"WAR IS ON”

Evening Star, Issue 23438, 1 December 1939, Page 9

"WAR IS ON”

FINNS FORCED INTO CONFLIGT FIIUT SOVIET BOMBARDMENT HELSINKI, November 30. The Foreign Office Spokesman announced dramatically at 9.20 a.m.: “ War is on.” ' Air raid sirens were then sounding, and traffic ceased. Steel-helmetod wardens have taken control. The Soviet bombardment is reported to have broken the telephone communications between Helsinki and Soayarvi, where the Soviet troops are to have occupied a strip of Finnish territory. The Exchange Agency’s Helsinki correspondent states that messages from Moscow indicate that Soviet military circles were of the opinion that if Finland was to be brought to her knees action must bo taken without delay, because the Gulf of Finland would be froaen within a month. The eastern section of the gulf is already freezing. GRIEF AND INDIGNATION EVIDENT THROUGHOUT NORWAY OSLO, November 30. (Received December 1, at 11.5 a.m.) Grief and indignation are evident throughout Norway as the result of the invasion of Finland. Students marched to the Finnish Legation and demonstrated in sympathy. This morning's Moscow radio bulletins do not mention the invasion of Finland.

SOVIET FLEET APPEARS OFF HELSINKI RUSSIAN TROOPS CROSS BORDER LONDON, November 30. The Moscow authorities refuse to confirm the invasion. Reports from Copanhagen state that the Soviet Fleet could be seen from Helsinki waterfront. Russian troops on crossing the Karelian border first penetrated a strip of land which Finland refused to yield to the Soviet during the protracted negotiations which broke down on November 13. Planes bombed an entire valley, believed to be called Emso Valley, which is near the Soviet frontier. It contains many cellulose factories. Vital hits were nob scored, but one bomb aimed at a factory is reported to have struck a nearby hospital. Soviet planes unsuccessfully attempted to bomb the electric light plant at Imtrata. A small island in Helsinki harbour was hit by a bomb which was aimed at the city. WITHDRAWAL TO CHIEF DEFENCE LINES RUSSIANS FIND ONLY A " HD* MAN'S LANS" LONDON, November 30. (Received December 1, at 11 a.m.) The British United Press Helsinki correspondent says the Finnish troops withdrew to the chief defence lines 23 miles from the frontier, resulting in the advancing Russians finding only a ” No Man’s Land.”