NAZIS AND FINLAND

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22910, 5 January 1940, Page 7

NAZIS AND FINLAND

Entry Into War Possible

INTIMATION BY PRESS

(Received January 4, 9 p.m.) BERLIN, January 4. The German press for the first time has acquainted the public with the facts that Germany may be involved in a conflict over Finland, and has prepared the way for more active support of Russia, The newspapers approvingly reprint the Russian accusation that Britain and France are attempting ( to widen the war, for which reason they are alleged to have encouraged Finland to fight. The press also records great concentrations of British and French troops in Western Asia, and French demands to send a fleet to the Black Sea and an army to Finland. Reports are also published that France has offered to send 10,000 crack alpine tro6ps to Finland. Authoritative quarters in Berlin told neutral correspondents that Germany would •be forced to take an active hand if British and French troops went to Finland, and would consider Sweden and Norway to be infringing their neutrality if they allowed the passage of British and French men and munitions.

NAZI EXPLANATION ' OF CZECH UNREST

"EVIL INFLUENCE OF BRITISH BOY SCOUTS" (BRITISH OrFtCIAL WtBELESS.) RUGBY, January 3. A commentator, facetiously known as" "Lord Haw Haw" because of his mannerisms, who addresses the English public every night from a German radio station and whose comments on affairs are mainly distinguished by grotesque misrepresentations, last night made himself responsible for the following observation:— "The sabotage in Czechoslovakian factories is due to the evil influence of British boy scouts. This is the conclusion of Jugoslav observers, which is being freely mentioned in Belgrade. They point out that companies of these alleged boy scouts were accustomed to camp in areas where sabotage has occurred, and they took advantage of the opportunity to spread the anti-German feeling among the local population." i . .

U.S. STEAMER DETAINED

(Received January 4, 9 p.m.) GIBRALTAR, January 3. The United States steamer Executive (4978 tons) has been detained and 13,000 feet of nickel tubing seized.