17 Feb 1940
Page 1
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 12 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Canberra Times
Location
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Date
Feb 17, 1940
Page
1
Britain declines to bid as Germany accelerates efforts to seize Romanian oil assets through German takeovers. Romania had urged Britain to bid for Fetrolul Romangsa but London did not respond. Observers see Germany likely to control substantial output as diplomatic pressure shifts.
A Times correspondent reports Allies fear German mine layers may aid Russian operations in the Black Sea region. Oblique mentions claim 2,000 Germans arrived at Odessa and other ports, with Istanbul sources warning of renewed submarine and mine activity as Britain and France bolster fronts in the Middle East and Balkans. The Nakhta press notes construction curbs and Soviet accusations against Western fronts, while Pravda highlights gratitude bans and fears of a repeat of wartime Caucasus interventions.
Soviet forces press under heavy Russian assault as Finns withdraw from a Sumi river sector. Eyewitness reports describe waves of tanks and infantry advancing, with Finnish defenders throwing up organized resistance amid bombardment and artillery duels.
Stockholm reports Friday that Finnish Cabinet members Afion and Bladet warned Sweden that Finland must accept Western Allied aid or conclude peace with Russia, with Allied troop passage through Norway a condition. Sweden judged such direct assistance weak and deemed two divisions needed.
Jerusalem notes describe Anthony Eden inspecting Australian troops with General Barker and Brigadier Allen in Cairo. Eden quips about sending photos to Hitler as the troops provide a rousing reception, while addressing Egyptian leaders on Germany’s aggression and Britain’s resolve.
Reports from German and Portuguese broadcasts claim HMS Exeter was sunk after the River Plate battle. Varying wires recount the cruiser unable to move, later running aground to avoid sinking, with fresh rumors emerging on December 11 to 17 as the story shifts in coverage.
In New York on Thursday three Curtie Wright Corporations and two officials pleaded guilty to charges of violating the United States neutrality laws. Fines totaling 271,000 dollars were imposed as part of the settlement.
Fragmentary telegraph from Friday reports a German merchant vessel near the Brazilian coast after engagement with the British cruiser Exeter. The narrative notes radio equipment, neutrality concerns, and disputed accounts in Dutch naval circles about the German cruiser’s fate and possible foundering near the Finanda, with several rumors later deemed unfounded.
Intense suffering spreads through Europe as blizzards and extreme frost cripple daily life. Berlin, London, and Belgian towns report coal shortages, transport halts, and theatre closures. The Danube freezes. Meuse levels rise with ice. hundreds of rail and coal workers face long delays. Temperatures plummet to 40 degrees of frost, marking a century record in parts of the region.
Toronto report shows Ontario Premier M Hepburn announcing a massive deficit of 4,448,006 dollars for the 1940 41 budget period. The government outlined reduced expenditures totaling 0,000,000 dollars as a test of austerity measures while employment and related costs faced adjustments.
A conference of Scandinavian shipping officials and foreign ministry representatives from Sweden Denmark and Norway at Copenhagen recommended a joint approach to Germany. They urged clarification of neutral shipping rules and warned that if Germany demanded sails with cargoes to belligerents the Scandinavian states would stop carrying such cargoes. They cited Norway’s casualties and neutral tonnage losses during eight months of warfare totaling about 100000 tons valued at £5,000,000, questioning the moral bearing of Norway’s government amid mounting anti-German sentiment.
Fragmentary text describes a chaotic event mentioning a signatory, an explosive incident, and various unclear actions. Names, places, and concrete facts are unreadable, yielding a vague summary of a purported case or collision with conflicting details.
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.