Today, 67 years ago — II

The pick of the day’s news:

• A small item reports the bombing of Norsk Hydro’s Plant in Rjukan. It is noted that while owned by I.G. Farben-Industrie, Marcus Wallenberg is chairman of the board for the plant. [The significance of this attack was not clear at the time, DN assumes that the target was the production of nitrogen compounds used for explosives. In fact this was Operation Gunnerside, which successfully stopped the production of heavy water intended for the German nuclear weapons programme.]
• The re-elected president Risto Ryti swore the oath of fealty to the constitution on the Monday. In his installation speech he underlined Finland’s desire for peace, but that there had been no other option but to go to war to defend its independence and no end was in sight. This is considered insufficient to gain the favour of the United States in future peace negotiations. A new government had not been appointed yet; Tyko Reinikka was a possible candidate for the post as prime minister. At the same time a Soviet attack by Rukajärvi was routed.
• Soviet troops have gone on the offensive near Lake Ilmen and after a week’s battle forced back the Germans. The Germans report they have repelled Soviet troops by Donets.
• The Soviet government refuses Polish demands to return Soviet-occupied areas after the war on the grounds that those belong to the Ukrainian and Belarussian peoples.
• The latest bomb raids on Germany suggest that British and US bombers will soon be able to conduct around-the-clock bombing campaigns in preparation for the eventual invasion of the continent. No Swedes have been injured in the bombing of Cologne.
• 250000 additional French workers will be called to the German war industry.
• Japanese forces prepare an offensive against Australia, seemingly undaunted by their losses in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
• The Royal Navy has over the course of the last few years raised sunk ships in order to reuse the steel. The amount of metal retrieved up to now corresponds to 12–20 new cruisers. The latest ship raised is HMS Caledonia. [Interestingly enough originally built as SS Bismarck by Blohm & Voß.]
• Both Churchill and Roosevelt have recovered after respective periods of ill health.
• The earlier mentioned new rationing cards will be handed out at a number of places around Stockholm, predominantly schools, starting the next day.
• Applicants who can prove their tobacco consumption will get increased tobacco rations in exchange for their coffee/tea rations. [It would probably go against the grain of something to be allowed to choose between tobacco and coffee, you have to apply for it or society will crumble.]
• The demands by the Chief of the Air Force for a separate military weather service are rejected by the State Meteorological and Hydrological Institute—there simply are no additional meterorologists to be employed, as the state has neglected training new ones for a long time.
• A leader considers the National Board of Health’s treatment of Dr Befrits to be legally questionable, the matter seems to simply hinge on the lack of a registered midwife at his clinic.
• The road to Anjan is unpassable due to several days’ blizzard. A number of tourists are snowed in.
• A prisoner, arrested for vagrancy escaped during transport in Västerås. The escorting police officer fire several shots at the escapee, without hitting. The prisoner was eventually apprehended.
• Amusement and dismay in Aalborg where the local prophet Gabriel Mikkelsen has announced the end of the world, which however has failed to take place. Mr Mikkelsen has made himself scarce.
• Yesterday’s film openings are reviewed, most get favourable reviews, but Суворов comes across as a clichéd propaganda piece.
• Södersjukhuset, Stockholm’s latest hospital has opened and is a wonder of modern medical advances.
• An anonymous lady is upset and embarrassed that only worn, and well-worn at that, clothes are allowed to be sent as emergency help to Norway. A sailor’s widow suggests that collected funds rather be used to support widows and orphans than for the building of a memorial to dead sailors.
• ELD has already been writing causeries on Namn och Nytt for a decade and will continue to do so for four more. This day he mentions the current debate on letting married women retain their maiden names.
• On the comics page Nancy and Sluggo continue collecting scrap metal for the war effort and we find King being threatened by a mountain lion.
• The two doctors on call for the inner city of Stockholm this night are announced, they can be reached by telephone.
• Nordiska Kompaniet will demonstrate how to prepare good and nourishing vegetable meals.
• Ljusne-Woxna AB advertise their ”Ljusne Board” with excellent insulation properties.
• If the war is wearing you down, you should ingest PHOSPHO-ENERGON, prepared from healthy brain and nerve tissue. [Whose?]