BRITONS SHOW ADMIRATION

Southland Times, Issue 24011, 29 December 1939, Page 5

BRITONS SHOW ADMIRATION

Brilliant Finnish Leadership RUSSIAN ACTIONS ANTICIPATED (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, December 28. The plucky and determined resistance which the Finns are making to the invasion by the numerically superior forces of the Soviet and the success which appears to have attended their counter-attacks against such odds have evoked enthusiastic admiration among the British public. Commenting on the laconic, but significant, claim in the Finnish official communique about operations in the Lieksa sector that “operations have moved to the other side of the frontier,” The Evening Standard says: “Finland has taught the invader that behind the forest and ice stand a free people ready to defend their independence.” Military correspondents in the newspapers pay tribute to the skilful tactics of the Finnish command. Finnish courage and the difficulties of the ground, it is said, cannot alone explain the Finnish resistance.

The Finns’ tactics during the past 10 days—with their carefully timed retreats' on the Petsamo and Sallo fronts, followed and redeemed by sudden counter-attacks on the Soviet flanks—are considered by experts as bearing the unmistakable imprint in conception and execution of FieldMarshal Baron Mannerheim, (“The Liberator of Finland”) who once again is proving himself an outstanding general. It is observed that the Finnish forces are acting as a coherent whole operating to a set plan. The Russians have not taken them by surprise at any point. Each Russian thrust has been anticipated and countered along the whole 700mile front.

While military critics in Britain emphasize the importance of the successes achieved by the Finnish army in adverse circumstances and against almost overwhelming odds, it is not overlooked that the cb J --i problem the Finnish Government has to solve if the Finnish generals are to maintain their resistance Is one of supply; and, as several- commentators remark, it is a pro Ham not in the power of the Finnish Government to solve unaided.

Russian bombers vigorously attacked several strategic points with little result. Twelve bombers twice raided the munitions centre at Tampere and dropped 50 bombs. Only one person was killed and one wounded. Several houses were destroyed. A squadron similarly attacked Turku. Most of the bombs fell into the water.

Six aeroplanes raided Wiipuri. The results are not known.

BRITISH AND SOVIET RELATIONS NO CHANGE IN POSITION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 27. There is no truth in the report that the British Ambassador at Moscow, Sir William Seeds, has been instructed to advise representatives of British firms in Soviet Russia to leave and that an early diplomatic rupture in relations between Britain and the Soviet is contemplated. No change has occurred in the relations between Britain and Russia. SUPPORT FOR LEAGUE OF NATIONS SMALLER REPUBLICS REPLY (Received December 28, 7.40 p.m.) GENEVA, December 28. Colombia, Dominica, Liberia and Uruguay have replied to the League of Nations about help for Finland, broadly supporting {he Assembly’s resolution. The Swiss radio said that Russia announced that as a result of her expulsion from the League she was no longer abiding by the International Red Cross convention.

A message from Oslo states that Norway has contributed £235,000 to help Finland. The members of the Iceland Parliament have given a week’s salary.

RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT DISMISSED MOSCOW, December 27. It is revealed that M. Astakoff, Counsellor at the Soviet Embassy in Berlin, has been dismissed. He was Charge d’Affaires in Berlin during the negotiation of the Russo-German Pact.