military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (10/28/89)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Saturday, 28 October, 1939 In renewed Soviet-Finnish talks in Moscow, the USSR demands strategic Finnish territory in the Karelian Isthmus, Hango naval base, and the ice-free port of Petsamo in the north, in exchange for a large tract of barren Russian terrain. Pope Pius XII denounces the violation of treaties and the conquest of Poland, with its incumbent racist policies. The US Senate, by a vote of 63-30, passes the Pittman amendment to the Neutrality Act, permitting cash-and-carry arms sales to belligerents. The House of Representatives is expected to follow suit. In Berlin, severe rationing of clothing is to start next month... having no cotton and almost no wool, the German people will have to make out with the clothing they have for the remainder of the war. The Italian liner Saturnia is en route to Italy, following orders from Rome to ignore British instructions. The Gibraltar authorities had declared the ship's cargo of copper and iron contraband, and had commanded her captain to sail to Britain. Contributing reporter: Bob Beville (rbeville@tekig5.PEN.TEK.COM) 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 Dayss of War_ The New York Times, daily editions Time magazine -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "Fully conscious that right is on her side, and that up to the end she did everything in her power to avoid this utterly senseless war that was forced upon her, German will fight this war to the finish, backed by the tremendous impetus of the whole nation." - German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop