SOVIET PROTEST

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21206, 31 August 1940, Page 7

SOVIET PROTEST

NOTE TO RUMANIA ACTIONS ON FRONTIER WILL NOT BE TOLERATED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copj'rigTit) LONDON, August 30 A message from Moscow, says the official news agency, announced that M. Dekanozoff, Deputy-Commissar for Foreign Affairs, handed the Rumanian Foreign Minister, Dr. Gafencu, a Note on August 19 protesting against the provocative actions of Rumanian troops on the SovietRumanian frontier, and emphasising that a repetition of the firing on Soviet troops by Rumanian troops—to which the Soviet frontier guards were in some cases compelled to reply—could not be tolerated. M. Dekanozoff yesterday handed Dr. Gafencu another Note protesting against “new hostile actions by Rumanian frontier detachments and army units on the Soviet frontier, and also by Rumanian military aircraft.”

The Note declared the matter may take a grave turn if casualties occur. The Soviet Government placed on the Rumanian Government the entire responsibility for the consequences of the above-mentioned actions. Reply to Allegations A Note submitted by Dr. Gafencu yesterday contested the Soviet allegations, and added that the Rumanian Government had repeatedly instructed the frontier guards to do their utmost to avoid incidents disturbing to the good-neighbourly relations of Russia and Rumania. Dr. Gafencu referred to occurrences in which Russians had fired on Rumanian frontier detachments, and Soviet aircraft had crossed the frontier. M. Dekanozoff replied that Dr. Gafencu’s information would be investigated. He added that the Soviet required an early and satisfactory answer to its second protest, because in spite of the Rumanian Note, Rumanian troops were continuing their violations of the Soviet frontier.

BERLIN QUIYERS

VIOLENT BOMB DETONATIONS LESSON FOR NAZI PEOPLE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, August 30 For three hours on Wednesday night, according to neutral correspondents, the people of Berlin stood —there were insufficient seats—in cramped, ill-ventilated and poorlylighted air raid shelters while British aircraft droned over the German capital and the ground quivered under the detonation of high-explos-ive bombs as two squadrons of the Royal Air Force attacked military objectives around the city.

This British raid, states the correspondent of a New York newspaper, has brought home to the people of Berlin some comprehension of what real war means. It has shattered the myth that Berlin is so well protected by anti-aircraft batteries that it would not be possible for a raider to get within bombing range of the city. On two occasions, states the correspondent, raiders cruised about the capital for three hours without the anti-aircraft batteries being able to drive them off. Every pilot in the two squadrons selected for the Berlin raid literally begged to be allowed to go. “You could not have bought a seat in any of the machines for any amount of money,” said a senior intelligence officer. Two pilots who normally share the same bomber had to toss for it because their wing-commander, whose own machine was temporarily out of action, insisted upon going, saying: “I am not going to miss this show.” The Berlin News Agency says a dozen high-explosive bombs are estimated to have been dropped and also a large number of incendiary bombs, which caused roof fires. The greatest destruction occurred in Knottbusser Street, where five people were killed and the fronts of buildings smashed.

GIFTS FROM AMERICA APPRECIATION OF BRITAIN FOOD NOT WANTED (United Press As?u.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, August 29 Contributions from America to the Allied cause by way of medical stores, ambulances, and aid in other forms have been deeply appreciated in Britain. These gins, which continue, are mostly gratefully received, and there is no truth in the report that the British Government has discouraged the sentiments that prompt them in a communication to the United States. In recent months, however, the gifts have included large consignments of food despatched to Britain by American organisations interested in humanitarian work. It is felt here that it would be an unwarantable imposition on American benevolence to permit such gitfs to continue.

There is no shortage of food in Britain, and the view taken by the authorities here is that any supplementing from America of food supplies that may be required should be obtained as a purely commercial transaction.