FINNS’ GRIM STRUGGLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20115, 8 December 1939, Page 7

FINNS’ GRIM STRUGGLE

RESISTANCE TO ‘STEAM ROLLER’ VITAL PARLEYS IN CAPITALS RUSSIANS CLAIM DEEP PENETRATION HELSINKI DENIES SHATTERING OF LINE PERSISTENT AIR RAIDS ON INVADERS (Elec. Tel. Copyright.—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 8, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 7. While Finland continues to resist the Russian “steamroller,” the fate of the whole of northern Europe rests in the hands of two conferences meeting simultaneously at Oslo and Tallinn. The Oslo conference consists of the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian Foreign Ministers. Despite Russian warnings and Denmark’s declaration of strict neutrality made this week, they are believed to be discussing the possibility of non-military assistance for Finland, particularly through the League of Nations. Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia are represented at the Tallinn conference. The Commander-in-Chicf of the Estonian Army, General Laidoner, was hurriedly summoned to Moscow because of Soviet nervousness about Estonian sympathy for Finland. A Copenhagen message says it is reported that the Soviet Government is demanding the immediate demobilisation of the Estonian army in order to remove the possibility.of a rear attack on the Russian army. 'A host of alarming rumours and unconfirmed reports provide an electric atmosphere. One ' report says that Germany is insisting that Sweden should revise her foreign policy with a view to closer collaboration with the Reich. Concentration for Big Offensive. The Rome radio states that 800,000 Soviet troops are being concentrated for a big offensive against Finland. A Red Army communique issued in Moscow claims advances ranging from 20 to 40 miles. It adds that on the Karelian Isthmus the Soviet troops have broken through the main Finnish defence line along the Vuoks water system. Helsinki messages state it is categorically denied that Russian troops have broken the Maginot-Kirke line across the Karelian Isthmus. . > A Finnish communique says that eight more Russian tanks have been destroyed, making a total of 80. A large number of civilian inhabitants of Helsinki were quietly buried to-day. Finnish airmen to-day bombed Terijoki, the seat of the Soviet - Controlled puppet Government, from which the inhabitants have been evacuated. Finnish warplanes also successfully bombed the Russian air base at the port of Baltiski which was taken from Estonia as a result of the Russian-Estonian pact. The Finns arc persistently bombing the Russian defence lines at several points.

It is officially stated in Helsinki that Russian artillery north from Lake Ladoga fired poison gas shells against Finnish batteries, causing several casualties. Two hundred and thirty Finnish Americans, some of whom had never previously seen Finland, have arrived to enlist.