BOMBERS RAID HELSINKI

Southland Times, Issue 23989, 2 December 1939, Page 5

BOMBERS RAID HELSINKI

PLANE SHOT DOWN IN FLAMES

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received December 1, 7.55 p.m.) HELSINKI, November 30.

Bombers raided the city at 9 p.m. and met heavy anti-aircraft fire. One aeroplane was shot down in flames. Turku and Lahti were also bombed and four persons were killed. Soviet aeroplanes partially destroyed several small Finnish towns above the Arctic Circle near the Norwegian frontier. The Finnish radio declared that the invaders had been repelled at most points and prevented from advancing from the positions where they had gained a foothold. Two tanks were destroyed on the? Karelian Isthmus. At least 80 persons were killed and 125 injured, all civilians, during the raids on Helsinki. The first war communique states:— “All the Russian troops had been halted in the afternoon.” It denied that Finnish troops had crossed the Russian frontier.

The Moscow radio declared that Finnish soldiers had crossed the frontier and attacked Soviet posts, whereupon the Red Army was ordered to advance and penetrated six miles. It admitted that a state of war existed and that Helsinki had been bombed. BLAZE OF FIRES Helsinki tonight is a blaze of fires from incendiary bombs, which broke the total black-out. Parliament was summoned to hear the Government statement. Rescue work is progressing rapidly. The population is completely calm, although harassed parents are frantically searching for children. It is believed that at least 200 persons were killed in the third raid. The main railway station is crowded with women and children preparing to evacuate the town. Wiipuri is . also burning in several parts and air-raid sirens were sounded in Turku, Finland’s second largest city as the roar of high flying aeroplanes was detected. The Government announced that it was remaining in the capital to fight with the people. * Twenty buildings were still ablaze at midnight. - All trains were jammed and there was a vast pilgrimage on foot in progress to the snow-covered woods. The Soviet Legation members arg still in the city. It is believed that they will be held as hostages until the Finnish Legation members in Moscow return. It is estimated that 10 Russian aeroplanes were shot down during the day.

The Finnish fleet has put out from Helsinki, it is believed to engage the Russian fleet which occupied Hogland and other islands.

Many passengers were blown to bits when an omnibus was struck at the station by a bomb. Leaflets dropped by the Soviet raiders declared: “Mannerheim must go. Then peace will come. The Soviets will not harm the Finnish people,

whose disaster is due to wrong leadership.” Field-Marshal Baron Mannerheim has been appointed commander-in-chief of the Finnish troops. The President of Finland (M. Kyosto Kallio) has issued a proclamation: With a view to maintaining the country’s defence and constitution Finland has declared a state of war.