Pacific News-Review
pp. 3-4 · Read in the full issue
Notes And Comment On
The Progress Of The War
From Feb. 14 To March 13.
Feb. 14: Officially announced that per mission has been given to British sub jects to take part in the Finnish war as volunteers. About 3,000 men and women have already offered their services at the Finnish recruiting office in London.
Russian attacks upon the Finnish line are increasing in strength and fre quency. Swedish army officers take a serious view of the latest reports from the Finnish front.
Feb. 14: It is reported that about 14 German ships, which have been shel tering for months in neutral ports, have sailed and are trying to slip through the Allied naval blockade. It is stated that they are sailing under orders to “get home or scuttle”.
Feb. 15: German business men in Hol land state that high hopes are held in Berlin that the visit to Europe by Mr.
Sumner Welles, President Roosevelt’s personal envoy, may bring about a sub stantial movement towards peace.
There is no doubt that, despite all the Goebbels propaganda and the squeals of defiance which issue nightly from the German radio in half a dozen langu ages, Germany is desperately anxious to develop a peace movement. The pressure of the Allied blockade is being felt more seriously week by week. Germany ex pected that, and made the Russian alli ance so that unlimited stores of raw materials might be available at her back door. But the action of Russia in be coming involved in a serious war with Finland, so that she now requires her own supplies, is causing Germany acute anxiety.
Feb. 15. The famous statesman, Mr.
Anthony Eden, now Secretary of State for the Dominions, received an enthu siastic welcome when he visited the Australian camp in Palestine.
Feb. 15: The action of the Germans in sinking all neutral ships which sub mit to British contraband examination, on the ground that they thereby lost their neutrality, has incensed all the neutral nations. The British navy has just destroyed two more German sub marines, making a total of four during the last five days. One of them, how ever, had sunk the crack Blue Star freighter “Sultan Star”, of 12,300 tons, while another had torpedoed two Brit ish tankers of 10,000 and 8,000 tons re spectively. These are serious losses.
Feb. 16: The Finns have been forced back from a number of front line posi tions. The onslaught by new and stronger Russian troops continues cease lessly. Wave after wave of Russians are being thrown against the Finnish line, regardless of cost.
Feb. 16: It is considered unlikely that Russia will make any moves southwards to create a front against Turkey and thus protect her oil wells against a potential attack so long as she is en gaged in the war against Finland.
Feb. 19: One of the most dramatic incidents of the war has occurred on the coast of Norway. When the Ger man battleship “Graf Spee” was de stroyed, an auxiliary German cruiser, the “Altmark”, 20,000 tons, with over 300 British seamen imprisoned aboard, got away into the Atlantic. The navy kept a keen watch, and it was discov ered that she was trying to sneak down through Norwegian territorial waters into Germany. She was located
by British aircraft and destroyers. The British demanded that the Norwegians should examine her and, if she carried guns or prisoners, she should be in terned. The Norwegians refused—no one knows why. Thereupon the British destroyer “Cossack” in darkness, dashed into a Norwegian fjord, found the “Alt mark”, lay alongside her, and sent a boarding party qf 25 men, with pistols and cutlasses, onto the “Altmark”. The “Altmark”, in manoeuvring, ran ashore.
The British killed seven Germans and chased the rest pellmell overboard—they all got away ashore —released the pri soners, and took them forthwith to a British port. The German radio is still screaming furiously that this was an outrageous violation of international law and neutral rights—but the whole world is acclaiming it.
Feb. 19: Under terrific Russian pres sure, the Finns are slowly retreating at the southern end of their line near the sea coast, and the Russians now are only a few miles from the port and city
of Viborg.
Sweden’s refusal to help Finland has aroused a storm of criticism throughout the world, and there are indications that Swedish public opinion itself is sharply divided upon the question. Many people in Sweden believe that Germany would not attack Sweden if Sweden helped Finland. We must remember that German influence is very strong in Sweden—the country was pro-German in 1914-18.
Feb. 19: Since the beginning of the war Germany has destroyed approxi mately 500,000 tons of British shipping.
But this loss has been substantially re duced by new British ships built, by ships captured from Germany, and by purchases abroad. So that the nett loss in the British mercantile marine, which is approximately 21 million tons, is only 150,000 tons.
Feb. 19: The British destroyer “Dar ing” has been torpedoed and sunk, and 9 officers and 148 men have been lost.
This is the sixth British destroyer lost since the outbreak of war.
Feb. 19: Later reports concerning the rescue of prisoners from the “Altmark” show that the commander of the “Alt mark” was a brutal Nazi, who treated the British very badly. He was a bearded Prussian and the unhappy pri soners—doubtless inspired by a number of Australians among them—called him “Nitty Whiskers”. This gentleman, in stead of being welcomed as a hero in Berlin, as he had fondly hoped, is now trying to get his ship off the Norwegian rocks.
Feb. 20: Diplomats and general staff are closely studying the effect of a pos sible Russian victory in Finland in the spring and are asking whether the Allies could afford to see Finland defeated. It is considered that in that event Scan dinavia would become practically domi nated by Russia and Germany.
Feb. 21: It is reported that the aver age British tonnage sunk weekly during the last six weeks is higher than the weekly average up to December 31. Sink ing of neutral ships approximated 16,000 tons weekly until December 31, but in recent weeks the average has been 27,000 tons.
Feb. 23: Western front reports indi cate a condition of complete stalemate.
The front is more or less ice-bound and the only incidents are occasional dog fights in the air.
Feb. 22: A stir has been caused by reports from several sources that Brit ish and French warships are cruising in the Arctic off the Finnish port of Pet samo, which now is believed to be in Russian occupation. The Soviet navy minister is reported to have gone to Murmansk (a Russian port near Pet samo). The Swedish newspapers say that “The Soviet Arctic Navy is in a state of complete preparedness”.
The real problem of the war situation is now emerging from the obscurity and confusion of inaccurate reports and newspaper speculation. Is it the desire of the Allies that Russia should take up arms against them, or not? In other words, which would most embarrass Ger many—to have Russia at war, thus cut ting off the supplies upon which Ger many had so confidently counted, or to have Russia at peace, and able to sup ply foodstuffs, raw materials, oil, etc., which Germany desperately needs? Con census of opinion is that Germany would prefer to see Russia at peace. Germany has all the armed forces she needs to help her against the Allies. The war to an increasing degree is becoming an economic struggle—Germany wants food stuffs and raw materials, not men.
Feb. 23; Officially announced that R.A.F. planes on Tuesday night bombed German warships in Heligoland Bight.
Feb. 25: Britain and France are buy ing the whole of the aeroplane produc tion of the United States, above Amer ica’s home defence needs. Additional orders just placed in America are worth £300,000,000.
Feb. 25: Four more submarines have been sunk —two in the North Sea, one off the coast of Scotland, and the fourth was rammed by a steamer off the Shet land Islands.
Feb. 26: Mr. Sumner Welles, personal envoy from President Roosevelt to the European Powers, has arrived in Rome and is meeting the Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, and Signor Mussolini. Mr.
Welles goes to Germany shortly.
Feb. 26: The recent insistence by sen sational newspapers that Turkey and Russia were about to clash on their fron tiers had an amusing sequel in the offi cial announcement that Turkey and Russia have withdrawn their troops from the Caucasus border, in order to avoid friction. It is clear that Turkey and Russia are determined not to fight, unless developments of grave import, now quite unforeseen, compel a revision of their present relationship. But Tur key, in every possible way, is honouring her pledges to Britain and France.
Feb. 27: The Finns, under severe pres sure, are retreating to a shorter line, and abandoning the forts on the islands off Bjorko, which have held up the Russian advance on Viborg.
Feb. 27: There seems to be increasing diplomatic activity in belligerent and neutral capitals as a result of the arri val of President Roosevelt’s envoy. Re ported that Hitler has elaborated a new peace plan, which he has conveyed pri vately to two European neutrals.
Feb. 27; Mr. Churchill revealed that
the battleship H.M.S. “Nelson”, 34,000 tons, was damaged by a magnetic mine in September; but she was able to reach port under her own power, and is now repaired.
Feb. 27: Shipping losses for the week were four British and three neutral ves sels totalling 26,600 tons —which is much below the average. Very few of the German ships which have been trying to get home from neutral ports have succeeded. Some have been captured, others were scuttled by their crews, and one was wrecked.
Feb. 28: British volunteers for Finland are being rapidly organised and an advance party has already left. Com mand has been given to Major Kermit Roosevelt, who is a son of the late Pre sident Theodore Roosevelt, a naturalised British subject and an officer in the British Army.
Feb. 29: The Russians are strongly attacking on the southern end of the line, attempting to reach Viborg. Furi ous fighting is proceeding. Much of the city of Viborg is in flames. Certain events in neutral countries indicate that an effort will shortly be made to bring about peace between Russia and Finland.
Mch. 1: It is reported that Hitler has advised Stalin to score the earliest pos sible success on the Finnish front, and then to end the war with the declara tion that Russia’s object in protecting Leningrad from invasion has been achieved.
Mch. 1; Mr. Sumner Welles is in Ber lin to-day, engaged in discussions with Hitler and the German Foreign Minister, von Ribbentrop.
Mch. 1; Lord Tavistock has published terms upon which he declares the Ger man Government is prepared at once to declare an armistice and open peace negotiations. The terms include the re constitution of an independent Slovakia and an independent Poland—the latter to have an outlet to the sea, and the use of the river Vistula. Germany would arrange for a plebiscite in Austria, but free from international interference.
Germany would disarm, provided all powers interested in international dis armament do likewise. Germany would join the League of Nations, provided she had assurances that the League would not be dominated by Britain and France. Colonies are not mentioned, except that Germany says that she re quires assurances of a better supply of raw materials.
Much attention is being given to this statement, and large numbers are ask ing “Why not?” The main difficulty is the inability of the British and French Governments to put any faith in any undertaking given by the present Ger man Government. On the other hand, it is pointed out that the alternative may be a long period of frightful car nage.
The war now, has been going on for six months —yet, although the world’s mightiest armed forces are facing each other, fully equipped for combat, there is no military fighting. The greatest air fleets the world ever has seen are ranged up respectively in Germany, Britain and France, all eager to be up and at it — yet there has been no more than a few skirmishes. The best informed news papers say: “Peace moves are seen as steady undercurrents, but it is generally assumed that the war will go on”.
Mch. 3: R.A.F. bombers for the fifth time in six days flew over Berlin last night and dropped leaflets.
Mch. 3: Britain, in accordance with
her policy of preventing any trade with Germany, in or out, has stopped the shipment of German coal from Rotter dam to Italy. The coal comes down the Rhine in barges, and is loaded into a fleet of Italian colliers, which ply regu larly between Rotterdam and Italy. Italy has protested.
Mch. 4: A German bombing plane flew low over the British India liner “Dom ala”, 8,400 tons, and attacked the de fenceless vessel with bombs and machine guns, and 108 passengers and crew were killed.
Mch. 4: Mr. Sumner Welles has re turned to Paris from Berlin. During his conversations with Goering the lat ter said: “All I have to do is press a button and the largest air armada in history will start for the British Isles, to bring destruction, compared with which air operations against convoys and other craft are but pinpricks.”
He did not describe what British and French machines would be doing, in the meantime, Mch. 6: Nine Italian colliers, which defied the British ban and loaded Ger man coal in Rotterdam for Italy, have been detained by the British. It is ex pected that their cargoes will be con fiscated.
Mch. 7: Both Germany and Sweden are attempting to arrange peace nego tiations, to end the Russo-Finnish war.
Mch. 7: Intense interest was aroused in America by the appearance in New York of the world’s largest ship—the newly-constructed Cunard liner, “Queen Elizabeth”, of 85,000 tons. It appears that immediately her construction was completed in the Clyde, a few days ago, she was sent away secretly to cross the Atlantic, clear of all war hazards. She has been tied up in New York harbour, beside the gigantic liners, “Queen Mary” and “Normandie”, for the duration of the war.
Mch. 7: As a result of the discovery by reporters of a curious metal rail along the side of the “Queen Elizabeth”, it has been disclosed that Britain has practic ally conquered the magnetic mine men ace. The metal rail is part of electrical apparatus designed by British scientists, which explodes the magnetic mines be fore they touch the hull of an iron ship.
The apparatus, up-to-date, has been 100 per cent, efficient. All British ships which enter European waters are being fitted with it.
Mch. 7: R.A.F. machines last night carried out the longest propaganda flight of the war—to Posen (Western Poland) and back.
Mch. 8: While negotiations for peace between Russia and Finland appear to be in progress, there is an increasing clamour from Britain and France that the Allies should intervene on a big scale on behalf of Finland.
Mch. 10: There is still greater diplo matic activity in the European capitals —all, it is believed, directed to the arrangement of peace. Mr. Sumner Welles has arrived in London, and is carrying on conversations with British Ministers. Finnish delegates are con ferring with the Russians in Moscow.
The German Foreign Minister, von Rib bentrop, has made a sudden and almost unexpected visit to Rome, where he is holding conversations with Mussolini and Count Ciano, and is expected to call upon the Pope.
If von Ribbentrop expected to make capital in Rome out of expected Italian irritation over coal cargoes, he was dis
appointed. Britain released the nine Italian colliers and they are on their way home with coal. Italy explained that there had been a misunderstanding of British demands, and that no more Italian colliers would load German coal at Rotterdam for Italy. On that under taking, Britain released the colliers.
Mch. 11: The announcer at the Rome radio, speaking in English, referring to the visit of von Ribbentrop, emphasised that Italy did not intend to change the policy she adopted at the outbreak of the European war.
Reports from other sources indicate that one of the objects of von Ribben trop was to arrange that Germany and Italy will guarantee the peace terms, if it should prove that Finland and Russia can agree upon peace.
Mch. 12: It is disclosed that Britain and France, early in February, offered to send 50,000 men to assist Finland if Finland asked for them. Ships were held in readiness to transport this force to Finland. But it was necessary that Norway and Sweden should allow this force to pass to Finland—otherwise, of course, there was no way of reaching Finland. That permission was not given.
A settlement between Russia and Fin land is hourly expected.
Mch. 11: R.A.F. planes, in night flights, penetrated to Vienna and Prague.
Mch. 12: It is insisted in London that Europe is on the eve of great decisions.
Von Ribbentrop failed in Rome to re capture European diplomatic initiative for the Nazis, and Italy clearly remained cold; but it is believed that, in his talks with Mussolini and the Pope he indi cated Germany’s eagerness to initiate peace discussions.
Mch. 12: The statement of the Brit ish Prime Minister that the Allies were prepared to proceed immediately and jointly to go to the assistance of Fin land, using all the available resources at their disposal, is regarded as the most important declaration of British policy since the outbreak of war; and, further, indicates the wish of the Allies ijhat Finland should continue to fight Russia.
It is argued in London that a Russo- Finnish peace, arranged now, would be, for Britain and France, their severest diplomatic defeat since the war began.
Another view, however, is that this may be the first step in a general European settlement. It is being generally recog nised that the visit of Mr. Sumner Welles to the capitals of the belliger ents was not lightly undertaken, and that out of his activities some tangible good yet may come, Mch. 13: Peace has been signed be tween Russia and Finland. Finland gives up the whole of the Karelian Isth mus to Russia, and Russia also receives an area near Hanko, on which she may erect fortifications to control the Gulf of Finland—although not Hanko itself.
The war is over for Finland. She loses a little territory, but she retains her independence—that is, just so long as the word of Stalin and Hitler can be trusted.
But the country has suffered fearful losses, and must be economically ex hausted.
Meanwhile, what of the general situa tion? Is this a first step in a general settlement? Or does it simply mean that Russia has been made free to give mili tary or economic assistance, or both, to Germany, and that the real war is now about to commence?