Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-12-28

slovakia; encouraged by this success
full example Mussolini made himself
the lord and master of Albania, and
while these events were developing,
Great Britain and France were
strengthening their forces and the
ties of alliance which bind them to-
gether
Then late in August came the big
gest surprise of all-the announce
ment that Germany and Russia,
hitherto avowed opponents, had eff
fected commercial treaty which also
implied an agreement of active
friendship (not yet a military alli-
ance), and almost Immediately there
after followed Germany's attack on
Poland, and Russia's dramatic in
vasion of the eastern half-or little
more-of that country, now extinct.
Further Action.
Poland, resisting the German de-
mands for Danzig and the Polish
Corridor, waxed stubborn because
Great Britain and France had under
taken to guarantee the continued ex-
istence of the Polish state and to help
defend it against German aggression.
Believing implicitly in the pledges
given by London and Paris, the Poles
resisted, and the result was that they
were crushed to death, and that not
single British or French soldier ever
set foot on Polish soil to keep the
promise.
When it was evident that Poland
was unable to defend itself effec-
lively, Great Britain and France de-
clared war on Germany-but too late
to be of any help to the Poles.
More Land Grabbing.
Italy during the year had taken
Albania; Germany Czechoslovakia
and Poland, so, why shouldn't Rus
STA do some grabbing, too, while the
grabbing was still good?
Out from Moscow went demands
on Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,
that Russia must have certain naval
and air bases in the territory of these
countries; if the demands were re-
sisted, the Soviet armies were ready
to strike. Under these circumstances
the demands were not resisted, but
were conceded for the reason that
it seemed so utterly hopeless to try
to face the supposedly overwhelming
Russian war machine.
Another Kind of Tune.
But when the Russians presented
similar demands to Finland, they
were in for a surprise. The Firms
were willing to yield up to certain
point; not beyond that, and although
they realized that they had no pros
pect, no promise of military aid from
anywhere, they fetched their guns
and knives and determined to defend
their country to the very last man.
Now, as the year is about to end,
they are still defending Finland in a
manner that has aroused the admira-
ton and the enthusiasm of nearly
all the World-for there is nowhere
more moving spectacle than that of
small nation heroically and pathe-
tically defending itself to the utmost
|
stronger.
No one knows yet what may be the
final outcome of this war in the far
north of Europe, but many take heart
from remembering that the little in
cident between David and Goliath has
been repeated many times in the
| history of nations
Happy New Year!
There is no cheerful prospect in
sight anywhere in the international
| field.
All the more reason for wishing
that the coming year be a happier
one, for countries as we'll as for in
dividuals
This wish is that of your interna-
tional-news reporter.
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