RED CROSS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1939, Page 5

RED CROSS

RUSSIA WITHDRAWS FROM CONVENTION. BERNE, December 28. The Swiss radio says that Russia has announced that as a result of her expulsion from the League of Nations she is no longer abiding by the International Red Cross Convention. (In 1864 a diplomatic cqnference/at which 26 nations were represented was held at Geneva, at which certain principles were laid down concerning Red Cross work. It was agreed that wounded were to. be respected, military hospitals to be regarded as neutral, the personnel and material of the medical services to be accorded protection, and the symbol of this protection was to be a white flag bearing a red cross—the flag which has now become the emblem of the Red Cross throughout the world. Almost all countries have adhered to. this convention, which was revised and completed in 1906).

SWEDISH RESERVISTS

FURTHER BATCH CALLED UP. WINTER WARFARE TRAINING. LONDON, December 27. It is reported from Stockholm that a further 5000 reservists have been called up for "winter warfare training.” They have been ordered to bring their own skis. It is understood that the training will take place near the Swedish-Finnish frontier. 1 A message from Oslo states that Norway has contributed £235,000 to help Finland. Members of the Icelandic Parliament have given a week’s salary. The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Professor Koht, in a broadcast defended Norway’s policy of non-intervention in the Soviet-Finnish conflict, emphasizing that Norway is unable to pursue any other course because the whole of her defence system is based on neutrality and adventures might be fatal to her. A Geneva message states that Colombia, Dominica, Liberia and Uruguay have replied to the League regarding help for Finland, broadly supporting the League Assembly’s resolution. Included in the help sent to Finland is a Danish ambulance unit of 130 beds, which has arrived at the central front. The wife of the Finnish Minister in London reports having received a wonderful response to the appeal for comforts for Finnish soldiers. Three volunteer corps have left Sweden for Finland—By radio. MISSION IN U.S.A. FINNISH REQUEST FOR SUPPLIES. NEW YORK, December 27. The Washington correspondent of the United Press states that the Finnish artillery representative, Major Nenonen, who is visiting the United States, is seeking to persuade the army to follow the precedent of the navy, which waived its prior rights to warplanes in order to permit a supply to Finland. Major Nenonen. seeks trench mortars and anti-aircraft and antitank guns, types in which it is understood, the United States' army is deficien t. TANKS SNOWBOUND CREWS FROZEN TO DEATH. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) HELSINKI, December 28. An officer from the Petsamo front says 150 Russian tanks are snowbound there. The crews of several were found sitting inside frozen to death. DANISH VOLUNTEERS BATCH LEAVE FOR FINLAND. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) COPENHAGEN. December 18. Three hundred and fifty volunteers have gone to Finland. SOVIET COMMUNIQUE NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE. FLIGHTS OVER FINLAND. (Received This Day. 10.20 a.m.) MOSCOW, December 28. An army communique says there is nothing of importance to report. Our planes made reconnaissance Hights over Finland. CORPS FORMED TO FIGHT FOR RUSSIA. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) MOSCOW, December 28. The Terjoki Government has formed a corps of 5575 men to fight tor Rus-