THE WAR NEWS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4221, 8 December 1939, Page 5

THE WAR NEWS

SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION. THREAT TO THE BALKANS. The big news of the moment seems to be the omens of an intended thrust into the Balkan countries, with special attention to Rumania and her rich oil wells and grain fields. In this connection the remarks of Sir Herbert Hart, of Palestine, in Te AWamutu last evening make an interesting commentary. There are predictions from presumably well-informed circles that Turkey and Rumania especially will soon be feeling the brunt of Soviet and Nazi attacks. It has to remembered that while winter con75f\)ns impose something of a stalem< e on the Western Front and in the*Baltic, such conditions do not obtain along the Mediterranean or the Black Sea littoral. Apparently the Soviet radio folk are incensed at Italy’s expressions of goodwill towards the gallant Finns, for the Italians are warned, in effect, to “mind their own business.” Sweden also has been cautioned against possible interference on the side of the Finns. British Air Force machines have again made reconnaisance flights over important German cities and fortified places. The Red army, which has been ordered to subdue Finland within the next fortnight, has launched a heavy offensive in the Karelian and Lake the moment of writing details of the lighting are meagre. All earlier messages from Helsinki spoke of conspicuous Finnish successes against the invaders, but it is not clear whether these were achieved before or after the new Russian offensive began. The message claimed that 64 tans had been captured, 2000 of the enemy killed and two aeroplanes shot down. • To mark the twenty-first anniversary of the declaration of their country’s independence, Finnish airmen, flying Italian machines, swooped on a Red air force base at Murmansk, in the far north. It is said that they caught the enemy napping and destroyed 60 machines. So far the Soviet has not make good its threat to raze Helsinki unless the J Finnish Government capitulates. By now the threat has lost much of its force, for the capital has been thoroughly evacuated of civilians and its defences strengthened. Its wanton destruction would probably stiffen Finnish resistance, besides causing the civilised world to become still further incensed. Norway has invited Sweden and Denmark to confer on the situation on December 7. This may prove to be a momentous conference. Sweden for her part is displaying increasing alarm at the trend of events. The Government has admitted the calling up of 40,000 additional troops, which brings the total of Swedes under arms to 150,000. Sweden has also gone as far as to join with Finland in mining the waters adjacent to the Aaland Islands, which (it was announced early in the week) Finland intends to fortify. The Aaland Islands are strategically vital to both countries. Heavy artillery placed in the group would command the mouth of the Gulf of Bothnia. In Russian hands they would be a stepping stone to Scandinavia proper. Antagonism toward Russian aggression is not abating in Europe. In Rome there is talk of forming an “International Brigade Against Communism.” Sympathy for Finland in the United States is beginning to take practical form. President Roosevelt proposes to set aside the latest instalment payment of Finland’s Great War debt—a sum of nearly 235,000 dollars —as a reserve fund for Finland’s use when she needs it. In addition, Mr Herbert Hooves is to head a U.S. Finnish Relief Committee. Munitions produced in Britain is reported to have doubled in the past six months—and is to be redoubled. The Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, has summarised Britain’s war aims as they appear to him. Among them he mentions: (1) The recovery of liberties lost by European peoples; (2) the redemption of European peoples from the constant fear of German aggression: (3 the bringing about of a settlement which will encourage Germany to take her rightful place in Europe. The Navy is searching intensively for the enemy’s battleship raiders. News from Germany continues to be sparse, probably as a result of the recent Nazi ruling that all neutral correspondents must be represented in Berlin by one Swede. At the moment no doubt, the Swede is oblivious to all but the glow in the northern sky. In France the King has spent eight hours with his armies and has visited front line positions. On the Western Front, according to a French communique, the enemy has made a number of futile raids.