DEATH FROM THE AIR

Evening Star, Issue 23512, 28 February 1940, Page 9

DEATH FROM THE AIR

BOMBS RAINED DN HELSINKI NEARLY 100 PLANES ENGAGED LONDON, February 27. A message from Helsinki states that 96 bombers raided the city four times. RUSSIAN ADVANCE FURTHER SUCCESSES CLAIMED' LENINGRAD, February 27. A communique states that troops on the isthmus continue to destroy Finnish fortifications and inflict heavy losses. Soviet forces brought down 19 Finnish planes. ALLIED INTERVENTION IMMEDIATE AID URGED LONDON, February 27. Commander G. S. Locker-Lampson (Conservative) tabled a motion in the House of Commons as follows:—“In view of Finland’s imminent peril of overthrow and the fact that the Allied armies are intact, the Government should free a substantial force for instant service in Finland under the League of Nations and appoint a committee comprising members of the House of Commons for forwarding this purpose.”

ABANDONMENT OF FORTRESS HEROIC GARRISON ESCAPES SAFELY HELSINKI, February 27. (Received February 28, at 10.30 a.m.) A Finnish communique admits the abandonment of the Bjoroko Island fortress. The heroic garrison had short supplies and crossed the straits over the ice under cover of night and a blizzard and reached the Finnish lines. 200,000 RUSSIANS CONCENTRATING ON VIIPURI FRONT HELSINKI, February 27. (Received February 28, at 11.45 a.m.) The Finnish High Command has ordered the evacuation of Sakkijarvi, 50 miles west of Viipuri, also all towns within a 25 miles radius from Viipuri in the belief that the Russians from Bjorko may cross the narrow part of Viipuri Bay, landing troops to encircle the town. The Red array is believed to be concentrating 200,000 on this front. A Finnish communique states: “ We caused heavy Russian casualties during attacks on the islands in Viipuri Bay. We also repulsed attacks on Salraenakaita and captured a quantity of arms and destroyed 18 tanks. We threw back an onslaught against Taibela. The enemy attacked throughout the day on the Petsamo front, where we withdrew our defensive positions to Nautsi on the Norwegian frontier. We brought down 17 planes. Forty German vessels, reportedly accompanied by submarines, have assembled between Murmansk and Petsamo.”BRITISH VOLUNTEERS THREE THOUSAND ENROLLED LONDON, February 27. (Received February 28, at 1.35 p.m.) The advance party of British volunteers, who have left as private citizens, are going to Finland by a secret route. Other volunteers are awaiting departure. They will receive training and battlcdress after their arrival. More than 3,000 volunteers, all without dependents, and subjected to careful scrutiny, were enrolled in London.

TURKEY AND HUNGARY NEW COMMERCIAL TREATY ISTANBUL, February 27. Turkey and Hungary have signed a commercial treaty, under which Turkey will pay for Hungarian exports with cotton. Hungary guaranteed that the cotton will not be re-exported to Germany.