INVASION OF FINLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1939, Page 5

INVASION OF FINLAND

BEGUN BY SOVIET FORCES Land and Air Attacks Reported NUMBER OF FRONTIER TOWNS BOMBARDED OVERTHROW OF GOVERNMENT DEMANDED TODAY’S NEWS SHOWS THAT SOVIET RUSSIA HAS FOLLOWED UP THE SEVERANCE OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH FINLAND BY LAND AND AIR ATTACKS ON THAT COUNTRY. THE “NEW YORK TIMES COPENHAGEN CORRESPONDENT, ACCORDING TO A PRESS ASSOCIATION CABLEGRAM FROM LONDON, SAYS THAT THE FIRST RUSSIAN TROOPS CROSSED » THE BORDERS OF FINNISH KARELIA YESTERDAY AT 9.20 A.M. (7 P.M. NEW ZEALAND TIME). Daventry states that the news of the attack on has been received with horror in England. Chambexla stated in the House of Commons that the Finnish s attitude from the outset was unprovocative and that the invasion would only result in suffering and loss to a peaceful nation. He added that no communication had been received from the Soviet Government, The feeling’s of members of the House found expression when a Communist member rose to speak. He was greeted with angry shouts of “Sit down!” Not one word has been received from Moscow, either by radio or the Press, concerning the raid on, or invasion of There were three main attacks on land. Russian raiding planes flew at a great height over Helsinki. It is believed there were 10 raiding machines. Bombs, some of them incendiary, were dropped for 15 minutes. One estimate of the number killed is 200. From early morning till the afternoon planes were over the Finnish capital. Leaflets were dropped telling the Finns that there would be no peace until the Finnish Government had been ovei thrown. The Technical High School was set on fire and fires were started at other points. People in the streets gazed upwards, unable to realise the danger. The calmness of the population generally was remarkable. Fire brig'ades and othei services were quickly brought into commission. Women and children were moved to safer areas. Bombs were also dropped 40 miles inland, on an important timber pulp industrial centre, *and also at a wood pulp port. Another town was shelled by Russian warships. The Finnish Foreign Minister, M. Erkko, stated that there should still be a chance for coming to an honest agreement to meet the situation. _ An earlier broadcast stated that at (.15 a.m. local lime, an air raid alarm was sounded in Helsinki. Traffic stopped at once and the people sought shelter. .It was the first clear sunny day for a week. Soviet aeroplanes circled the city and dropped five incendiary bombs on the airport. Anti-aircraft guns went into action, but apparently without success. Further along the gulf the aeroplanes started several fires with bombs, and further east still aircraft and artillery are reported to have bombarded towns near the frontier. Some of the guns are reported to have been firing from Kronstadt. The second Russian attack is north of Lake Ladoga, on the Karelian border. The Russians are reported to have occupied a small piece of territory. Lastly, the Russians have attacked right up on the Arctic coast, but further information about this is lackng.