FINNISH ACTION RESENTED

Southland Times, Issue 24242, 27 September 1940, Page 5

FINNISH ACTION RESENTED

Nazi Troops Allowed Transit STRONG PROTEST MADE BY BRITAIN (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 26, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 25. It is officially stated that Finland has permitted the transit of German troops and supplies into Norway through Finland. The agreement is similar to the Swedish-German arrangement in July. Britain has protested strongly against this breach of neutrality. The correspondent of The Daily Telegraph in Helsinki says that great military activity is reported from Northern Norway. Strongly reinforced troops are occupying important points to Kirkenes near Vadso, at which there are tyre works and extensive works

for the extraction of iron ore. The haste with which the invaders are improving the railways and roads shows that considerable importance is attached to the district. British reconnaissance bombing flights over north Norway are being intensified. The British Minister at Helsingfors, Mr G. G. M. Vereker, has been instructed to protest strongly to the Finnish Government against its action in agreeing to allow German troops to pass through Finland on their way to Northern Norway. This action constitutes a clear breach of neutrality and international law.

WEEKLY PARCELS FOR WAR PRISONERS (British Official Wireless) (Received September 26, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 25. Only five months after the drive was begun for contributions to the Red Cross agriculture fund, the British farmers’ own fund total stands at over £150,000. The fund is concerned not only with aiding the wounded but also sending regular weekly parcels to war prisoners. The latter service is alone costing over £1,000,000 a year. MORE ACTIVITY IN MEDITERRANEAN (Received September 26, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 26. Aerial and naval activity is quickening in the Mediterranean. The British Fleet has shelled Sidi Barrani, the furthest point of the Italian advance into Egypt, and an Italian torpedo-boat destroyer has been sunk. One Italian plane was shot down and two were damaged in a raid on Malta, another was seriously damaged and was unlikely to reach its base. HOPE NOT ABANDONED BY POLES RUGBY, September 25. M. Wladyslaw Raczkiewicz, the President of Poland, completing a tour of Polish units, visited Polish destroyers. Addressing the officers and men ot the Polish depot ship Gydnia, the President said: “Poland is suffering but has not abandoned hope of throwing off her chains.”