FINNS TO REJECT US. WARNING

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23479, 6 November 1941, Page 5

FINNS TO REJECT US. WARNING

Report Given Out In Vichy

WAR WITH RUSSIA TO CONTINUE

(Received November 5, 11.40 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON,, November 5. The Vichy News Agency, quoting authoritative Finnish sources, says that Finland’s reply to America about peace with Russia will be on the lines of her reply to Britain. [Early last month the Finnish Government rejected Britain’s warning that she would have to regard Finland as an open enemy if she continued to fight against Russia beyond the 1939 Finnish-Soviet border. Finland’s decision was announced by the Helsinki radio, which said that Finland was now fighting only in selfdefence. It alleged that certain Finnish territory, still in Russian hands, was intended for use as bases for a further attack against Finland, The Finnish radio said the policy of Russia towards Finland was stiil the same as before the war. Finland was fighting without any political engagements, and wanted to maintain friendly relations with Britain,] A spokesman in Berlin denounced the United States’ request to Finland to conclude a peace with Russia as ‘‘an arrogant demand by the Washington ghetto gangsters, and a piece of Jewish shamelessness that could scarcely be exceeded." The correspondent of the “Daily Express" on the Finnish frontier reports ■that America's warning to Finland has split the nation into two parties, which are conducting a furious struggle. There were demonstrations in Helsinki on Monday in favour of peace. Processions converged on the Foreign Office, and the police dispersed angry crowds in the Alexanderkatu, Helsinki’s Oxford street. They arrested 21 persons. M. Tanner, the former Prime Minister, is the centre of the peace storm, because the working class expects him to make an independent stand. Dr. Ryti, the Prime Minister, conferred for a long time with the American Minister (Mr H, F. A. Schoenfeld), who is expected to return to Washington shortly for consultations. FOUR ASSAULTS HELD MURMANSK FIRMLY DEFENDED BALTIC KjAINS CLAIMED FOR FINNS (Received November 6, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, November 5. After four large-scale enemy offensives, over a period of 120 days, Murmansk is still an impregnable fortress, states “Izvestia.” The Germans are now forced to build trenches.- They are unlikely to stand the Russian winter, and will probably force the Finns to man them. The “Red Star” reports that Soviet bombers escorted by Hurricanes and Russian fighters bombed German positions at Murmansk. The‘Helsinki radio says that Finnish artillery and motorised forces have begun a large-scale assault on Murmansk. The town would be taken by storm within a few days should the Russian garrison refuse to surrender, said the announcer. A report from Stockholm, broadcast from Ankara, states that British troops and war materials have been landed at Archangel from many large transports, The Official German News Agency claims that Finnish troops have captured a group of islands south of Wiipuri. The islands are described as an important base for the Soviet fleet in the Baltic. It adds that operations on the Finnish front are now assuming the character of a blitzkrieg. Thousands of square miles have been cleared of the enemy, and further advances are continuing towards the Murmansk railway and Stann Canal. On the Leningrad front the Germans say that the Russians have launched a number of counter-attacks in an attempt to cross the Neva river. GERMAN BASES BOMBED OPERATIONS BY SOVIET AIR FORCE (Received November 5, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, November 5. The Moscow radio states that the Soviet Air Force on Monday night raided Danzig, Koenigsberg, and Riga. ' More Russian air successes on the central and southern fronts are reported in a supplementary Russian communique, which says: “Eleven German aircraft were shot down near Moscow yesterday. As a result of successful raids on the central front our air formations on Monday destroyed 22 tanks, 250 lorries with infantry and supplies, 15 field guns, and other equipment. "Pilots of one of our air formations on the southern front in the last two days have destroyed 14 tanks, 260 lorries, 16 guns, and other material, besides routing more than 1500 enemy troops. “Pilots on the Kalinin front in the last three days have destroyed most of eight companies of enemy infantry, more than 300 army lorries, seven oil tanks, and six guns.” AID TO RUSSIA FUND £400,000 RAISED IN BRITAIN (8.0. W.) RUGBY, November 4. Mrs Churchill’s Red Cross Aid to Russia fund has reached £400,000 in less than three weeks. Mrs Churchill has received 10s from a woman who saved it by putting away a penny for every night she was safe from air attack. WORKERS ASSURE SUPPORT BEAVERBROOK’S PLEDGE TO RUSSIA (8.0. W.) RUGBY, November 4. The Minister for Supply (Lord Beaverbrook) has received a . document from 700 men and women in a great North of England steel works, pledging themselves to put forward "our utmost endeavour to enable you to implement your promises to Russia and satisfy the mission from the United States that we are determined to make the fullest possible use of our plant.”