December 14, 1939; Soviet Russia Expelled Frpm League of Nations:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, DECEMBER 14, 1939:

AGRESSION IN

FINLAND
ASSAILED

Action at Geneva Is First

Ouster in History
of Group.

GENEVA. Dec. 14—(AP)—Soviet Russia, condemned as an aggressor for invading Finland, was expelled today from the League of Nations.

The league council vote outing Russia, officially was unanimous, as required by the league covenant, although four nations abstained, from voting and three were absent from the crucial session which expelled a member for the first time since the league was created in 1919. Russia, who joined the league in I934, was not represented at the meetings and had refused league mediation of her quarrel with Finland.

HELP "TO LIMIT."

Before the vote France declared she would give the Finns "all the help we can up to the limit of our own defenses."

The vote was on a resolution which declared as a result of Russia's actions toward Finland "the U. S. S. R. no longer is a member of the league.

Unanimous vote of the council is necessary to expel a member. Abstentions do not affect unanimity,
FIRST EXPUULSION
This Is the first time in league history that a nation had been expelled.

FINNS DESTROY

MINES, TOWNS
IN RETREAT

KIRKENES, Norway At the Finnish Frontier), Dec- 14.—(AP)—Russian troops neared flaming Salmjarvi tonight us Finnish forces retreated southward except for a rear guard detachment left to explode dynamite charges in valuable nickel mines.

As far as could be seen from the Norwegian frontier town of Pasvlk, all villages and habitations on the Finnish side were aflame. The Russian were expected to reach Siilmijarvl some time tonight.
The Finns were preserving good order as they withdrew along the Arctic highway.
Norwegians laid dynamite on the frozen river Pasvik, separating Norway and Finland, towns exploded if necessary to safeguard their neutrality.Salmjarvi.

 

 

This map, with its explanatory insets, showshow the inefficient Soviet war machine hopes to conquer the well-organized and valiantly fighting Finns, by the sheer weight of manpower. The Soviet is pouring thousands of men into the fight with the hopes of finally breaking through at any one of the points marked by arrows.

—Intentional New Photo