1939-12-08 — Page 7

"THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 8, 1939

Page: 7

Soviet Gains Secured At Heavy Cost Of Life

Finns Battle On With Cold, Methodical Fury

2,000 SOVIET

DEAD IN

IN PETSAMO CLASH

POISON

GAS& SHELLS ALLEGATION

Helsinki, To-day.

The Finnish New Agency_re. ports that "in an attack on Fin- nish batterles north of Lake La- doga, the Soviets used shells con- taining polson gas. Eleven Finnish soldiers were asphyxlated.--Reu tor.

SANCTIONS AGAINST SOVIET

London, To-day. The "Daily Tele- graph" diplomatic correspon- dent understands that Bri- tain will support the pro- posals expected to be made at Geneva that Sanctions be imposed against Russia.

Stockholm, To-day. HEAVY MISTS AGAIN prevented air activity on

either side in Finland yesterday. Recent flights by Soviet planes over Finnish territory are believed to have been undertaken to explore the possibilities of landing troops by parachute. The Finns are not dismayed, for a network of watch- ers, with rifles loaded, stands ready day and night to deal with parachutists, and anti-aircraft batteries have already prayed effective against able to help the. Finns by supplying tion to the discretion of individual

Russian planes.

Russian warships are reported to

be searching for Finnish

off the coast of Sweden.

warships

Telegrams from Haparanda re-

port a fierce battle (described as the bloodlest which has yet oc- curred) in the vicinity of Petsamo. It is estimated that 7,000 Russians were, in the field when the battle began, and they have already lost 2,000.

The Finns are stated to be lighting with a cold methodical fury.

"STEAMROLLER" CHECKED According to the newspaper "Aftonbladet," the Soviet steam-rol- ler on the Karelian Isthmus has ap- parently been checked, and may even be stuck.

Helsinki

It is reported from that a heavy engagement occurred

north-east of Kemljaervi, in which 3,000 Russians were driven back.

brought them to their main

defence in this sector.

line of

FINNISH GOVERNMENT

ROOSEVELT'S PLAN TO AID FINNS

Washington, To-day. President Roosevelt hopes to be

them with surplus crops on credit.→ Reuter,

RUSSIAN FORCES FIGHTING UNDER DIFFICULTIES

57

(SPECIAL TO CHINA MAIL ")

Helsinki, To-day.

AIR AND-LAND ACTIVITY on the whole front has been considerably reduced owing to weather conditions.

The retirement of the Finnish troops There have been heavy snowfalls and Arctic dark- ness during the day along the 700-kilometre front from Lake Ladoga to the Arctic Sea. The Russians often lose contact between the various units, and are suffering from hardships in the desert land.

secret

Finnish Government departments are still functioning in Helsinki,

They use

addresses and change their, telephone numbers con- stantly, in order to frustrate possible espionage.

So far 2,500 Swedes have offered to serve in the Finnish forces. Reuter.

SOVIET PLANES ATTEMPT NEW RAIDS

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Berne, To-day. Press reports (which are denied in that Finnish planes Helsinki) state raided Leningrad and Kronstadt yes- terday.

Finnish anti-airereft guns shot down several Soviet planes which tried raid Viipuri.

to

Other Soviet air raids over Petsamo, Pitkcranta and north of Lake Ladoga were repulsed.

The Russlans continue to disembark strong reinforcements in the Petsamo

district.-Havas.

SUPPLIES FOR FINNISH FORCES

London, To-day. The Finnish Air Force has taken delivery of some 50 to 60 Italian aeroplanes. “

British factories will be sending 30

The Finnish railway between Lake Ladoga and the Gulf of Bothnia, which passes dangerously near the Soviet border, has not been threateri- ed so far.

On the other hand, the Finns are constantly threatening Soviet scout- ing elements, who have suffered heavy losses.

The opinion is held that a So- vlet landing on the Finnish coast is not possible.

Soviet allegations that they have the Mannerheim Line, shattered Finland's main defence system, are categorically denied.

?

MORALE HIGH

Helsinki was without newspapers yesterday morning following the previous day's celebrations of the National Holiday.

IMPORTANT OSLO PARLEYS

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")

Oslo, To-day.

The Swedish Foreign Minister, Mr. R. Sandler, and the Danish Foreign Minister, Mr. P. R. Munch, arrived here yesterday morning for a con- Scandinavian ference of the three countries.

+

The conference will examine the situation created by the Russian aggression against Finland and the Finnish appeal to Geneva. Havas,

M. ERKKO CHEERED TO ECHO IN STOCKHOLM,

Stockholm, To-day. At a meeting in Stockholm'attend- ed by. 6,000 people, M: Erkko, the Finnish Foreign Minister, was cheer- ed to the echo. When an appeal for shortly funds to help Finland was made, even war wedding rings were thrown into the

collection Boxes,

The morale of the population is high. Havas.

¿.

Finland fighter aircraft to and also a large quantity of materials.

Orders for these were placed some time ago, and these shipments are in fulfilment of private contracts; it is emphasised in London that the Bri-

tish Government has no connection

Reuter. with these shipments.

Crowds. at the railway station cheered Mr. Sandler as he left for Oslo to attend the conference of Scandinavian ministers who are to

discuss Russia's invasion of Finland.

Router.

Finland has not invoked the Article calling for Sanctions but it is expect- ed that the League itself will discuss the position under Article XVI which, while imposing Sanctions, leaves ac-

members.

The correspondent says it la not apparently the intention of Bri- tain to call for the exclusion of Russia from the League, but Bri. tain would support such a pro- posal if it is advanced.

There seems "little doubt that the Latin-American members will strong- ly press for the expulsion of Russia.

Finland's appeal will be considered by the committee of the full Assem- bly on Tuesday, at which a draft re- solution will affirm that Russia's ag- gression against Finland is a matter of concern to the whole League. Reuter.

DEPARTURE OF FINNISH LEGATION

WASHINGTON, TO-DAY. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

vs. EMBASSY WERE EXPECTED TO BE THE ONLY DIPLOMATS TO

SEE THE FINNISH LEGATION OFFICIALS OFF LAST NIGHT FROM MOSCOW,

The German Minister, doyen of the diplomatic body, suggested that neu-.

of tral missions, with the exception the United States, should not see the Finns off as it might look an anti- Soviet demonstration.

the

There is no explanation why Minister excluded the United States Legation Reuter.

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") GERMANY'S WARNING

Mocow, To-day.

It is understood that the German Embassy warned diplomats of several small States that their presence at the station for the farewell would be con- sidered a hostile demonstration to- wards the Soviet,-Havas.

DEPRESSION · EAST: OF PHILIPPINES

The Royal Observatory reports that a moderate anticyclone covers China, Korea and the adjacent seas..

The northern depression is moving into the Pacific to the, east of Japan. The depression to the east of the Philippines is moving west-north- 'west.r

TERSE AS USUAL

#109279 Paris, To-day: ......: Last night's Freffch, war commiuni- que stated: "A quiet day on the whole. There were patrols on either side." -Reuter.