military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (02/27/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Tuesday, 27 February, 1940 General Mannerheim orders the evacuation of Finland's secondary defensive line before Viipuri. The Finns are also forced to retreat on the Arctic front, excercising a scorched-earth policy as they withdraw. Turkey orders the recall of all shipping, and forbids Turkish-flagged ships from entering foreign waters. Many of the ships are currently under lease to France. Military experts state that Germany's offensive on the Western Front, if it comes at all, must begin in March, to ensure sufficient time for the campaign. Some state that Germany has already missed her best opportunity last fall. A burst of air activity includes a British overflight of Berlin and a German mission over Paris. Air raid sirens also sound in Amsterdam, and antiaircraft guns there fire at unidentified foreign planes. No bombs are dropped in the three raids. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "Springtime may be the ideal season for open warfare in most parts of the world. But not in Finland. There, the Russian advance will be handicapped more by "General Suomi" (marsh) than it has been by "General Talvi" (winter)." - Maj. Gen. Stephen O. Fuqua, USA Retired, in Newsweek