Y THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

ROMANSHORN, Switzerland—One of main German  airplane motor factories reported put out of action by French or British air raid on Friedrichshafen; (German high command denies raid occurred.)

BERGEN, Norway—Norwegian islanders believe naval engagement underway in North Atlantic where sounds of cannonading heard.

PARIS—French troops attack German positions in Haardt mountains; western front springs to life with, shelling across Rhine; French report artillery bombardment of main Siegfried fortifications.

BERLIN—Germany reports British destroyer sunk, eight French planes downed. Communique says "repeated raids  made successfully on "military objects in Warsaw;" German high command prepares for long war.

MOSCOW—Soviet troops move toward demarcation line splitting Poland between Russia and Germany; Neva river closed to foreign shipping.

LONDON—By stepping up war preparations Britain replies to Mussolini's suggestion for calling off conflict; British freighter Hazelside sunk; information ministry tells of British propaganda leaflet raids over Germany.

BUDAPEST—Warsaw radio says new German bombardment costs more than 1,000 civilian lives; capital's defenders still holding out against encircling Germans.

SHANGHAI—Chinese say they have fought off major Japanese offensive in Central China.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

September 24, 1939; RUSSIA MAY BE PERIL TO HITLER'S DREAM:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1939:



Der Fuehrer Reported in Area
On France's Advance Positions;
Observers Ponder Major Offensive

PARIS, Sept. 23 (AP)—German forces Saturday increased the vigor of their attacks against a 60-mile sector of France's western front positions, and French advices said the Germans were operating under the eyes of Adolf Hitler and Colonel-General Walter von Brauchitsch. Military observers said it was too early to tell whether this was the beginning of an expected major German offensive, but the pressure coincided with the reported arrival of the fuehrer and his army commander-in-chief at Germany's west wall.

The two, German leaders were said to have come from Poland, where the fighting was confined to the siege of Warsaw and mopping up operations in other sections.

(It was reported from Berlin that Hitler stood on the heights within sight of Warsaw Friday. Von Brauchitsch had left the eastern front previously.)

The German assaults on the western front extended all the way from the Saarbruecken area, the key to nazi positions on the northern flank, south to Bienwald forest, where the French frontier juts farthest into Germany to meet the Rhine. German units assumed the initiative immediately .when the soviet Russian invasion of Poland pulled up the methodical French advances into Germany territory.
Make Repeated Raids




Ringed by four potential aggressors, King Carol's nation
clings to precarious neutrality in the face of great danger
following assassination of Premier Calinescu.

Russia Looms as Peril
To Hitler's Dreams

BUDAPEST, Sept. 23 (AP)—The teaming up of nazi Germany and communist Russia on the division of Poland has cast a new shadow -over the entire southeastern political picture.

Their agreement on Poland, announced in the wake of their nonaggression pact, has extended the soviet border with Rumania and brought red troops to the Hungarian frontier.

One Balkan school of thought contended Saturday night that Germany's influence in southeastern Europe and her vigorous efforts to make this part of theworld a nazi "lebensraum"—living space—had been compromised.

Their opinion was that Russia could now become an overwhelming power in the Balkans. They felt her longer Rumanian frontier would enable her to dominate King Carol's nation both politically and economically.

Hungary, with red troops just across her border, is a co-member with Germany, Italy, Japan, Manchukuo and Spain of the anticomintern family. Budapest and Moscow Saturday resumed diplomatic relations suspended when Hungary became n party to the anti-comintern pact.

Russia has recognized Slovakia as an independent nation which, like JuRoslavin, is people by Slavs like the Russians. Bulgaria, another Slav nation and perhaps the closest Balkan friend of Russia, has concluded a now close trade pact with the Soviets.

The opinion was expressed that Hitler's dream of a nazi-led Ukrain state—theme note of his Mein Kampf" plan for Germany's future—might be gone forever.

No longer are Hungary, Rumania, Jugoslavia, Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria dependent only on nazi Germany for their trade.

They have Italy bidding eagerly to recover commerce which she lost to Germany through economic sanctions during the Ethiopian war.

And they have powerful Russia reentering the Balkans after a 25- year absence, ready to conclude trade pacts and eager to spread her influence.

Diplomatic observers speculated further on the possibility that Rumania, whose oil and wheat, the nazis could use to good advantage, may be beyond Germany's reach.

For Russia was understood by them to be proposing again a pact for Black sea powers to keep out the influence of other nations.

 

Group Against
Full Repeal
Presents Offer
Maps Program
To Bring
Speedy Action

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (AP)—
Opponents of the administration's neutrality program made overtures to the senate leadership Saturday for an agreement which might bring a showdown on the controversial issue within a month. Senators opposed to repeal of the arms embargo agreed that they would hold their speechmaking to "reasonable lengths" if administration followers would agree not to employ "pressure" methods.

If such an arrangement could be worked out, one opposition leader predicted a vote within a month. Under the agreement, this senator said, the opposition would be given four or five days to prepare its case after the bill is reported by the senate foreign relations committee and no night senate sessions would be held. In return, the opposition would agree not to obstruct action in the foreign relations committee or to inject extraneous matter into the senate debate.

Members of the group said they would put their proposition before Majority Leader Barkley (D), Kentucky. Senator Borah (R), Idaho, said this procedure was agreeable to him.

"So far as I know and I feel that I do know'," Borah said, "those opposing repeal of the arms embargo want an opportunity to present the question fully and without pressure. "We have no intention of taking advantage of the rules of the senate to delay matters or to talk on irrelevant subjects. AH must agree that it is a matter of tremendous moment and in so far as our ability will permit, we want and intend to debate it as its importance warrant.

 

September 23, 1939; CARGO RESTRICTIONS TAKEN FOR U. S. SHIPS:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1939:



ONE RESTRICTS
CARGOES TAKEN
ON U. S. VESSELS

No American Ship. Would
Be Permitted to Carry
Goods to Warring
Nations

STIFF PENALTIES
FOR VIOLATIONS
Senate Committee Also
Determined to Tighten
Discretion Powers of
President

Washington. Sept, 23 (AP)—A strict prohibition against American vessels carrying "any articles, material or passengers" to any belligerents was incorporated today in the deministration's bill to repeal the embargo against arms shipments to week. warring nations.

Some senators thought the new provision was designed to win the support of legislators who, like Alf Landon, the 1936 Republican presidential candidate, report strong commitment in the country for a general "cash and carry" system of supplies to belligerents.  It was said reliably that the bill could also tighten up on presidential discretion, using the word will" instead of "may" frequently outlining the Chief Executive's duties under the legislation.

 

NAZI ATTACKS
WESTERN FRONT
ARE REPULSED
NAZI ATTACKS
WESTERN FRONT
ARE REPULSED

German Action on French
Positions "Coincides With
Presence of Hitler
in Sector"
FRENCH SUBJECTED
TO HEAVY SHELLING
Lethal Fire From French
Positions is Said to Have
Cut Down Advancing
Germans Each Time .-

Paris, Sept. .23, (AP)— Military dispatches reported today that Germanattacks on French positions "coincided with the presence on the Western Front of Adolf Hitler and Col.-Gen. Walehcr Von Brauchitsch."

(A Berlin dispatch reported that Hitler, who has been In the field with his troops since the hostilities began, yesterday stood on heights within sight of Warsaw. Brauchitsch, commander In chief of the German army, previously had left Poland for the Western Front.)

The Fuehrer's Intention to visit the westwall fortifications had been reported for several days.

French Infantry forces were reported to have repulsed three separate German attacks aimed at regaining French-held German soil near Saarbruecken.

West Front Blast Awaited

Sunday, September 22, 2013

September 22, 1939; APPEAL FOR PEACE PROGRAM:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1939:


Congress Hears
Appeal for
Peace Program
Roosevelt Seeks Repeal of Act,
Cash, Carry Plan Instead;
Opposing Group Unimpressed

By Richard L. Turner
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 (AP)—President Roosevelt signaled the start of a grim congressional struggle Thursday with an appeal that the embargo on arms shipments to belligerents be abolished and a "cash and carry" system substituted for it.

Earnestly and gravely he presented his program to the newly convened special session as a means of preventing those "incidents and controversies which tend to draw us into conflict, as they did in the last war" and as "the road to peace" for America.
Repeal Opposition Unchanged
But it became immediately apparent that his eloquence had left unimpressed the leaders of the group which has sworn to fight to the end any change in the present neutrality laws. "This is the road to war," said Senator Lundeen, (R), Minnesota, directly contradicting the president.

The speech was a "miserable failure," said Senator Nye, (R), North Dakota.

Senator La Follettc, (R), Wisconsin, announced that the embargo block would fight repeal "from hell to breakfast," while Senator Vandenberg, (R), Michigan, made plain he disagreed with the president.

"I disagree," said Senator Vandenberg, (R), Michigan. Many others, including some Democrats; and Republicans who often have differed with the president, praised the speech. "Very conclusive," was the terse, approving comment of Senator Glass, (D), Virginia.

To the repeal of the embargo, the president said he would add action to require that belligerents pa|l cash for supplies bought here, that they carry their purchases away in their own ships, that American ships and citizens be kept out of war zones, that "war credits" to the belligerents be prevented, that the collection of funds for belligerents be regulated and that a system of licensing arms exports be continued.
Pledges Preventive Moves

 

War Picture at a Glance
From World's Capitals

By Associated Press
WASHINGTON —' President Roosevelt asks congress to abolish arms embargo and substitute a "cash and carry" system, calls program "the road to peace" for America.

BUCHAREST—Eight pronazi iron guardists executed before Bucharest crowd on charge of assassinating Premier Calinescu.

PARIS—Premier Daladier in broadcast says France will fight until "complete victory" is won.

BERLIN—Germany watching United States neutrality course closely; high command reports only four centers of resistance left in Poland, including Warsaw.

BUDAPEST — Warsaw radio announces foreign consular officials have left Warsaw under agreement with Germans; assassination of Rumanian premier threatens all southeastern Europe.

LONDON—Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax says "we must not undertake anything that does not directly contribute" to victory; governments acts to assure shell supply; "blue paper" published presenting Britain's views of prewar events.

LONDON—Admiralty says rumors that German liner Bremen had been captured are "absurd."'

MOSCOW—Russian troops occupy Pinsk; diplomatic quarters say Russian drive in Poland may thwart any direct German drive into Rumania.

 

PANAMA, Panama, Sept. 21 UP
—Delegates arriving for the neutrality conference of American republics, which opens Saturday stressed Thursday the necessity for continental solidarity and mutual aid in resisting political and economic effects of the European war

Foreign Minister Alberto Ostri Gutierrez of Bolivia, who con ferred during the day with Sumne Welles, under secretary of stat and head of the United States delegation, declared it was imperative to place the rights of America neutral nations above the interest of belligerents.

He said Bolivia had delayed he neutrality proclamation until after the meeting here because she wanted to make her stand conform to the solidarity accords ex
pected to be reached.

Foreign Minister Carlos Salaza of Guatemala described the Panama assembly as a "test of the solidarity declarations made at the Buenos Aires and Lima Pan-Ameri can conferences."

Saturday, September 21, 2013

September 21; 1939; REPEAL OF ARMS EMBARGO ASKED:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1939:


Views Section
As Dangerous
To Neutrality

Chief Executive Offers No
Hope That The Shadow Over
The World Might Swiftly Pass.'

Washington, Sept. 21.— (AP)—President Roosevelt asked congress today for repeal of the arms embargo provisions of the neutrality law because they are "most vitally dangerous to American neutrality, American security and American peace."

In a message delivered in person to an extraordinary session of the legislators, the chief executive said he could offer no hope that “the shadow over the world  might swiftly pass."

Troops Called
To Halt Coup;
War Blamed

Act Comes As Soviet Troops Approach Border of Country
In Their Occupation of Polish Nation.
Bucharest, Sept. 21.—(6 P. M.,—11 A. M., EST, Via
Copenhagen—(AP) — Premier Armand Calinescu was shot and killed today by men officially identified as iron guardists and troops were called up-at once to prevent a coup.

The assignation of Calinescu, known as Romania’s strong man" for his suppression of the outlawed, pro-Nazi iron guard organization — was attributed to conflicting national interests arising from the European war.

Warsaw May
Be Suffering
Worst Siege
Of Conflict
Radio Becomes Suddenly
Silent; Shells
Heard Bursting.

Budapest, Sept. 21—(AP)
—The Warsaw radio lapsed into sudden silence early today shortly after what sounded like the explosion of artillery shells could be heard through its microphone.

The announcer had carried on far into the night despite the deep, periodic rumblings until the station suddenly went off the air halfway through the playing of a Polish military air.

Temporarily, at least, the only communication between the German-besieged Polish capital and the rest of the world was ended.

Silence came after the station had broadcast a grim story of Warsaw being shelled and bombed as never before and predicted "there probably soon will be a big offensive against us."