The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-13

soon TO resign II she Is not thrown
out--Belgium, Bolivia, Dominican
Republic, Greece, Iran, South Africa
Peru, Finland, Russia, Jugoslavia
China and Latvia.
Russia May Withdraw
Both at Moscow and Geneva, there
still were indications that Russia
would withdraw from the League II
she Is not expelled but the outcome
Of the international debate over the
invasion Of Finland was still uncer-
tain. The little neutral countries are
afraid Of both the Soviets and Ger
many and see their interests falling
away under the British French nav.
al blockade Of German imports and
exports. The Swedish cabinet Of
Premier Per Albin Hanson was
reorganized today to eliminate For
eign Minister r. ]. Sander, who had
been criticized by the Nazis, and Il
try to strengthen Swedish neutrality
Sander, 1t was said In an ofiicial
explanation, resigned because the
government failed to agree with his
proposals for protecting the Finnish
Aland Islands, which OF Importance
to Sweden because they are a strate-
gle naval and aerial base close to the
Swedish coast. The sta tement indi-
rectly indicated that Sander IA
vored measures TO bolster Finnish
efforts to keep the islands out Of
the hands OF Russia move that
Moscow might view as unneutral.
Had To Stay Neutral
The nearness Of the Finnish war
to the Scandinavian nations and an
indication Of the difficulties they
face In remaining neutral, was
emphasized In developments on the
vital central front Of eastern Fin
land.
On that front the Red Army Is
pressing a broad offensive aimed at
cutting through the middle OF Fin
land to the Gulf Of Bothnia and
the frontiers Of Sweden. The far
northern fighting on the Arctic
coast Of Finland and the southeast
ern offensive on the Karelian 18TH
mus north OF Leningrad have be-
come secondary and almost stale
mated fronts In comparison with
the central offensive.
Firms Report Victories
The Firms, In their latest COM
munique, reported hundreds Of Rus
sian casualties, said at least three
Soviet battalionS had been "annihl-
lated" and that O crushing defeat
had been inflicted on the Red army
at one point In the east. But the
steady trickle Of reports coming In
from all parts Of the central front
showed that the situation was SER
ious for the defenders and indicated
that O big battle would be fought In
the next few days II the Films con-
tinue TO try to hold a solid line.
What has happened so far is that
the Russians have pushed forward
In q two-pronged drive into the
middle sector, Finland Is only q lit
tie more than $50 miles wide at one
point but one Russia advance, slant.
Ing down from the North, must
travel perhaps twice that far. The
second, moving northwestward from
6uOEluSSalIll, has tkle SHOTUeSt
route toward Uleaborg and Tornio
on the gulf OF Bothnia.
Not In Striking Distance
As yet neither one Of these Rus
sian columns Is within striking dis
lance Of its objective. The Lake
country had held up the Suomus-
saint advance and the column NOV
ing down from Salla toward Dow
aniemi and Tornio has been fight
ing bitter cold In the Arctic circle,
where the daylight hours are few In
this season.
But both of these columns have
edged steadily ahead after over
coming early difficulties in main
tanning supply trains, according to
reports reaching Copenhagen and
other Scandinavian points. At the
same time the Russians have kept
the pressure on the Karelian front,
moved a column along the north
bank Of Lake Ladoga in an effort
to outflank the main Finnish de-