military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (01/14/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Saturday, 13 January, 1940 Japanese Premier Nobuyuki Abe, together with his cabinet, resign. General Shunroku Hata, retiring War Minister, is believed most likely to become the new Premier, despite the Japanese Army's reluctance to allow one of their own in this role. The Abe government had been severely criticized for its handling of the war in China. Hitler orders the postponement of the western offensive because of unfavorable weather. France and Spain conclude a mutual trade agreement, Spain trading iron ore and other minerals for wheat and manufactured goods. Norway enacts the largest budget in that nation's history, due mostly to increases in military spending. References: C.Argyle, _Chronology of World War II_ J. Piekalkiewicz, _Tank War 1939-1940_ R.Dupuy and T.Dupuy, _The Encyclopedia of Military History_ C.Salmaggi and A.Pallavisini, _2194 Days of War_ C.Messenger, _Atlas of World War Two_ The New York Times, daily editions Time magazine Newsweek -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "In reply to reports that the Forty-fourth Soviet Division lost 14,000 men at Suomossalmi, it is declared that this is a "supernatural fantasy of its ill-starred authors," as the Forty-fourth Division "in all had no more than 10,000 men on the front," and the losses there "did not exceed 900, due to the rather sudden cold than to the action of the Finnish troops." - G.E.R. Gedye, NY Times, quoting a Soviet communique'