December 4, 1940; SPREAD OF WAR LOOMS:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, DECEMBER 4, 1940:

German People Hear

General Outbreak
Likely Over Finland

Berlin Jan. 4.—German's line of co-operation with. Soviet Russia emerged more definitely today with a new Nazi warning to the small neutrals of northern Europe. Simultaneously the German people were told for the first time of the. Possibility of a general war over Finland.

Authorized Nazi sources made it clear that Berlin is not fully satisfied with the attitude of Belgium and Holland and that it probably, would regard it unneutral for Norway or Sweden to permit the allied powers to send important military aid through Scandinavia to Finland.

The warnings came in connec tion with German press reports that Great Britain and France were rushing large war supplies to the Finns and that 10,000 French troops would be sent to Finland.

Despatches from the far north report that planes—believed British or Italian—had bombed Russian troops in the Petsamo district.
There 'also, were reports that Soviet Premier Viacheslav Molotoff would make his long-delayed formal visit to Berlin within the' next few weeks to tighten the Nazi-Soviet alliance and get more war materials—presumably in return for food for Germany.

Complications

Put Reich
On the Spot

By FRANK SMOTHERS

Berlin, Jan. 4. (Special CDN Radio) — The Russo-Finnish war and its ramifications have raised labyrinths of complications for German policy.

This has become increasingly clear in Berlin following the Anglo-French decision to aid the Finns, and various German statements cautiously warning Germany would revise her position if effective aid should be given, but how is studiously avoided.

in the .complications faced by .

Germany, one of the most striking is the danger of further offending Italy. How tortuous the whole Russo-Finnish problem has become .is shown by the following factors:

1. Russia is engaged in war against Finland for aims including strategic bases which, if won, would further increase the Soviets' position against, Germany in. the_- eastern Baltic region.
2. The defence of the Finns in reversing the Russians is showing up the weaknesses of Fuehrer' Hitler's partner in the non-aggression pact.
3. Dictator Josef V. Stalin's difficulties in the Finnish war, including the strain on his transport, further reduce the prospects; of supplies to Germany from Russia,
4. But the Nazis do not want to lose any opportunity to get' such Russian supplies as may be available; and it is a cardinal point in their programme to avoid having to face a major enemy on the eastern front.

French Inflict

Heavy Losses

Paris, Jan. 4. (CP-Havas, French agency)—Heavy losses by two German detachments of about 100 men, each ambushed by a small French patrol on the western front, were reported by military authorities today. The French group returned to its base without losing a single man.

The French unit in the Vosges mountains, realizing it was too small to attack the Germans, was skilfully arranged in such a way as to be able to sweep the enemy detachment with machine-gun fire.
West of the Saar river a French patrol penetrated German lines to a depth of about one and a half miles. In the same region French soldiers took prisoners by ambushing an enemy patrol.
In reprisals for German flights over France, even as far-as Paris, French planes have flown between 200 and 250 miles into Germany it was said.
German planes in flights over eastern and northern France, approaching close to the Paris district, passed over Belgium on the way back to Germany.
Over the front the air forces o£ both sides were busy on observation and photographing missions. In encounters of pursuit planes, the French brought down two German machines, a Dornier and a Messerschmitt.