THE WAR NEWS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4219, 4 December 1939, Page 5

THE WAR NEWS

FINLAND ATTACKED BY RUSSIANS. z A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION. The account of the Red invasion of Finland is the story of Poland over again. The capital, Helsinki, has been repeatedly bombed and is partly on fire. Raiders have flown over other cities, and have destroyed several small towns. Coastal areas have been bombarded by the Red Navy. Land forces have thrust in at various points on the frontier, and appear to have penetrated deeply in the far north. Tfc- Soviet Goverriment is reported to WKv¥ sent an ultimatum demanding Finland’s complete capitulation, the alternative being the razing of Helsinki and other towns. At the Finning capital it is said that no ultimatum has been received. Meanwhile President Kallio has declared a state of war and the little republic is defending itself as best it can against odds of more than 40 toone. Militarily Finland is hopelessly. f placed; morally, her position could hardly be stronger. To the eleventh hour and beyond it, her efforts to mollify Moscow were unceasing. Her Social Democrat Government, headed by Professor Cajander, has resigned. (In one of its earlier threats the Soviet announced that RussoFinnish negotiations could not be reopened until this had been brought about.) An All-Party Government is being formed in Helsinki, and its head, M. Tanner (formerly Minister of Finance), is endeavouring to make contact with the Soviet. He is a former friend of M. Stalin’s. He once saved the dictator’s life. Hope is expressed that M. Tanner will succeed; indeed, a late message states that a truce is expected. Russia’s attack has roused • worldwide indignation, the reaction being unprecedently swift. In Sweden, where full defence measures are being taken, the people are thoroughly roused. One message states that only a Government prohibition is preventing Scandinavians from springing to arms. Norwegians, Danes and Dutch are displaying equal k emotion. / The Italian people are incensed. A Rome correspondent declares that if it were geographically possible thousands would rush to Finland’s aid. Italy is seeing in the Soviet’s action the shadow of a similar move in the Balkans. In eastern Europe the wave of revulsion is being followed by a mounting fear that Russia has thrown aside all pretence, and has embarked on a policy of piecemeal aggression, east as well as south and west. Rumania’s north eastern province of Bessarabia is spoken of as the next victim. Russian troops are reported to be firing on Hungarian sentries posted along the Ruthenian border. This incident, however, may be nothing more than a symptom of the frontier tension and nervousness throughout Europe. It is being emphasised that Russia’s action will impose a further strain on the loyalty of Germans to Hitler’s policy of Russo-German co-operation. Not only is there a strong affinity between eGrmans and Finns —particularly a religious affinity—but there is also a widespread belief (previously fostered by the Nazis) that Finland stands as an outpost nation, blocking the spread of Communism through Scandinavia and into Western Europe. The United States, whose offer of mediation was met by an impatient Soviet snub, is roused as never before against Communism. “The explosion of a mighty illusion” is how one newspaper describes the happenings of the past three days, adding: “There has been no pretence of excuse beyond a burglar’s desire to possess others’ property.” Another joural speaks of a “coldly calculated crime against hfuman decency.” In a declaration to the French Chamber of Deputies, the Premier, M Daladier, has ridiculed the Nazi pro pagandist attempts to divide the Al liesc. He has also pointed out that the war must be won before the condi tions of peace can be discussed. Two more British ships have been sunk, one by a U-boat operating oft the coast of Spain. Success is claimed for an electro-magnetic method of dealing with drifting enemy mines. The President of the United States has issued a statement in which he asks manufacturers not to supply belligerent countries who have taken the aggressive, with aeroplanes and equipment. It is claimed that British naval action has accounted for at least three more U-boats. On the other hand the Germans claim further successes in destroying enemy and neutral vessels, especially a Norwegian and a British oil tanker. Very little major activity is report ed from the Western Front, but heavy artillery firing is reported.