HEAVY BOMBING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1939, Page 5

HEAVY BOMBING

BUILDINGS IN HELSINKI DESTROYED BLOCKS OF FLATS WRECKED. FINNISH FLEET PUTS TO SEA. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) HELSINKI, November 30. A compulsory evacuation of Helsinki will probably be ordered. Large numbers of people are already leaving. Reports of fighting are meagre, but the Russians are stated to have occupied various sections of the frontier. The damage to Helsinki from bombs is extensive. The Polytechnic College, one of the city’s finest buildings, was destroyed and several large blocks of flats were wrecked.. Most of the bombs fell in the south-west quarter of the city, where an area embracing twelve streets is ablaze. Windows were shattered over a radius of a mile. The Soviet Legation members are still in the city. It is believed that they will be held as hostages until the Finnish Legation members in Moscow return. It is estimated that ten Russian planes were shot down during the day. The Finnish Fleet put out from Helsinki. it is believed to engage the Russian Fleet, which has occupied Hogland and other islands. Leaflets dropped by raiders declared; "Mannerheim must go. Then peace will come. The Soviets will not harm the Finnish people, whose disaster is due to wrong leadership.” Field-Marshal Baron von Mannerheim has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish troops. Many passengers were blown to bits when an omnibus was struck at a station by a bomb.