THE WAR NEWS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4218, 1 December 1939, Page 5

THE WAR NEWS

A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION. SOVIET AGGRESSION. The situation in the Baltic has taken a turn for the worse. Using the alleged frontier incident as an excuse, the Soviet Government has denounced the Russo-Finnish Non-aggression Pact, thus apparently clearing the way for any hostile action it may decide to take. Simultaneously, the official Moscow radio has improved upon the frontier tale of artillery action by asserting troops actually invaded Russian territory and were forced back by machine-gun fire. The Finnish Government has denied this. In Finland’s capital, Helsinki, the situation is looked upon as being most critical. The nation is shocked by Russia’s determination of the Pact, generally mobilisation has been ordered, and towns are blacked out. Messages via London refer to renewed Red Army activity along the border. A radio message states the Finnish frontier troops have been withdrawn. Radio and cable news conveys the information that the Russians have already commenced their invasion of Finland, attacks being launched by air, land and sea simultaneously, at three points wide apart. Another statement says authorities in Moscow refuse to confirm reports of the invasion. At least one observer in Moscow—the correspondent of the New York Times holds to his previouslyexpressed opinion that Russia is still bluffing with the object of frightening Finland into early agreement with the proposals concerning strategic concessions in the north Baltic. Germany has placed a final seal on her perfidy toward Finland by an official statement “identifying herself completely with the Russian demands.” This has embittered the Finns, for in the past Germany gave diplomatic support to Finland and encouraged her as a European outpost against Communism. Figures quoted by the British f Chancellor of the Exchequer indicate ✓ the colossal cost of war and other services to the British people. He said such expenditure is now equivalent to two thousand four hundred million pounds a year. This represents a two-thirds increase on total pre-war annual spending. The Chancellor indicated how he intended to meet the additional costs. From Ankara comes support for the recently-stated theory that the Soviet is anxious to settle the Baltic question speedily so that she may turn to the east. Turkish military leaders believe (it is reported) that in a few weeks Russia and Germany may launch a big offensive in the Balkans Russia to strike into Central Asia and down toward Northern India, and Germany to campaign for a Mediterranean outlet together with access to the oil and other mineral supplies of the Near East countries.

Turkey is said to be prepared, in conjunction with the Allies, to meet such a threat. It is emphasised that by the spring the strength of the Anglo-Turkish forces in the Eastern Mediterranean will bp substantial.

The Western Front remains quiet, but aerial activity has been renewed. Enemy reconnaissance machines have flown as far as Paris and have circled down to the South of France. The R.A.F. has struck back at the Shetland Island and Firth of Forth raiders by attacking their base at Borkum one of the East Frisian Islands, off the mouth of the Ems River estuary and some 40 miles west of Wilhelmshaven. The operation seems to have been in the nature of a warning gesture, for fighters, not bombers, were used. Three German seaplanes were machine-gunned. By British Order-in-Council and French Decree, the retaliation move against German exports has been fixed to begin on December 4.