1939-12-02 — Page 7

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

SOVIET WITH

FORCES

CABLE

ATTACKING FINLAND

RUTHLESSNESS: TOWNS. CITIES

BOMBED ALL DAY LONG

LONDON, DEC. 1 (REUTER) — SINCE EARLY YES. TERDAY MORNING, THE SOVIET ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCES HAVE BEEN ATTACKING FINLAND WITH SHEER RUTHLESSNESS,

They attacked on land in three main forces, while the Air Force bombed towns and cities all day long.

The Russian Baltic Fleet" left Kronstadt and attacked Hogland and the other islands which the Soviet has been demanding and there was an unconfirmed report that there was a landing at another port the Russians have been de- manding.

One of the worst air raids was on Helsinki from early morning until 2 p.m. Soviet planes few over the city, but only dropped bombs on the airport. At 2 p.m. the all-clear signal was sounded and the people, who had been sitting quietly in their shelters, came out.

Shops re-opened and trams and buses started to move again. Then Soviet plaries started to "bomb the Finnish capital in earnest.

They flew high and dropped their deadly missiles without any attempt at accuracy.

A correspondent, who was telephoning at the time the

raid started, reported that he NO SURRENDER

had already counted a dozen bombs from where he was sitting. Two of them were large and broke the windows within half a mile radius all around. There were also in- cendiary bombs and several buildings caught fire.

FLAME RIDDEN

CAPITAL

(Reuter) -

BY FINLAND

Continued From Paja 1

omcial News Agency quoting a re- port from Oslo.

BREAK IN U.S.-SOVIET RELATIONS CERTAIN

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (Reuter) - A sharp and im- mediate deterioration of relations between the United States and the U.S.S.R. is considered in political quarters to be a certain outcome of the Soviet Invasion of Finland.

Official quarters "confirm that the State Department Is engaged in studying action open to the United States to express her disapproval and there talk of

(1) the immediate recall of Mr. Steinhardt, the U.S. Ambassador in Moscow;

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(2) the cancellation of trade agreement between the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R.;

(3) the severance of diplomatic relations.

It is also reported that as a result of the conference between Mr. Cordell Hull and the President, one of them will, in a public speech in the next few hours, invite world at- tention to the assurance given by the Soviets to the United States three weeks ago that they intended to respect the independence of Finland.

SHARP REBUKE MOSCOW, Dec. 1 (Reuter)—– M. Molotov having sharply re- interference buked American

in the Soviet- Finnish dispute, observers here do not expect Soviet acceptance of the U. S. mediation offer.

NEUTRALITY ACT WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 /Reuter) The new Government is propos---Questioned about the possibility ing an immediate armistice with a of United States applying the view to peace negotiations.

provisions of the Neutrality Act to Pussia and Finland, Mr. Cordell Hull, U. S. Secretary of State, re fused to comment. But said that

TANNER TO RESIGN LONDON. Dec. 1 (Reuter)-The HELSINKI. Dec. 1

resignations of Prof. A. K. Cajan- While mass evacuation was pro- der Prime Minister) and M. Tan- at some later time he might be able ceeding

to give reasons for not announcing from the dame-ridden ner, reported abroad, are not con's decisions Immediately, says capital of Finland. Helsinki, in armed in Helsinki but are expect which hundreds were Milled and ed shortly, according to a telephon- the Dow Jones Agency. wounded, there were ve savage ed message from Helsinki, which Soviet air raids.

came via Amsterdam

An oficial Finnish statement concerning the land invasior de- clares that Finland's forces are fighting stubbornly at all points.

The Russian Armies have swept through the Rybachi Peninsula in the extreme north, but they made little progress in the Karelian

TO OPEN NEGOTIATION COPENHAGEN, Dec. 1 (Reuter)— M. Tanner is. forming a new Fin- nish Government today, with the ex-Premier, M. Kivimaeki, as For- elgn Minister.

The new Govern- ment will probably open negotia- tions with the U.S.S.R, during the being day after a trace has been ar-

ranged.

their advance Isthmus, limited to about five miles despite the employment of mechanised units advancing under cover of heavy artillery.

MORALE MAGNIFICENT Foreign Correspondents declare that despite the violence of the falds and the fact that the first bomba were dropped only one minute after the alarm, the morale of the civilian population have been magnificent and there have been no sign of pante,

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FINLAND'S CAPITAL

IN FLAMES

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HARDY FINNS DETERMINED TO DEFEND COUNTRY

LONDON, Dec. 1 (Reuter}- "The Soviet invading armies will have numerical and terial advantages, over the Finnish defenders, but in 2 country of lakes and föresta defended by a force of 600,000 Intelligent patriots, It will not be a walk-over for the at- tackers" says Reuter's military correspondent.

PHYSICAL FITNESS

He points out that many Finnish Reservists are battle- scarred ve- terans.

The Finnish ahtletes ar world famous and the Finns have been a military-minded people for HELSINKI, Dec. 1 (Reuter)-as many centuries as the British. The city was bombed yesterday afternoon by ten machines and many houses are in flames.

Оле

Reports published here state that The bombers came over the Soviet ultimatum to Finlanderoups of twos and threes. demanded the formation of a new homb fell near the railway station Government The Soviet is said and windows over a wide area

o have threatened that, if the de- mand was not accepted, Helsinki would be levelled to the ground

"It is these qualities of phy- sical fitness, combined with the industry and the deter- mination to defend their liber- tles which have gained the Finns so mach prestige in the United States.

were smashed: Incendiary bombs were dropped over a wide area "The fact that Finland paid its and six houses were set on fire on war debt fully was of small. Im- Fredericksgatan and Kalebacatan.portance, compared with its man- |

The Technical High School was hood ideals,” “

300 SOVIET BOMBERS STOCKHOLM, Dec. 1 (Reuter)— According to an unconfirmed re-set alight and the air raid wam- port, 300 Soviet bombers flew over ing was still progress until late in Helsinki yesterday and the number the afternoon.

of victims' is undoubtedly large. From the centre of city about a The Cabinet met in the after- In one part of the town. about store of bombs were counted and noon and later met both Houses 70 were buried under the ruins of a big Are. from which dense clouds of Parliament where a vote of a cellar in which they had sought of smoke arose, was seen in the confidence was given by an over-protection. It is not known how whelming majority.

many survived.

The Soviet Government, which for hours refused to admit the "invasion, last evening declared that

the attack was provoked by further attempted invasion of Soviet territory by Finnish troops.

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The residence of the Finnish Foreign Minister. M. Erkko, wäs destroyed by a bomb, and it is said that his daughter, aged 17. Was badly injured. Karellan Isthmus, relate that fierce Reports from Terijoki, in the

fighting is taking place.

M. Erkko, Foreign Minister of Finland, told foreign correspon- The Russians are keeping the that the Finnish forces Finnish defences continuously en- dents everywhere were on the defensive. gaged with artillery fire and bomb

ing by aircraft.

He said: "This is our policy. We bave no other way. If

there is a chance to make nu honest agreement we are zi- ways ready to grasp Kr

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FIRES STARTED

The Finns drove back successive waves of troops.

PETSAMO ATTACKED OSLO, Dec. 1 (Reuter)--Soviet planes attacked Petsamo, Finland's only ice-free Arctic port, but noj

The highway leading to Pet- samo, near the Norweglan front- fer, was also bombed, a small van

It is quite impossible at pre-damage is reported, sent to give any estimate of thei number of casualties. The people, i however, remained... calm and, where possible, returned to their and motor cars on the road be-

ing machine-gunned.

shelters."

northern district of Helsinki,

SILENCE!

LONDON, Dec, 1 (Reuter)~~ The German wireless stations." up to late yesterday made no mention of the bombing of Helsinki, wille Moscow sta- tions made no reference what- ever to the attack on Finland and official circles had no statement make.

WOMEN'S PART

The correspondent adds that part of the establishment of Fin- land's army is a corps of women. to Britain's W. A. T. 8. similar

Auxiliary Territorial (Women's (Service);

They act as cooks and nurses and wear a becoming Krey uni- form.

!

con-

The correspondent cludes: "Russia proclaimed that the occupation” of Finland is not her intention, but how otherwise could she impose her will upon such virile people."

Premier Recounts History

Of Events Leading Soviet Invasion

To

LONDON, Dec. 1 (Reuter) Referring to the Soviet- Finnish situation in the House of Commons yesterday, the Prime Minister declared that the Finnish attitude from the outset had been unprovocative. The Finnish note was delivered in Moscow immediately before the ruture and was of the most conciliatory character and proposed to submit the dispute to arbitration.

BOOTH

OLD

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1939. -PAGE 7

Fi

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THEY MIX REAL. COCKTAILS WITH

BOOTH'S DRY GIN

SOLE AGENTS:

CALDBECK, MACGREGOR & CO., LTD.

SHELTER ON COAST OF NORWAY

OSLO, Dec. 1 (Reuter)-Ine Norwegian Naval authorities an- nounce that two British warships and one damaged British subar- ine put into the Norwegian coast, near Stavenger, pleading stress of weather and damage.

The first British cruiser arrived"} at 7 a.m being followed two hours later by the other warship and a submarine,

A

1

The Norwegian authorities have sent planes and coast guards to: inspect the British ships for damage, "

LONDON, Dec. 1 Reuter)-It is announced that there is no connec- | tion between the putting into Norway of two British warships

THE

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MOST

CRUCIAL BATTLE

and a submarine and reports of OF SINO-JAPANESE WAR.

the naval battle near Norway be- tween warships and acroplanes.

The Late Dr. N. Bethune

CHUNGKING, Dec. 1 (Reuter)- Further Details gathered here con- cerning the Canadian, Dr. Norman Hethune, who was reported to have died on Nov. 13, reveal that Dr, Bethune was about forty years of age and came from Montreal.

was last seen by Dr. Bethane his friends in Hankow late in February last year when he was completing arrangements for trip to Northern Shansl.

TRAVELLED NORTH Shortly afterwards, with medi- cal equipment and supplies, Dr. Bethune travelled northwards, ae- companied by a Canadian nurse. Miss Jarit Evan.

Dr. Bethune carrled with him U.S.$2,000 for establishing thirty beds in a field hospital in the North,

MEDICAL UNIT.

IMMINENT

IN KWANGSI Air Service.

CHUNGKING, Dec. 1 (Ben- ter)----What probably will bẹ the severest and most crucial battle of the present Sino- Japanese war may be fought in the near future in the hills of Kwarigsi, according to well- Informed observers here,"

MAJOR BATTLE Following the Japanese occups- ion of Nanning, which cut China's highway

Between Japan And Thailand

TOKYO, Dec. 1 (Reuter) --- Ar communications with French Indo-China, the Chinese agreement for the inauguration of and Japanese are reported to be a regular air service between Japan rushing reinforcements and mano and: Thaland. (Siami) was signed. euvring for positions in prepara-at Bangkok at 10 o'clock yesterday tion for a major battle.

Beports from Pakhoj state that large bodies of Japanese troops are being landed there - and sent to® Nanning.

morning, said a 'Foreign Office spökérman at today's press don- ference.

The agreement, he added, wal signed by Mr. Kuramatsu Müral THREE COLUMNS ·

Japanese Minister to Thalland, and Fradist Latest Chinese Zeld dispatches Major-General Lung from Southern Kwanged state that Mahudharm, Foreign Minister of the Japanese forces are continuing Thailand

to push northward, westward”“” and It had originally been arranged north-westward in three columns, to sign the agreement on November Together with Dr. Charles Par-with the main body striking along 27 but owing to matters of proce- the main highway in Southern dure it had to be postponed until Associate Surgeon in the

|Kwangel towards Pingyang. sons

November 30 Benediction. Hospital in Kingston,

Heavy fighting is said to be, It is understood that in accor New York, he formed the first, me- dical unit organised by a group of going on near Patang north-east dance with the agreement, the re- people in New York.

guiar, air service "between Japan

Dr. Parsons is now working with

The Prime Minister said that only a few hours after M. Molotov's the new Fourth Army somewhere broadcast, the Soviet forces invaded. Finland and bombed the aero-in the vicinity of the Nanking- drome and neighbourhood of Helsinki.

Shanghai area?

It was learnt later that Helsinki and -other centres had been bombed, In some cases with loss of life

Mr. Chamberlain added that the British Government warmly wel- comed Mr. Cordell Hull's offer of mediation.

Viborg was also attacked and Sovlet submarines have closed incendiary bombs started several Petsamo Fjord preventing a re- fires. There were also attacks all fugee ship from proceeding to the way from Helsinki to Viborg, Norway. while coast towns and villages

U.S. MESSAGES were also shelled either from the LONDON, Dec. 1 (Reuter) naval batteries at Kronstadt or United States diplomatic repre- from warships.

sentatives have delivered mes- According to one report, the so-sages to Moscow and Helsinki fol- viet Fleet has already occupied lowing reports of the bombard- Hogland,

ment of Helsinki. The messages The land attack was in three are almost identical to those re-

cently dispatched to Britain, At the request of Mr. C B Attic, relations was of a most con- main bodies; the first body attack-

tlee, Leader of the Labour oppsei-j ciliatory character. ed along the Arctic" Coast and the

Messages from Helsinki

tion, Mr. Chamberlain made a Soviets are said to have occupied

much delayed. The latest filed statement on the developments in the whole of Ribachi Feninsula.

France and Germany,

are

from Helsinki states: "It is rell-

and Challand will be started m February

Di Nanning.

ALLIED

DECISION TO SEIZE NAZI EXPORTS

1.

ARTILLERY FIRE

They deeply regretted this et German Attempts Tomunque Deuter)-A com-

The British Government deeply regrets this fresh attack on a tack upon a small independent na- small independent nation, which must result in fresh suffering and ❘ tion. loss.

Finland.

A claim was made for the ac-

part of which belongs to Flaland. ably reported that the Finnish

It is on this Feninsula that Fin- Government is informing the So-quisition of certain Finnish islands land has its one Arctic post that viet that it is prepared to resign." in the Gulf of Finland and the is ice-free the year round and the

Bovlets coveted this port.

There was another attack on

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the eastern frontier in the north, forty miles wide where the so- where there was a great deal of viets had the support of naval bat- artillery fire which was returned by teries. the Finns, who later withdrew, so "that the Soviets found themselves confronted with a "No Man's Land."

The third attack was up the Karelian Isthmus, north of Lenin- grad. The Isthmus is only about

During their fightë

Over Helsinki, Soviet planes, de- manded the overthrow of the Finnish Government. "Matter- helm and Calander must ro," said the leaflets, “after which... peace will come.”

At the conclusion of Mr. Chamberlain's statement Mr. Attice asked whether the Gov- trnment had received from the Soviets any statement of rea- sons for what appears an in- depensible act of unprovoked 1KKTESSİON.

Mr. Chamberlain replied:** none at all”.

Confuse Issue

LONDON, Dec. 1 (WS)-in Nazi comment on the Allied decision to make German ex- ports in neutral vessels on the bigh seas liable to seizure neck«. the dellberately to "confuse issue by arguing that such action is not in accordance with the stipulations of sach statements of international law of war as the Declaration of Paris of 1856

NAŽI VIOLATIONS

today states: "There was artillery fire during the night. Yesterday evening repulsed an enemy raid."

WazeN

Three coolles employed by the Royal Naval Dockyards charged with theft of allver spoon and other silver ornaments, when they appeared before Mr. R. A.D. Forrest at the Central. Court" | yesterday, and were each fined $20 for a month's/imprisonment. The articles belonged to Able Seaman George Warton, of HMS. Parthian.

On Tuesday night, the „So vieta denounced the Soviet Finnish Non-Aggression Fact, which had been expressly de- signed to ensure the settlement of all disputes like this peace" : fully,'.. Finnish port at the entrance to the gulf in order to assure the

BRITISH CONCERN ́

PRESS CONDEMNATION position of the Soviet Union in the His Majesty's government had

LONDON, Dec. 1 (Reuter)-A- observed these developments with | though yesterday's leading articles Gulf.

The attitude of the Finnish Govtcreasing concern and they found in the British press were written The whole point of the Allied ernment from the outset had been it difficult to believe that strate- before the Soviet invasion of Finaction, however, is that it is re

A fine of $25 was imposed on unprovocative (cheers), though gical measures were of auch scope land, most papers considered the prisal for German, violation of war,

The German Government is Chau Leung-kl, 18, student, when governed by the determination to and importance as attributed to the invasion inevitable and bitterly do nothing to impair the country's foreign, press that a Soviet attack condemn Soviet aggression. trying by legal submarine and he appeared before Mr. T. J.,Hous- sovereign status.

on Finland was intended.

The Times gays that the Soviet mine action to out on British ton at the Central Court yester- excuses are even more, grotesque commerce and the retaliation de day charged with avoiding pay. than those of the Nads before dided upon by the Allies is alment ment of fare while travelling on Germany Inveda Poland,

against German Commerce,.

a bus ia Queen Road West.

It was known that the Finnish His Majesty's Government warm- note which was delivered in Mov-Iy welcomed the offer of mediation cow before the rupture of diploma made by Mr. Cordel Hull.

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