GD1938 v.3 BBLC

[cpdeyoung]

May 29th, 1939

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

On the East Front much blood is spilled. The most action is in the south where Odessa and Kiev have been taken. The German Front has expanded as the Baltic states have become Soviet clients. The long front in the south as the spearhead move east will stretch both combatants, but here it appears Germany will have interior lines. If Germany were to stretch north towards Leningrad the front would become immense. It is doubtful Germany could sustain such a long front. Her European allies and Italy can only supply so many troops and they are not the same as German forces.

There are stirrings that Congress is thinking of letting the President have war powers. The American people are not crying for war and the USA may not enter early.

[cpdeyoung]

May 29th, 1939

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

In China there has been a breakthrough in the south. Japanese armor is running about in favorable terrain. The Japanese may have hurried to take this last Chinese port as the Americans are talking of abandoning isolationism.The American's have been keeping their production a secret, but it may well include naval builds.

[BvB]

no turns from me likely till Sun night if thats ok?

[cpdeyoung]

Office of the General Secretary

My dear General :

A little time off? We hear camping is relaxing. We have nice cabins in the GULAG reserved for you!

Please report to the Eastbound station. Now!

Joseph S.

[BvB]

combination of things - someone spending tonight through Sun morning here, then also a 72yr old friend of 25yrs died yesterday and service is Sunday. I figured with Bombur out it wouldn't harm too much... salute

[LarryBurstyn]

Walter Cronknut, Chief Reporter CBS News Transcripts
Edit Transcript.

British planes raided Essen and Rome doing some damage without the loss of any planes. There are reports that Britain sent another large shipment to the Soviet Union but no information was forthcoming as to what was sent. An unnamed Air Marshall said that British fighters have been withheld from combat until their training is complete. "Sending untrained pilots into combat with experienced pilots is stupid--all you will accomplish is the death of brave pilots.

American authorities including some high ranking officials have hinted that the President is expected to announce the cessation of isolationism will begin in just a few months--maybe less than five. Congressman have announced that the President has sent messages to Congress requesting that the Congress authorize the allocation of more resources to building up the military.

China continues to suffer heavy attacks by the Japanese but did manage a minor attack that killed more Japanese than losses to the China Armed Forces.

[cpdeyoung]

June 26th, 1939

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

On the East Front a large front long struggle goes on. Each side is seeing if a longer front suits their style. We hear the German commanders are deeply concerned at the density of units. The Romanian and Yugoslav troops have become much too important. They were supposed to be a nice extra, but now are included in attack planning. With her defensive preparations elsewhere there is a temptation to move them to the west, but German commanders are loath to do this. Even now there are questions of where the schwerpunkt is. The Soviets' resistance has been a surprise. Their armies are more robust than the Germans estimated. New equipment is coming including fine new armor. It makes for sleepless nights.

[cpdeyoung]

June 26th, 1939

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

In China the Chinese are holding well in the center, but are in trouble in the north and south. Our map shows the pocket in the south, but there is an incursion in the north near Lanchow too.

[BvB]

after a bloody clash between Soviet & Romanian cavalry the Axis bridgehead in the south was pushed back across the river.

[LarryBurstyn]

Walter Cronknut, Chief Reporter CBS Radio News live June 26th 1939 broadcast
Transcript Edited

The French occasionally send aid to the Chinese, that comes from the Americans. Otherwise they await the results of the war.

British sent still more stuff to the Soviets...CBS learned from a source that the items shipped were (CENSORED--live broadcast was interrupted in mid-sentence before he said what the items were and later resumed). Other than that the British said that German surface vessels were raiding commerce near Eastern Australia. Sources say British and French ships are moving to intercept. A spokesperson in eastern India announce that some Indian Anti-Tank guns and horses were shipped over the Burma Road to China. There is no other news available about what the British are doing.

Public sentiment in the USA has been moving toward abandonment of Isolationism. Congress is reporting more and more letters concerning world affairs. They say much of the concern is over the rapid and bloody expansion of the German Army. Plus pictures of hundreds of Chinese civilians and more importantly children killed by Japanese troops in the recently conquered cities are fanning flames against the Japanese.

China continues to reel under the heavy attacks by Japanese armor. A new general has taken over for the ailing leader of the Chinese government who was admitted to the hospital for observation.

[cpdeyoung]

July 24th, 1939

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The East Front has become a war unto itself. The scale is enormous, more Asian than European. As the Germans move east the front widens. This is because of geography, not anything the Soviets are doing. The Flanks are becoming longer, demanding more units to hold, and in areas that may be inactive. As powerful as Germany is she is a European scaled nation. The USA, British Empire and USSR are scaled larger.

In the north the Germans took Smolensk, 228.7 miles from Moscow as the crow flies. Somehow the Heer must find the wherewithal to travel these miles in the face of steadfast opposition.

In the south the Germans took Dnepropetrovsk and crossed the Dnieper in multiple places. We have a map.

[cpdeyoung]

July 24th, 1939

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

In China the Japanese had a good month. Surely they are so tied down in China that they must be vulnerable if the USSR and USA declare war. The Navy faction is determined to prepare for a war with an Anglo alliance but the Army faction continues to concentrate on China.

[cpdeyoung]

August 21st, 1939

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The East Front is active again as the good weather is precious. In the North, Riga and Vitebsk fell to the Germans. The Germans did not make much progress towards Moscow, and this may be important. Reports are that the General Staff was divided over grabbing Vitebsk, or driving down the road to Moscow. Those who said the Heer could do both were proven wrong. Next month the nights will have hints of fall weather, and it is a long way to Moscow. The Germans fought through the last winter, but the stakes are higher now.All expectations are for splendid new tanks becoming available to the Red Army, better than the panzers. Will this pause prove the break the Soviets need to hold Mocow, and perhaps start to push the German tide back.

In the South Poltava and Kharkov fell. Kursk, a mighty resource center is in the sights of the Heersgruppe Sud. here is a map :

[cpdeyoung]

August 21st, 1939

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

There are so many Chinese fighters that the Japanese are rasping away at the outer shell. Chinese losses are higher than the Japanese suffer, but still.

[BvB]

Horrors - the last attack in the south surrounded and took a town with large losses of a few units to include the elite 4th Mountain who'd escaped in the past and had the highest experience & morale in the Red Army... Seeing Italians and others hopefully reflect a shortage of troops on the German side. salute

[cpdeyoung]

Special edition

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The loss of the elite Soviet 4th Mountain division affected even the Germans. All had watched this unit gain its battle honors. A small cadre escaped and may well form a new 4th. German officers assure us that they indeed watched this unit's progress. When asked if it had a "price on its head" they assured us "no, we just fight whoever is there".

[LarryBurstyn]

Walter Cronknut, Chief Reporter CBS Radio News Live Broadcast
Transcript Edited

The French saw fit to send a unknown number of Armored Cars to China this month. Not sure this is an ongoing action or a one time event. Other than that there is no news on French actions.

The British raided an German airbase on the coastline of France this month. It is reported that extreme damage was done but no reports on casualties or anything else. There are rumors that near an unspecified city on the west coast of Britain a large number of carriers/battleships and escorts have begun training exercises. Residents of (CENSORED in original report) reported seeing hundreds of carrier based planes carrying out simulated raids on military facilities nearby and flying out to sea afterwards. Residents reported that the planes came in very low, almost at ground level, and left the same way. Military officials refused to comment other than to say that training exercises happen every day.

CBS Radio News has confirmed that live broadcast are actually delayed several seconds to allow censors to delete parts of the broadcast. The technique was developed so broadcast will be allowed to continue on a nearly live level instead of being recorded earlier and edited by censors and than broadcasted. Or only allowing edited written scripts to be broadcasted.

[cpdeyoung]

September 18th, 1939

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The RAF delivered an important message to the Luftwaffe with a night attack on an important airfield. The message was "Go away". The Luftwaffe lost Bf-109E in the attack, and nearly lost the whole airfield. It was an advanced airfield and was hanging by a string : 308 of 1800 points left. Things were less sanguine for the Royal Navy which took losses on the patrol line in the North Sea.

In the east the Finns joined the Axis, and bombarded Leningrad. To the south their German allies, and the associated nations, drove forward pretty much along the whole line.

[cpdeyoung]

September 18th, 1939

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

In China the Japanese made serious gains. Chinese losses are very heavy and more Chinese cities and resources are falling under Japanese control. Japan has obviously taken our new directives to the President seriously. If the USA enters the war it will likely face a monolithic Axis front. As powerful as the United States is, and as advanced as our weaponry is, we still must tred lightly till we are mobilized.

[LarryBurstyn]

Walter Cronknut, Chief Reporter CBS Radio News Delayed Broadcast

No news about what the French were doing.

RAF destroyed a advanced German Airbase near Calais and the 18 Air Groups (believed to be Bf-109c) that were deployed there. Royal Naval units were attacked on the North Sea Patrol line although losses were not revealed. Sources revealed that additional naval units were sent along with a carrier group to provide the east most units some air cover. RAF training continued even in less than favorable weather--"pilots must know how to fly and fight even in bad weather". One plane was reported lost due to technical problems (not related to weather) but the pilot was uninjured. The loss was probably reported because the plane crashed in a populated area--no ground casualties were reported. A RAF spokesman said that operational losses were expected to be about 1% of all sorties but that it has been lower due to continued training of ground support personnel.