November 27, 1939; FINNS MUST YIELD, SOVIET DEMANDS

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1939

BLOWS STRUCK

AT BRITISH
SEAPOWER

Capture German Freighters;

One Later Destroyed
AVOWED REPRISAL
For Mine-Laying Warfare;
Cite Nazis' Need For Cash
And Credits
( Associated Press)
London, Nov. 27.
An order in council for the seizure of German exports was signed today by King George VI as an avowed reprisal for German minelaying warfare.
The order for the complete blockade of Germany will be published in the London Gazette tomorrow and probably will become effective in a few days.
The action came as new shipping losses were reported by the admiralty.
The Holland-Amerika 8,859-ton freighter Spaarndam sank in the Thames estuary. The crew of about 40, and one passenger, an elderly woman, were rescued by a pilot cutter.
(The line announced at Amsterdam the ship was sunk by a mine below London)
Capture Freighters
At the same time, the admiralty disclosed the capture of two German freighters, one of which later was destroyed by a German submarine as she was being taken to a British port by a prize crew.

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Germany Sympathizes With

Soviet Demands Upon Finns

( Associateded Press)

Berlin, Nov. 27.
Germany sympathizes with Russia's demands upon Finland, according to information service Dienst Aus Deutschland, which often reflects foreign office views.

"The opinion prevails here," said the service, "that a first-class power of the rank of the soviet union had the undeniable right to secure for itself access to the sea and by an amicable arrangement with its neighbors to safeguard vital defense interests."

Previously authorized quarters had stated that Germany officially was disinterested in the dispute between Russia and Finland except to "read with extraordinary interest that Russia regards England and France as responsible for Finland's unyielding stand."

Authorized sources said today that Prime Minister Chamberlain's "idle prattle about a new pan-European order of things is Utopian and has no connection with realities.

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BORDER FORCES

WARNED TO
WITHDRAW

Helsinki Appears Ready To

Turn Down Ultimatum

NAVAL WARFARE

Continues As Most Active
Phase Of Conflict As
More Ships Go Down

Foreign Situation
MOSCOW—
Soviet soldiers call for "strictest measures" against Finland following report of border incident with 13 dead or wounded; Russia demands withdrawal of Finnish frontier troops.
HELSINKI—
Finland expected to refuse Russian demand for troop withdrawal.
LONDON—
King signs order for seizure of German exports; ship losses continue heavy.
ROME—
Italy grants "extraordinary winter leave" to army reservists.

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( Associated Press )

London, Nov. 27. The Russian - Finnish dispute flared to grave proportions today as troops of Russia's red army staged mass meetings, called for "strictest measures" and warned Finland that "ten days were enough to conquer Poland."

These demonstrations followed a "border incident" yesterday in which the Russians charged the Finns with killing four and wounding nine red soldiers. Moscow sent an ultimatum-like note to Finland demanding withdrawal of Finnish border garrisons.

Finland denied there had been any shooting from the Finnish side and appeared ready to refuse the Russian demand.