VICTORY NOT EASY

Evening Star, Issue 23444, 8 December 1939, Page 7

VICTORY NOT EASY

RUSSIA’S TASK IN FINLAND KFEWEM' GREATER MOBILITY HELP FMM MANY COUNTRIES * IX)NDON, December 7. x Evidence Is accumulating that the Russians in attacking Finland have taken on more than they bargained for, and that victory will not be gained by weight of numbers alone. The Finns are more mobile, and their ski units in particular are proving very effective. Russia is using enormous numbers of tanks on all three fronts, ami the Finns claim that they have captured 80 of these. The Finnish Air Force has recently taken delivery of between 50 and 60 Italian planes, and British manufacturers are supplying 20 fighter, planes, betides large quantities of war materials. In Sweden leaders of all sections of public life hare launched a campaign i(ft active support on behalf of Finland. In the Danish Parliament yesterday there were expressions of disgust at the Soviet aggression, and from Spain and South, America have, come atrong expressions of sympathy with Finland. A Finnish communique says: *' Eight more Russian tanks were destroyed, making a total of 80. A large number of civilian inhabitants of Helsinki were quietly buried to-day.” HEROISM OF THE FINNS PRAISE FROM ITALY ROME, December 6. The Press continues loudly to praise the Finns’ heroism and declares that the Finnish Air Force is showing superiority. It asserts that the majority pf the planes are Italian and the pilots were trained in Italy. RUSSIANS USING GAS SHELLS HELSINKI, December 7. (Received December 8, at 11 a.m.) It is officially stated that Russian artillery north from Lake Ladoga fired poiaon gas shells against Finnish batteries, causing several casualties. Two hundred and thirty Americans, WKe of whom have never seen Finland, bare arrived to enlist. WAR MATERIAL FOR FINLAND HIPPLIES FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 7. {Received December 8, at 10.30 a.m.) The interest displayed in the Press in Finland’s access to war materials in foreign countries has been heightened by yell-authenticated information that as recently as 10 days ago munitions were arriving in Finland from Germany. It is added that rifles at a lower price have now been offered to Tinlaad. The fact that, as Lord Halifln stated in the goose of Leads, the.

Russian attack seems to be the direct consequence of German policy, and, in. the opinion, of close observers, was made with German connivance in return for Russian “ neutrality ” in other parts of Europe, some uncertainty is expressed in the newspapers as to how armaments for Finland will be permitted to pass through Germany. In this connection it is stated that the Finnish air force has recently been strengthened by the arrival of Italian bombers, said to number 50. Meanwhile the newspapers announce that war material for Finland is being obtained from British firms. It is reported that this material included 20 British fighter aeroplanes, which are stated to be on their way to Finland. ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE WORLD SYMPATHY WITH FINLAND (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 7. (Received December 8, at 11.30 a.m.) The anniversary yesterday of the proclamation of Finland’s independence was the subject of leading articles in several newspapers. The ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says: “ Finland has kept the anniversary worthily and the world has also paid a tribute by demonstrating something more than, sympathy. President Roosevelt once more took the occasion to emphasise the moral support which the United States is giving Finland and his hope for its future, and proceeded to study with his advisers how material help in food supplies could he sent to sustain the Finns in their struggle. The Press leaves no doubt of the indignation of the American people at Russia’s outrage and their readiness strengthens the hands of the administration in giving effect to Finland’s resistance. It has already been made clear that the South American States are no less determined to do everything in their power to prevent the aggressor profiting by his aggression. In Scandinavian countries, which are most deeply and anxiously concerned, feeling grows hotter. Of much significance are the latest developments of opinion m Italy. There were earlier demonstrations against Russia in Milan and some have been much more than endorsed.” The ‘ Daily Herald ’ says: “ Twentytwo years of social and political progress have given Finland highly developedl democratic and co-operative institutions, and on her twenty-second birthday her people are fighting to defend them.” ISTHMUS DEFENCES BROKEN RUSSIAN OFFICIAL CLAIMS LONDON, December 7, (Received December 8, at 11.20 a.m.) The first comprehensive survey of the Russian General Staff’s plans is given in a Leningrad communique, which claims considerable advances: “From the direction of Murmansk, tho Red troops advanced 20 miles south of Petsamo. In the Petrozavodsk and Prozosero (possibly tho vicinity of Karelia) zones tho Soviet trooips advanced over the railway line between Nurmes and Oensuu, penetrating 40 miles. “ At the astern section of the Karelian Isthmus, the Finns’ Maginot-Kirke Line along the Vooski water system has been broken by artillery, and troops arc advancing northwards. At the western section of the Karelian Isthmus, the Soviets occupied the town of Kiviniemi, and are reported

to be on the railway line leading to Kexholin, also at stations on the several railways leading to Wiipuri; also in villages on tho coast of tho Gulf of Finland.” These claims mean that the main Finnish defences on the eastern sector of Karelian Isthmus are broken.

AIR ACTIVITY BOMBING OPERATIONS BY FINNS COPENHAGEN, December 7. (Received December 8, at 11 a.m.) Finnish war planes successfully bombed the Russian air base at Port Baltiski, which was taken from Estonia as a result of the Russian-Estonia Pact. The Finns are also persistently bombing the Russian defence lines at several points.

SWEDEN'S SYMPATHY

MESSAGE FROM KING GUSTAV HELSINKI, December 7. (Received December S, at 11.35 a.m.) King Gustav sent tho following message to President Kallio: —“Sweden has the wannest sympathy for Finland’s surely afflicted people. 1 confirm that Sweden’s warm feelings for free Finland have been deepened year by year by the growing and intimate northern collaboration. 1 -