military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (01/04/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Monday, 1 January, 1939 Finnish troops repulse Soviet probes against the Mannerheim line. The Soviet air force conducts raids against the seaport at Abo (Turku). By Royal Proclamation, 2 million men ages 20-27 are made liable for service in the British armed forces. Meanwhile, Denmark's Prime Minister, in a New Year's address, expresses concerns over that country's ability to remain independent in 1940. The German freighter Tacoma is interned in Montevideo. British surface forces had waited outside the harbor in the event that she should sail. France claims that Germany has begun construction of a large fleet of 150-ton midget submarines, for operations off the European coast. Allied claims for German U-boats sunk now total some 36 to 42 boats (in fact, 9 have been sunk). In Turkey, heavy flooding, following last month's earthquake, claims over 32,000 lives. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "We have endowed our army not with the spirit of aggression but with the spirit determined to defend that which is ours by free decision of the people and free and historical general assembly." - King Carol of Rumania