BLOOD-STAINED SNOW

Evening Star, Issue 23451, 16 December 1939, Page 11

BLOOD-STAINED SNOW

THE FIGHTING IN FINLAND SOVIET TROOPS REACH NORWEGIAN FRONTIER HELSINKI, December 14. The Soviet troops reached the Norwegian frontier when they occupied Salmijarvi, which is in flames. The Norwegians have mined the frontier. The Finns, on retreating, set fire to all shelter, lighting up the black panoplied sky. The snow was coloured crimson by the heavy Russian losses. The biggest battle of tlhe war continues at Salla, which is one of the two parallels ot thrust towards Tornio. The Russians are reported to be launching a third attack towards Kuusamo, from where the road leads to Oulou. A Finnish communique reports further Russian bombardments in the Gulf of Finland and a Finnish advance from Tolvajarvi. HELP FOR FINLAND BRITISH WAR MATERIAL RELEASED (British Official Wireless.) i RUGBY, December 15. (Received December 16, at noon.) In connection with the Prime Minister’s statement in the House of Commons on Thursday that the Government has decided to permit the release and immediate delivery to Finland by the manufacturers of a number of aircraft, it is learned that, in addition to these aircraft and a quantity of gas masks, the Government will release its claims to such war materials desired by Finland as can be spared by British needs. ' The necessary export and other licenses will be granted to manufacturers with whom Finland may place orders. 1 LAST APPEAL FINNISH MINISTER BROADCASTS DOOR OPEN FOR NEGOTIATION HELSINKI, December 15. (Received December 16, at 1 p.m.) M. Tanner (Foreign Minister), broadcasting, pleaded with M. Molotov to suspend hostilities and resume the negotiations on Russia’s principles of self-determination of the rights of small peoples. He recalled that Russia broke off the negotiations, refused the United States offer of mediation, rejected the Swedish overtures, and flatly spurned the League of Nations. He said: “ The door is still open, but if Moscow aims at the complete conquest of my country the Finns will fight to the end. The war will be fierce and will demand many victims who will have shed their blood when other possibilities had not been examined.” MORE FINNS CALLED UP MOBILISATION ALMOST COMPLETE HELSINKI, December 15. (Received December 16, at 11 a.m.) More men have been called up, resulting in almost complete mobilisation. THE GENEVA MEETING VIOLENT MOSCOW RADIO ATTACH LONDON, December 15. (Received December 16, at 11.30 a.m.) The Moscow wireless violently attacked Anglo-French action at Geneva. “ They surpassed anything hitherto heard in cynicism and hypocrisy. They shed crocodile tears about the alleged violation of Finnish rights in trying to conceal the fact that General Mannerheim’s Finland is the basis for operations of imperialist aggressors against the Soviet.” FINLAND PAYS WAR DEBT INSTALMENT WASHINGTON, December 15. (Received December 16, at 10 a.m.) Finland! has paid the half-yearly debt instalment of 234.693 dollars. AIR STRENGTH NDW REALISED BY TURKEY SPIRITED EFFORT TO BUILD UP FORGE ANKARA, December 14. Turkey is making a spirited effort to organise an air force, largely with British assistance. Poland’s speedy devastation under Germany’s aerial superiority has done more to convince the Turks of the need for planes and anti-aircraft defences fihan years of theorising. British instructors are teaching young officers to fly. and Turkey has recently been experimenting with different types of machines, securing British, German, Polish, and American totalling 225. One hundred new British madhines are now being assembled. French and American machines have also been ordered..