STUBBORN DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1939, Page 6

STUBBORN DEFENCE

LITTLE HEADWAY MADE BY RUSSIANS IN SECOND DAY OF INVASION. TOWN OF PETSAMO TAKEN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.42 a.m.) HELSINKI, December 1. Though destruction was wrought by air attacks on various towns, the second day’s invasion of Finland afforded the Russians little material and military progress. An eyewitness said air raids were concentrated on industrial centres and railway junctions in South Finland. One bomb demolished a stationary tram. Finnish reports admit only one Russian success —namely at Petsamo, where troops dropped by parachutes cut off the defending Finns and captured the town. The batteries protecting Helsinki claim to have sunk a Soviet warship at Hanko, which has still not surrendered, despite three hours’ shelling. LANDING REPULSED FINNS TAKE PRISONERS. (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) HELSINKI. December 1. The Russians unsuccessful attempted a landing near Porvoo. Bombers covered the attempt, but were driven off by ground batteries. The Finns are reported to have taken over 300 prisoners in Karelia. FIORD BLOCKED SUBMARINES STOP SHIP. (Received This Day, 11.42 a.m.) OSLO. December 1. Russia has blocked up Petsamo Fiord. Submarines stopped a Finnish passenger ship and forced it to return to the town of Petsamo. The Russians heavily bombed cars carrying refugees and machine-gunned them from the air. UNOFFICIAL EMBARGO ON EXPORT OF PLANES TO RUSSIA. SUGGESTED IN UNITED STATES. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 1. First steps in the expression of American detestation at the invasion of Finland, says the Washington correspondent of the United Press of America, involve plans for an unofficial embargo on exports of military aeroplanes to Russia, similar to that against Japan, for the indiscriminate bombing of civilian populations. It is pointed out that although Russia in the last ten months has purchased only a million dollars worth of war supplies from the United States, reports are now current that Soviet agents are attempting to place large orders for warplanes. BREAK IN RELATIONS. MOVEMENT GAINING SUPPORT. (Received This Day. 1.20 p.m.) NEW YORK. December 1. The movement to sever diplomatic relations with Russia apparently is gaining headway. Representative Dies announced that he will present a resolution in Congress in January to sever diplomatic relations with the Soviet. NO REPLY TO AMERICAN MEDIATION OFFER. EXPLANATION SOUGHT. BY AMBASSADOR. (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) MOSCOW, December 1. The American Ambassador, Mr Steinhardt, has returned to Moscow from Sweden to discuss the Finnish situation, particularly the absence of a Russian reply to the American offer of mediation.