This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 21 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Brisbane Courier Mail
Location
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Date
Dec 26, 1939
Page
12
Washington reports United States Navy plans a Pacific line patrol with a fleet of over 0 long range four engine bombers to strengthen Western Hemisphere defense. The move, tied to anti submarine and neutrality enforcement, involves aircraft with ranges exceeding 5000 miles and a multi million dollar contract, the largest in the Navy’s history.
Special to The Courier-Mail from Rovaniemi Finland describes a brutal two day Arctic battle where Finns stalled a Russian advance near Kemijärvi. Survivors recount frozen corpses, mutilated scenes, captured tanks and weapons, and prisoners hopeful of broader Finnish independence amid extreme cold and terror.
Amb Horinouchi said concessions in a new postwar trade treaty with the United States await approval by Japanese military authorities in China. The U.S. government may lift the 10 percent penalty clause of President Grant's proclamation. Moody prospects hinge on diplomacy and expiring commercial pact.
Shanghai dispatch reports that Japanese forces advancing into Kwangsi province reached the Indo Chinese border and cut Chinese supply lines. Chinese counterattacks are doubted by foreign witnesses while observers over Nanchang and Wuchang found no active military operations nearby.
London reports the small British submarine Ursula sunk a German cruiser after penetrating minefields near Heligoland. Lieutenant-Commander Fuji Jpei received the DSO and promotion. The incident followed a patrol south of Heligoland on December 14 with torpedo hits and loud destroyer activity. The Admiralty mined a 30 mile target area off Scotland and noted British and neutral shipping losses.
The Courier-Mail reports British Navy seizure of petrol consigned to Germany, enough for twin-engined bombers to raid England daily for four years. Economic experts warn oil shortages will constrain Germany's wartime offensives, with limited imports from Russia Romania and Danube transport hampered by currency and logistics.
British wartime seizures of contraband fibres will yield 46 million sand bags and over 5 million pairs of boots. Hidden hides and skins plus petrol and vatton tonnage could equip vehicles and munitions, with gin Howitzer shells enough to drape the Siegfried Line as The Times quips.
London December 24. Germany’s ninth railway crash since the war began prompts arrest of two stationmasters and highlights staff reductions due to men leaving for military service. The crashes occurred on successive days and unofficial estimates place the total killed near 300.
Rumania plans to reject any Soviet offer to negotiate Besarabia changes. Bucharest relies on German diplomacy to deter Russian force but doubts German aid if war comes. Greece Turkey and Yugoslavia might assist, while Italy’s role is uncertain. Rumania may discuss Dobrudja territorial claims as part of a larger Balkan settlement with Bulgaria contributing.
A new Pioneer liner will depart for Australia in early next year, aiming to boost Australian trade with New York and attracting回应 enklers to the Australian market.
President Roosevelt asks the Pope for cooperation in peace efforts and appoints Myron Taylor, New York lawyer and United States Steel director, as his personal representative at the Vatican with ambassadorial rank but no portfolio. The move signals preparatory work for a broader drive to end war and ease human suffering worldwide.
Christmas Day showed a stark contrast among the United Kingdom France Germany and Russia amid war. In Britain the royal family attended church at Sandringham and shared a turkey dinner. In France Premier delivered a courteous address. Germany received heavy war propaganda while Russia celebrated Stalin's birthday rather than the founder of Christianity.
London dispatch reports Christmas Eve quiet on the Western Front with both sides claiming limited air activity. Berlin and Paris released mid day communiques noting grounded German planes and continued reconnaissance over France Britain and the North Sea. The Basle paper cites a landslide near Basie on the Swiss border killing eight. Royal Christmas scenes at Sandringham include mistletoe mince pies and a broadcast from the King praising service and fortitude. Daladier and Hitler broadcasts frame the war as a duty, with Hitler visiting the Siegfried Line and Stalin sending New Year greetings to leaders including Rib bentrop and Chiang Kai-shek.
Amsterdam December 25 report that the German steamer Stassfurt of 7495 tons fled from the Australian navy during war uncertainty. The ship, carrying lend-lease cargo, was seized in a Java port by a British company claim. It left Port Pirie on August 24 bound for Melbourne, engines failing outside Port Philip, with one British passenger noting expected Melbourne arrival. It then moved south toward the Antarctic, later altering course to reach Java seeking relief.
The Belgian Parliament fixed the army strength at 82,000, an 8,000 increase. The government is free to call up more if warranted, with authorities empowered to mobilize additional force as needed.
London reports petrol prices increased by half a penny to 11 shillings 8 pence per gallon, the highest level since 1914, signaling inflation pressures across the country.
In Coolangatta on a Sunday afternoon a second child nearly drowned at Greenmount Lagoon before John Francis Powell of Waterworks Road Ashgrove was rescued by a life saver. The boy said I had too much Chriss dinner. The Mayor Alderman S W Winders urged supervision as ambulances treated the child and cautioned the lagoon remains safe with care.
Anthony Fokker, renowned Dutch aeroplane designer and veteran aviator, died in New York at age 50. He built planes in Germany, established a Schwerin airmen school, led the Netherlands Aeroplane Works in Amsterdam, and planned Atlantic Aircraft in New Jersey. His career spanned Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States with ventures including sleeping accommodations on a giant Amsterdam-built machine.
Australian Associated Press reports a Royal British Lockheed 14 air liner crashes in the Mediterranean near Malta. Six survive, including three passengers and three crew. Survivors praise the pilot’s skill in a doomed attempt to reach shore as rescue boats arrive too late.
In Christmas greetings the Pope urged the College of Cardinals to plan war aims and a better world order. He called for honourable peace for all nations, new juridical institutions for peace, minority rights, and religious freedom, while condemning the arms race and Russia's invasion of Finland. He warned of Bolshevik influence and fears war drains weakening nations, and announced an upcoming visit to the King of Italy on December 28.
Washington reports that doubled British and French purchases of American planes will give the Allies a decisive margin over Germany. U S industry can produce about 10 planes monthly and orders push American designers into direct competition with German craftsmen as British and American fighters are praised as superior to the latest German types.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.