LITTLE MILITARY PROGRESS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20111, 4 December 1939, Page 11

LITTLE MILITARY PROGRESS

FINLAND’S STUBBORN STAND RUSSIANS MACHINE-GUN REFUGEES WOMEN AND CHILDREN AMONG DEAD SOVIET LOSES WARSHIP AND PLANES i (Elec. Tel. Copyright.—Unit eel Press Assn.) (Reed. Dee, 2,2 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 1. The second day’s invasion of Finland afforded the Russians little material military progress. A report Irom Oslo quotes a statement by an eye-witness, who said that t ic air raids were concentrated on the industrial centres and t ic railway junctions in the south of Finland. One bomb demolished a stationary tram. A Helsinki message states that a morning broadcast concluded with an' extract from a Finnish newspaper editorial stating: “We arc more strongly determined than ever not to allow ourselves to be subjugated. Yvc are prepared to make any sacrifice with a clear conscience before past and present generations.” The Finnish reports admit only one Russian success, namely, at Pctsamo, where troops dropped by parachutes cut off the defending Finns and captured the town. An Oslo report states that Russia has blocked up the Petsamo Fiord. Submarines stopped a Finnish passenger ship and forced it to return. The town of Petsamo was ' heavily bombed. Cars carrying refugees were machinegunned from the air. It is further reported that the Russians have completely taken the north of the Rybachi Peninsula, but were unable to advance further inland. The Russians unsuccessfully attempted a landing near Porvoo. Bombers covered the attempt, but were driven oft by ground batteries. The Finns are reported to have taken over 300 prisoners at Karelia. Raiding Planes Shot Down The batteries protecting Helsinki claim to have sunk a Soviet warship at Hanko, which still had not surrendered, despite three hours of shelling.

Two low-flying plaiies machine-gunned citizens in the streets of Helsinki, but the first was shot down, the crew vainly attempting to escape by using parachutes, and the second was forced to descend in the sea.

The Finns claim to have shot down 10 Russian planes, mostly over Wiipuri. . The Soviet planes apparently dropped no bombs m tne morning or late afternoon raids, but the midday raid was devastating, a squadron smiting whole sections of the capital with machine-guns as firemen were searching in the smouldering ruins of yesterday’s raid. Fifteen bombs were dropped in the Munksnaes district, where 30ft, granite walls protected three munition dumps which were not damaged. Fifteen bombs fell in the working-class district of Samas. 100,000 People Leave Helsinki Soviet air squadrons hailed machine-gun bullets on Salmijervi, a small town which is joined with Ivirkenaes, in Norway, by a bridge across the Pasvik River, as 600 Finnish refugees dashed to safety. The bombers finally demolished the bridge, cutting off further retreat except over the frozen stream. Other towns raided were Kotka, Turku, and Petsamo, which was burned, 30 women and children being killed. Firemen and ambulance officials, searching since dawn for victims in Helsinki, found 13 bodies where a direct hit demolished two apartment houses. They discovered the corpse of Professor Sikonen, a famous electro-technical expert amid the ruins of the high school. Bombs went right through the highest buildings. One hundred thousand citizens departed last night. There was no sign of panic. A priest held a radio service and exhorted all to do their duty to the country. Meanwhile, the Hailko fortress undauntedly answers t|e fire from the Soviet warships.

Two hundred English and American residents of Helsinki took refuge at Grankulla, A German steamer is en route to Helsinki in order to remove German and Russian residents, but all Russians are already interned.

Russian troops captured a monastery 10 miles south of Petsamo.