Sea War Atlantic: Liner Queen Elizabeth (83,700 tons) leaves Clydebank with skeleton crew on secret maiden voyage to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and New York. She is equipped with giant electric 'de-gaussing' cable, to neutralize magnetic mines.

Diplomacy: US envoy Sumner Welles, with offer of US mediation, begins series of meetings with European leaders (Mussolini, Hitler, Chamberlain, Daladier, Reynaud, the Kings of England and Italy and the Pope); tour ends March 20.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1940

Winter War, Finland: Finns begin to withdraw to rear positions of Mannerheim Line.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1940

Winter War, Finland: Finns storm entrenched camp of starving 34th Moscow Tank Brigade near Kitelae, capturing 105 tanks, 200 trucks and field cars.

Picture: in the snow, Finnish officers examine a couple of captured T-37 light tanks. The machine guns have been removed from the tanks to use them against their former owners.

Home Front Britain: British Goverment limits the acquisition of Arab land by Jews in Palestine.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1940

Winter War, Finland: (MAIN EVENT) Battle of Viipuri begins. Russians make all-out effort to crush resistance in Karelian Isthmus by encircling city of Viipuri and reaching Viipuri-Helsinki highway (ends March 13).

Picture: a Russian BT-5 tank column.

Home Front France: Paul Reynaud, Minister of Finance, broadcasts on dangers of runaway inflation (le cycle infernal). Goverment measures include a price freeze, stricter food rationing, petroleum rationing, revaluation of gold reserves and compulsory use of female labour.

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1940

Winter War, Finland: Russians within 6 km of centre of Viipuri. Fierce aerial dog fights over city.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1940

Winter War, Finland: Russians reach southen suburbs of Viipuri.
Finnish fighters foil attempted raid on Helsinki.

Picture: a Russian pilot in front of his Tupolev SB-2 bomber.