THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 1, 1939
First Detailed Report of Scope of Soviet Invasion
INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING OF HELSINKI: LAND
CRUCIAL BATTLE
ATTACKS AT THREE POINTS COMING
London, To-day.
SINCE EARLY YESTERDAY morning the Soviet
FREEZING
army, navy and air forces have been attacking GULF
Finland with sheer ruthlessness. They attacked
on land in three main forces, while the air force EXPLAINS
bombed towns and cities all day long.
The Russian Baltic Fleet left Kronstadt and attack- HASTE
ed Hogland and the other islands the Soviets have been demanding. There is an unconfirm- ed report that there was a landing at Hango, an- other port the Russians have been demanding. The worst air raid was on Helsinki.
From carly in the morning until about 2 p.m., Soviet 'planes flew over the city but only dropped bombs on the airport.
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Chungking, To-day. What will probably be the severest and most cru-
cial battle of the present Sino-Japanese war will be fought in the near fu- ture in the hills of Kwang- well- si, according to informed observers here..
+
Following the Japanese occupation of Nanning, which has cut China's highway communication with French Indo-China, the Chinese and the Japs are reported to be rushing reinforce- ments and manoeuvring for positions
Copenhagen, To-day. The Soviet precipitated the aggression against Finland of because the Gulf of Finland is give any estimate of the number casualties. The people, however, re- rapidly freezing thereby mak-in preparation for a major battle. mained calm and where possible re-ing conditions for warships and seaplanes exceedingly in-
precarious, the "Berlingske Tidende's" Helsinki pondent suggests.
turned to their shelters.
Viborg was also attacked and
At 2 p.m. the all clear was sounded and people who had been sitting quiet-cendiary bombs started several ares. ly in shelters came out. Shops re- There also attacks all the way from opened and trams and buses started to Helsinki to Viborg, while coast towns move again.
Then the Soviet 'planes start- ed to bomb the Finnish capital in earnest. They flew high and drop- ped their deadly missiles without any attempt at accuracy.
and villages were also shelled either
from naval batteries at Kronstadt or from warships.
Even next
week
corres-
seaplanes
and
Reports from Pakhol state that large bodies of Japanese troops are being landed there and sent to Nanning.
HEAVY FIGHTING Latest Chinese field dispatches from Southern Kwangsi state that the Ja-
warships would have found great dif-panese forces are continuing to push northward, westward and north-west- ficulties there.
ward in three columns, with the main body striking along the main high- way in Southern Kwangsi towards Pingyang. to
HANGO ATTACK REPULSED
Commenting further on Soviet-Fin- According to one report, the Soviet fleet has already occupied Hogland.nish developments, the paper stated Molotov. Soviet Foreign that M. A correspondent who was telephon- Another unconfirmed report says that bas
Commissar, recently pointed out ing at the time the raid started re-
an attempted landing at Hango
M. Stalin that "events of considerable ported he had already counted a doz-been repulsed. en bombs from where he was sitting.
importance" were due to happen in
Two of them
south-eastern Europe after which the Soviet will be compelled to devote all her efforts in the Black Sea.
Hance, the
should Soviet "liquidate" Finland without de- lay.
were large and broke windows of half a mile radius all
around.
INCENDIARY BOMBs There were also incendiary bombs and several buildings caught fire.
It is quite impossible at present to
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The land attack was in three main bodies. The first body attacked along the Arctie Coast, and the Soviets are said to have occupied the whole of the Ribachi Pensinsula, part of which be- longs to Finland.
It is on this peninsula that Fin- land has its one Arctic port that the the year round; is ice-free
this Soviets have lately coveted port.
Another attack on the eastern fron- tier north of Lake Vigoda saw a great deal of artillery fire, which was turned by the Finns.
re-
The Finns later withdrew, so that the Soviets found themselves fronted with a No Man's Land.
ISTHMUS OFFENSIVE
con-
Nevertheless, some optimists be- lleys that Russia's action is more Inten- intimidation without the tion of launching a full-scale of- fensive against Finland.
that the United It is reported States Ambassador in Moscow, in a recent interview, said that he did Com- not believe the Soviet High mand was prepared to launch a-win- ter campaign in Finland.--Havas.
ITALIAN AID
TO FINLAND
The third attack was up the Kare- Jian Isthmus, north of Leningrad; the isthmus is only about 40 miles had the wide. Here the Soviete support of the naval batteries. ́.
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") During their early flights over Hel-
Copenhagen, To-day. sinki, the Soviet 'planes demanded the
Press reports state that Italy re- overthrow of the Finnish Government. "Mannerheim and Cajander must go,"cently despatched arms and planes to said the leaflets, "after which peace Finland,
will come."
Finnish the M. Cajander is
Manner. Prime Minlater, while helm yesterday took over the Su
Command of Finland's preme 'forces; he is regarded as the 11- he re. berator of Finland, for pulsed the Bolshevist armies 20 years ago. Both man enjoy great popularity and the nation's con- fidence.
The German wireless stations up to late yesterday afternoon had made no mention of the bombing of Helsinki, while the Moscow stations have made no reference whatever to the attack Ion Finland, and official circles have
no statement to make,--Reuter.
HOUSES AFLAME
London, To-day. The city was bombed for the second time yesterday afternoon and houses are aflame.
Ten machines, participated, and the buildings set alight included the Technical High School. Reuter. INCENDIARY BOMBS USED.
EXTENSIVELMES
Helsinki, To-day.
▸
while preparations were made in Rome to enable young Italians to enlist in a volunteer corps to fight on the Finnish side in the event of Soviet aggression. - Havas.
tion and windows over a wide area were smashed.
Incendiary bombs were also drop- ped over
six wide area, setting a houses on fire at Fredericksgatan and Kalebagatan.
Heavy fighting is said to be going on at present near Patang to the north- east of Nanning-Reuter.
HELD AT TWO POINTS
Kweilin, To-day. The Japanese driving on the Nan- ning-Pingyang highway are meeting with firm resistance at Liutang, ap- of proximately 25 miles northeast Nanning. Severe fighting has raged without interruption; and heavy casualties have been upon the enemy. The countryside strewn with Japan- ese dead and wounded.
Japanese reinforcements have been brought up but the Chinese cling to their positions.
There is no change on the Nan- The Chinese ning-Wuming highway. still hold the strategic pass at Kao- feng, about 14 miles north of Nan-
ning-Central News. INDIGNATION FELT IN FRANCE
(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL") Paris, To-day.
Deep indignation is felt throughout the country, over the Soviet invasion of Poland.
Political circles stress that Ger- many, during the whole, 'crisis, advis- ed Finland to yield, thus clearly de- monstrating Berlin-Moscow complic
The Technical High School wasity. set alight and the air raiding warn- ing was still in progress until later in the afternoon.
a
From the centre of the city, about a score of bomba were counted and big fire, from which dense clouds of smoke arose, could be seen in the northern district of the capital.—Reu- ter.
LANDING ON ISLAND ·
REPORTED.....
(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL") Helsinki, To-day. The Ministry of National Defence announces that three Soviet planes yesterday morning
The city was bombed in the after-were shot down noon by ten machines, Many houses near Helsinki, are in flames.
The bombers came over in group of twog-and threes.”
One borib fell nest the railway
3.
Although it is not impossible that the Soviets are embarking on a full scale campaign, it is more probable that they will be con- tent with the seizure of those strategic points she failed to se- cure through negotiations. On the other hand, the greatest importance is attached to the Ameri- can offer of direct mediation
and the Soviet rejection-Havas.
INDIGNATION IN AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam, To-day. Indignation at the Russian: inva- sion of Finland is general.
Windows of the cices of the Dutch
olkesdagblad”. It is undonfirmedly reported that | Communist paper Soviet, troops have already landed at in Amsterdam were Seiskaarial land in the Gulf of Fin« | day when the news whe
Reuter
----