BRITISH HELP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 207, 2 August 1941, Page 7

BRITISH HELP

TO SOVIET ALLY. STRIKING EXAMPLE. * (United Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug-. I Tiie news of the attack by naval aircraft on the ports of Petsamo (Finland) anil Kirkenes (Norway) has been noted witli special interest in the Press, where it is greeted as an example of new and more direct assistance by Britain to her new Russian Ally. Thu Manchester Guardian says: “Though they cost us heavy losses, the country will be stirred by the news of the Fleet Air Arm attacks on the harbours of Kirkenes and Petsamo. for they are our first di-

rect military aid to Russia. “Germany will wish to send most o*' her supplies to this northern country bv sea, and lwth harbours will bo her main bases for an attack on Murmansk. As the Russian aluminium industry is concentrated in factories in the Kolas Peninsula, on which Murmansk stands, she will l>c particularly grateful for this kind of aid from us. “Geography will force us for a long time to help Russia more often indirectly than directly as in this last sally. There can be no doubt that, wo shall do so, not only by our raids on Western Germany but perhaps by raids of another kind, and certainly by offensive action in the Mediterranean a read ’

A Press Association report says that | the Berlin radio, trying to make capi- ! tal out of the British attack on the harI bonr works at Petsamo, said the raid caused a sensation in Helsinki, where it was emphasised that Britain started the war against Finland without breaking off diplomatic relations. It added that harbour works owned by Sweden were damaged. The latest Russian communique says the Bed air force, in co-operation, with the land troops. inflicted blows on motor and mechanised units, infantry, and artillery, and also bombed enemy motor columns carrying fuel and material. —Official "Wireless.