BOMBS RUN DOWN ON FINNISH TOWNS.

Auckland Star, Issue 18, 22 January 1940, Page 7

BOMBS RUN DOWN ON FINNISH TOWNS.

509 RED 'PLANES. Turku Has Endured 30 Air Raids. PROGRESS OP FIGHTING. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, January 21. Five hundred 'planes bombed Finlend yesterday, setting fire to 20 houses in Turku, says a Helsinki message. Turku has had 30 raids since the outbreak, of war, receiving 1200 bombs. These have put out of commission 800 buildings. A communique issued in Moscow says "nothing of importance happened at the front. Our 'planes made successful bombing raids. Fifteen Finnish 'plaues were brought down." The entrapped Russian division on the Salla front ie hastily throwing up fortifications at Lake Marka. The Finns are attacking on their front and flanks in the hope of annihilating them. Concurrently with an official announcement from Helsinki that Swedish airmen had taken part in the bombing of Russian camps, cqlumne of Dnnee, Norwegians, Italians and American* went into action with the Finnish forces. There is a stiffening throughout Europe in neutral States' determination to maintain their independence. The Banish Parliament hae assured Sweden that Denmark will not allow Danish territory to he used aa a German 'baee m the event of Rueso-Gernian action against Sweden. The Danish Parliament passed a motion approved by all parties declaring that Denmark would fight, if neceseary, to defend her neutrality and independence. The only dissentient was the German minority member, Stauning. The Norwegian Parliament expressed a determination identical with that of Denmark. Officially, Sweden ie verv cautious regarding the extent of her "aid to Finland, but contributione from industry, ; mostly in the form of materials and supplies, have reached £3.500,000, in addition to £500.000 in cash. Contingents of Swedish volunteer* and convoys of lorriee laden with supplies leave dailv for Finland. The Swedish Government announced that air raid trenches will immediately be dag in all parks, and shelters will bo erected in market places, while the construction of large underground shelters will be speeded up. Mr. Herbert Hoover, tho former United State* President, announced today that 20 industrialist* had pledged themselves ti> raise a second 1,000.000 dollar* for Finnish relief. Ih a speech at Philadelphia, which •- interpreted as a clear invitation to the United States Government to liu-k Kinland, the F'innixh Minister to ilie United State*, M. Profope. declared the u.-cr need for aid was beyond the .yenenCity and charity of individual*. He addeii that Finland's fate wars largely in the hands of the American nation. The Finns were suffering without complain*, and were holding the bridge between democracy and Communiem. Although food relief was required, the greatest need was for *erapUne«i, munitions and arms, aed jfop mosey to Wy them.