Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-01-04
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page II

| s>AA~~>>J W ~->oSSSAoSS 6OONA liz" .,
as losing governments like to mini
mize their defeats. Usually, how
ever, the careful and judicious reader
will be able to find somewhere that
middle way which approaches the
truth. And in this particular case
the truth still seems to be that the
Firms, although they do suffer de-
feats here and there, in the main are
triumphantly defending themselves
against a power many times stronger
than they. Generally speaking, the
Russians have not covered themselves
with glory in the Finnish campaign,
so far.
More Help for Firms.
During the last few days thousands
of volunteers have rushed to Finland
from Denmark, Norway and Sweden,
and it is estimated that by the opening
of the spring campaign, perhaps fifty
thousand Scandinavian volunteers
will be fighting in the ranks of the
Firms.
France and Great Britain have more
definitely than ever made it clear that
they will aid the Firms to the utmost;
from the United States, the Scandi-
navian countries and other parts of
the world cash is being sent to Fin
land, and credits are being opened
so that the Firms may buy additional
arms and munitions
There are two reasons for the
worldwide sympathy which goes out
to Finland now; one is the realization
of the fact that the Russian attack
little more than a month ago was
entirely unjustifed and unprovoked;
the other, the almost unprecedented
bravery with which the Firms are de-
Tending themselves; few instances of
such magnificent heroism are on rec
ord.
Franco German Front.
At the front between Germany and
France, things have been just about
as quiet as they have been ever since
the start of the war. There have
been a few more patrol fights, a bit
of artillery fireworks, clash be-
tween couple of airplanes, but be-
yond that, the situation remains what
it has been for four months.
There is, however, a fairly gen.
eral expectation that real warfare
may come in the spring, unless peace
efforts succeed before that time, and
there is at the present moment no
prospects that they will.
Economic Warfare.
It is probable that the British hope
to be able to subdue the Germans by
applying stern economic measures in
order to weaken them so effectually
that they will be unable to put up
any real military resistance.
/ In connection with the attempt to
strengthen the economic blockade
Great Britain is just now carrying on
negotiations with neutral nations
practically forcing them to agree to
export, and to re-export, minimum
Quantities of raw materials and manu-
featured products to Germany. One
agreement of this nature was signed
between Great Britain and Sweden
the other day, and the German press
characteriZes it as evidence that the
British government is trying to stir
up the neutrals against Germany
Conferences between Great Britain
Denmark and Norway are now in pro-
gress.
Effects Felt.
It is quite apparent that the Brit
ish blockade of Germany is becoming
increasingly effective, and the Berlin
government has found it necessary
to impress on the people the necessity
of limiting its consumption of food
Stuffs even more draStically than il
has been until now
At the same time, it should not be
forgotten that Germany is carrying
on a counter blockade of Great Brit
ain, and there are indications that
this is being felt, too, for now on
January 8, new restrictions will be-
several staple food articles will be
rationed to such an extent that the
Englishman, individually, will be
permitted to buy not much more but
ter, meat, sugar, ETC., than the in
dividual German each week.
Papal Visit.
{: :: Last: some persons in various
::fIarS of the world had hoped that
Pope Plus XII on the occasion of a
visit to the :king and queen of Italy
might make: cpncrete peace proposals.
The visit-the first of this kind in
more than seventy years-did not,
however, produce any peace plan, for
His Holiness confined himself to ex-
pressing the hope that the world
might follow the peaceful example
of the Italian state and the Roman
Catholic church, and might profit
from it. Beyond some rather general
observations about the bleSsedness of
international peace, the pope did not
at this time deem it prudent to go.
| Interned.
When the German pocket battle
ship, Admiral Graf Spee," on De-
cember II was scuttled off the port
of Montevideo, Uruguay-on order of
| AIo1f Jif1or fho