February 20, 1940; RAID ALARMS IN LONDON

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1940:

Oslo Accused of' Indifference'

in Altmark Incident, Premier

Declares in House of Commons

By J. C. STARK

LONDON, Feb. 20.—(AP)Norway was accused today by Prime Minister Chamberlain of failing in her duties as a neutral and of displaying "complete indifference" to the usa which the German fleet might make of her waters. Chamberlain told the House of Commons that Norwegian authorities three or four times failed to make the proper inspection of the prison ship Altmark, from which 299 British  prisoners were rescued by the British destroyer Cossack last Friday.

Norway's view that the Altmark was a warship and thus not subject to search, would legalize the German fleet's use of neutral waters creating a precedent Britain

"could in no circumstances accept."

Chamberlain, described Britain's seizure of the prisoners from the Altmark in Norwegian waters as "a very gallant affair" and expressed confidence that the House of Common, would "want to congratulate the Royal Navy."

'MOST SURPRISING'

 He termed the statement of Norwegian Foreign Minister Halvdan Koht that the Norwegian authorities did not know British prisoners were aboard the Altmark "most surprising," since reports to that effect were published 1 weeks ago. It was not until after Norway failed to investigate, Chamberlain said, "that His Majesty's ships took action.

Finnish Fort

Cut Off; Repels

Attack on Ice

COPENHAGEN, Feb. 20.—(UP)—A Berlingske Tidende dispatch from Stockholm reported today that the Russian 164th Division was in a difficult position, with its communications cut, as the result of Finland's claimed annihilation of the 18^th Division.

The dispatch, quoting Helsinki sources, said the Finnish commanding general on the Lake Ladoga front after announcing the destruction of the 18th Division, said the Finns in that area were still confronted with difficulties, and that the fight would not become easier,

DIFFICULT SITUATION

"Our task is to economize troops, and it will be necessary for us to make miracles," he was quoted as saying.

The dispatch added that a well known Russian officer, a hero in the Soviet Union, had been made prisoner in recent fighting on the Lake Ladoga front

 

London Gets

Raid Alarm

German Bombers

Renew Air Attacks

On Coastal Shipping

LONDON, Feb. 20.—(AP)—Antiaircraft fire was heard and air raid alarms were sounded in the London area today as reports came in of widespread German warplane attacks on shipping off Britain's east coasts. The all clear signal was given an hour after the alarm was sounded.

Fragmentary wireless messages from ships at sea and battle noises heard along the coast gave the first indication of the renewed German aerial attacks. Outcome of the attacks was not known. Radio operators said they heard the S O S of at least one vessel.

A lifeboat was put out on receipt of word that Nazi bombing planes were blasting at steamers about 30 miles out to sea

 

 

February 9, 1940; ALLIES RUSH ARMS, AID, MANPOWER TO FINNS:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1940:

French Give Reds Peek

At Near East Army;
Reject Protest by Kremlin

PARIS, Feb. 8 (AP)—France Thursday night gave soviet Russia a warning glimpse of the French manpower which stands ready to defend the near east against a red army thrust,' turned down a soviet protest against seizure of Russian documents during a Paris police raid and saw a Polish expeditionary force off for the Finnish battlefields.

The day's developments:

1. Authorized persons asserted France has 275,000 troops concentrated in the near cast as a precaution against the possibility, among other things, of any Russian military activity there or against the Balkans.
(After publication by American  newspapers, a London Dispatch that the total allied concentration in the rear cast numbered about 500,000 men was canceled by the British censor.)
2. Reliable reports said the government rejected a protest by Soviet Ambassador Jakob Surits against a police raid Monday on the Russian commercial office a raid some sources said was part of a campaign against communist propaganda In France.
3. An expeditionary force of Polish veterans of the losing fight in Poland against Germany and Russia, augmented by Polish- American volunteers, was sent to Finland to aid in the fight against the Russian invaders.
4. French parliamentary support for Finland spread to the senate, where the democratic left approved a motion congratulating the French government on the "important effort it has accomplished in favor of Finland."
5. Phiilippe Rogues, Propaganda chief of the ministry of colonies, wrote in the publication Our Fight that French colonies by the end of 1940 will have sent 700,000 native and black troops to bolster France's war machine, leaving behind an additional 2,000,000 reserves. These figures included only troops from territories under the ministry of colonies, and exclude North Africa and Syria.

 

British Military Leader

Urges Naval Attack
On Russ in Arctic Area

LONDON, Feb. 8 (UP)—Great Britain and France Thursday night rushed to fortify Finland with armed aid and manpower, as diplomatic reports from Helsinki said that the Finnish army is "suffering reverses" in its attempts to beat back the Russian invaders.

  The extent of the reported "reverses" suffered by the Finns was not indicated but British military experts believed that the Russians would be unable at this time to force a decision in their eight-day-old offensive against the Mannerheim line on .the Karelian isthmus.
  Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain told the house of commons Thursday that further British aid is en route to Finland and asserted that the Finns' valiant defense of their homeland "has evoked the admiration of the world."

6      Friday Morning- Salt Lake Tribune February 9, 1940

Finns' Heroism

Encourages
Help by Allies

French See

Chance to
Merge Wars

By Kirke L. Simpson
Associated Press Staff Writer
The belief is apparently growing in France and Britain that little Finland can withstand the attack of Russia's red armies long enough to become a vital sector in the French-British-German war. Whether it is the opinion of Franco-British military leaders or is merely a popular reaction to the Finnish stand, is not clear. But it is stirring both the Paris and London governments to action which might result in the merging of the two wars into a single conflict before spring comes.
Raiding of Russian nondiplomatic missions in Paris by French secret police creates the impression that French policy is already crystallized. It looks like a possible preliminary to formal military assistance for Finland, even at the price of a declaration of war against Russia.
Demands on Press
The raids synchronized with demands by powerful elements of the French press, close to the Daladier government, for complete French cooperation with Finland.
That is a distinct change from the caution with which both the French and British press approached the problem when the red army attack started in November.

 

February 3, 1940; BALKANS SEEING ESCAPE FROM INVOLVMENT IN WAR:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1940:

SHIPPING ATTACKS

ARE CONTINUED
BY INVADING
FLYERS

Pursuit Ships Rush to Aid

Of Freighters and Send
Three Crashing Down
Nazi Air Forces Reported
To Have Resumed Raids
Off British Coast

LONDON, Feb. 3. (AP) — Deathdealing British pursuit planes today shot down at least two and perhaps three German bombers which had resumed the Nazi air forces' widespread raiding of shipping off Britain's coasts.

THREE REPORTED DOWNED

One Nazi bomber was downed near a Yorkshire farmhouse four miles southwest of Whitby after a battle with three British fighters over a Yorkshire town.

  The air ministry announced that another raider was shot down off the mouth of the River Tyne. It reported that a third enemy plane intercepted by British fighters off the Northumberland coast "was very seriously damaged" and later unofficial reports said it had crashed into the sea.
  It reported that a third enemy plane intercepted by British fighters  theNorthumberland coast "was very seriously damaged" and later unofficial reports said it had crashed into the sea.
  Considerable air activity also was reported In the vicinity of the Firth of Forth between dawn and early afternoon, and residents heard machinegun fire out at sea. A number of British planes were seen circling above the Firth at various times.

   One of the. crew of the. –plane downed in Yorkshire was killed, another died after he and his two surviving comrades, all wounded, had been taken to a hospital.

LANDEDED UNDER CONTROL
  A Royal Air- Force pilot was quoted as saying admiringly of this Nazi plane that the "landing was carried out under control" although the craft had been riddled by bullets.

 

BALKAN SEEKING

WAY TO ESCAPE

INVOLVMENT IN WAR

BELGRADE. Yugoslavia, Feb. 3

(AP)—Fearful of the possibility that war may reach the Balkans by spring, the four powers of the Balkan Entente sought today some makeshift storm cellar in which to pass the next few months.

RESUME DISCUSSIONS

  The foreign ministers of Yugoslavia, Rumania and Turkey and the premier-foreign minister of Greece began the second day of their conference with a two-hour sitting which started at 11 a. m.

   They discussed their conflicting interests which already have led to a conference decision that each country must be left free to fend for itself.

  This precluded any definite plan for cementing the entente into a stronger union and cost Rumania her chance for automatic support in case the rival demands of Germany and the British-French Allies for oil become unbearable.

  The conference representatives still hoped, however, to agree on some common declaration and friendly program to improve their chances of escaping any imminent upheaval

 

Eyes of Europe are on Belgrade (1) where representatives of the four "Balkan Entente" powers—Rumania, Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia—assembled to find a way to keep out of war. Plan for "economic neutrality" was first discussed. Caught In the middle of the conflict, Rumania was faced with the chance of Hungary's striking at Transylvania (2), Russia's marching into Bessarabia (3), and Bulgaria's cry for part of Dobruja (4). German pressure on Rumania for oil, industrial and agricultural products was reported.

 

CLAIMS OF FINN
VICTORIES DENIED
BY SOVIETS

Reports of Big Offensive

Declared Merely Local

Skirmishes
Helsinki Asserts Invader
Suffered Heavy Losses
In Latest Attack
MOSCOW, Feb. 3 (/P)—The headquarters of the Leningrad military area asserted today that Finns, although equipped with "airplanes of the most up-to-date designs from Britain, France, the United States, Sweden and Italy," not only had not attacked Russian warships in Kronstadt and other Soviet objectives but were unable to protect their own headquarters.
NO BIG OFFENSIVE
   It also contended that instead of a big offensive by the Russians on the Karelian Isthmus and north of Lake Ladoga there were "reality only partial clashes" of several companies of "purely local nature."
  The headquarters' announcement, circulated by Tass, official news agency, suggested that only in comparison with "the microscopic scale of operations on the western front "could the clashes of several companies be considered a "big offensive."
   The Finnish army communique of last Tuesday said Finnish planes had bombed "a certain harbor and vessels lying there," Informed sources in Helsinki said they assumed the Russian naval base of Kronstadt near Leningrad was meant.)

February 2, 1940; FINNS HOLD POSITIONS ON MANNERHEIM LINE:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1940:

FINNS HOLD

STUBONLY TO
POSITIONS

Offensive Is at Surtma^

20 Miles Inland From
Coastal Fortress Which
Has Stood for 9 Weeks.

HELSINKI, Friday, Feb. 2.— (/P}—The Russian army struck with surprise force at the Mannerhelm line last night,-employing a new offensive t e c h n i q u e with armored, sledges supported by a swarm of 130 battle planes, even as Finland's white-haired president was issuing an appeal for an "honorable peace."

The Red army, which has beenplaying dead on the Karelian Isthmus since mid-January while fierce battles were waged along the Arctic circle and north of Lake Ladoga suddenly came to life with a violent onslaught aimed straight at Viipuri; Finland's second largest city.

Attack at Summa, :
The attack was made at Summa; 20 miles inland from the coastal fortress of Kolvlsto, which has withstood nine weeks of hammering from land and naval artillery and aerial bombardment.

Advices from observers with the Finns' Karelian army said the .attack continued early today, with this entrenched Finns holding, doggedly to 'their 'positions 20' miles south of Viipuri.

Tha Russians "began digging in on" the .-Karelian": Isthmus '-front last month, and-.only Wednesday; night Gen. Hugo Ostenrinnri, Finnish commander-in-chief, declared the war there had been reduced to a "war of position.”

The Karalean attack coincided, with a Finnish army communique which Indicated the Russians are attempting to resume the offensive all along the line from the Arctic to Lake Ladoga. The communique told of the re-

(Conllnued on Page 3, col. 4)

MONTANA STANDARD. BUTTE. FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 2, 1940.     Page 3

SOVIETS LAUNCH

FRESH ATTACK

(Continued from Page One)

pulsed Russian attacks In the Arctic Petsamo area, on the Salla front, and on an island off the northwestern shore of Lake Ladoga in southern Finland, and Rovanlemf in the north.

Helsinki's first midnight air raid alarm chased the citizens out of bed into their bombproofs at 12:05 a. m. today. No planes were sighted, however, and the alarm was ended after 20 minutes.

Several buildings were set afire by Incendiary bombs at Rovanienvi, but early reports Indicated few persons were killed.

Appeal Is Qualified.
President Kyosli Kalllo's appeal to end this "barbaric, senseless attack" was firmly qualified by the assertionFinland would not cringe before "imperialistic alms."

The president used the final, solemn session of the war diet as a sounding board for his pica, but It really was addressed to the Soviet government which docs not recognize his government and which does not even admit It Is "waging a war against Finland."

Russia Invaded Finland two months ago. Firmly and proudly Kallio Insisted, despite the second peace offer, that Finland will not crlnge before "imperialistic alms." This he reiterated in general the previous offer of peaceful negotiations made on December 15 by Foreign Minister Valno Tnnncr, In a broadcast message,

Japanese Military

Leaders Present
Big Arms Program

Army Warns That It Is Maintaining

a Close Watch on Borders
of Soviet Russia

TOKYO, Feb. 1.—(AP)—A seven-year arms program costing $671,000,000 was presented by Japan's military leaders today to a parliament stirred by the warning that the 'army is maintaining a close watch on Soviet Russia's borders because of "scores of illegal acts" committed by the Russians

February 1, 1940; PEACE TALKS PROPOSED BY fINLAND:

THIS WAS REPORTEDD TODAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1940:

Heavy Losses

Are Reported
For Invaders
Of Far North

President of Finland

Declares Nation
Will Not Bend

BULLETIN

Helsinki, Feb. 1—(AP) — President Kyosti Kallio in an impassioned speech in a solemn session of the war diet repeated today Finland's offer to negotiate "an honorable peace" with Russia but said that Finland would not bend before "imperialistic aims."

"We are forced to destroy people innocent of this war, people we have no reason to hate as a nation," the president said. "For this reason we regard this barbarous attack as senseless and are ready to negotiate an honorable  peace."

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Helsinki, Feb. 1 — Soviet Russia has attempted to revive her faltering campaigns in the Salla and Petsamo sectors above the Arctic Circle,but her troops were driven back by the Finns, the  communique said today.

At the other end of Finland, north of Lake Ladoga, the defense forces tightened their pincers on a stalled and disorganized Russian offensive, the high command announced, and threw back an attack on an unnamed island in the lake.

The communique, covering yesterday's activities, said Russian losses were heavy in the attempt to take the island by crossing over the ice of the lake.
"Lively Activity."
Elsewhere on the eastern front the Finns said there was 'lively patrol activity." The Russians killed "about a score of civilians" and wounded 40, the Finns said, in air raids yesterday on the "market town" of Rovaniemi

Japan's Army,

Navy Request
Huge Program
Of Armament

Total of $671, 000,000

Is Asked to Cover
Next Seven Year
Tokyo, Feb. 1— (AP)— Japan's army and navy today asked parliament to approve a new seven-year arms program costing about $671,000,-000, after the war minister had declared the army "is not relaxing its watch" along Soviet Russia' borders.

The appropriation asked today, for the "replenishment and rehabilitation" of arms, would be in addition to a total of $1,862,017,680 which

already has been approved for this purpose.

The seven year period would begin 'with the 1940-41 fiscal year. The appropriation also would be in addition to the China "war and domestic military budget" for 1940- 41 which total $1,583,478,000.

"Illegal Acts"
The request for the seven-year fund was made after the war minister, General Shunroku Hata, had declared that Russia had* committed "scores of illegal acts" after conclusion of the truce on the Manchukuo-Outer Mongolia border.

_____________________________________________

 

Eufaula, Oklahoma, Thursday, February 1, 1940.

Page 2
OFFICIAL PAPER FOR McINTOSH COUNTY
OFFICIAL PAPER FOR CITY OF EUFAULA

FEAR OF RUSSIAN BEAR

  Congress is confronted with the touchy question as to whether this country should extend financial aid to Finland, northern European democracy which is making the whole world take notice of her gallant battle against overwhelming odds with Soviet Russia. Since the launching of the aggression two months ago by Soviet Russia, the red armies have been repulsed with heavy casualties. Most experts believe Russia will win shortly by sheer numbers unless military and financial
aid is given by various countries.
  A large number who oppose U. S. financial assistance claim that It would be unneutral for this country to make a loan to the Finns expressing fear that such aid might lead to grave difficulties with Russia.
  It is highly debatable whether this country' should make the loan, chiefly because we are not in too good a financial condition to shoulder an additional burden. As. to the fear of offending Russia by such aid, this paper takes the view there is little argument in this latter contention to necessitate the refusal of funds to Finland.
  Russia, dominated solely by the communists, is not interested in a thing except increasing the power of its own government. In fact she hates any institution that is democratic or capitalistic in nature.
  Even though this country recognized Russian 1933, Soviet leaders do not like us a bit better' at the present than they did before 1933, Stalin and his comrades have wilfully violated the pact signed with this country seven years ago by carrying on viscous propaganda work and espionage activities. They have caused enough trouble already in our internal affairs that we should break off diplomatic relations with that country.
  Financial aid to Finland would constitute a far less grievous act on our part than what Russia has been doing to molest the United States by trying to set up communism in this country.