The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-12
Russian Threat Is
Becoming Serious
Soviet May Withdraw From League of Nations; Would
Be Signal for Tremendous Offensive Drive
BY JOE ALEX MORRIS
UNITED Press Foreign News Edito

NOMWCu GEGuD PVEehbH SNCWb EuhbWEI
Soviet Russia appeared ready to-
day to walk out OF the League Of
Nations and n redouble the often
sive Of Red armed forces against
Finland.
Dispatches from both Geneva and
Moscow indicated the probable re-
suit OF league decision giving the
Soviets until this afternoon TO Or
der withdrawal OF the Red army
from Finnish soil and enter into
peaceful negotiations for O settle
ment on the basis OF Finlands APP
seal TO the world for aid.
Although the Russian government
made no comment 1t was believed
that Vie Soviet Union would follow
the example Of Japan, Italy and
Germany In abandoning the league
and ignoring any decision by the
assembly TO condemn the Red army
as Or aggressor or to expell Moscow
from the Geneva sessions.
At the same time, the Russian
offensive appeared TO be more and
more threatening on the central
Finnish front, where the Red army
has been attempting TO cut across
the middle Of Finland TO the
Swedish frontier and the Gulf Of
Bothnia.
Make Slow Progress
The RlissianC have made slow
progress both on the Karelian
Isthmus, Just north OF Leningrad
ard on the far northern Arctic
coast, according TO communicates
from both sides. But at O midway
point on the eastern Finnish from
tier the Red army has thrust more
deeply into Finnish territory, proba-
bly, about 80 or 90 miles Of the
deepest point.
In this area, there Is snow and
the countryside Is rough. Dispatches
from the Norwegian frontier have
told Of Russian supply trains being
held up. The Films burned many
villages TO slow down the Red army
advance and work hardships on the
Soviet troops. Frequent guerilla
counter attacks have been made.
But on the northern flank the Films
admitted that they had abandoned
the town OF Salla. On the southern
flank Of this sector the Russians
took the town Of Patkaeranta In
what appeared to be O wide rianeu-
YER TO circle Lake Ladoga and cut
behind the main Finnish defense
lines In the southeast.
The chief immediate danger to
RiniayaA hau,avau suaa n faat Nee
sian advance In the middle sector
toward Rovaniemi, "a important
communications center, and the
Gulf Of Bothnia.
Fear Of Finland
II the Soviet forces succeeded In
slicing through mid-Finiand the
northern and southern Finnish arm
les would be isolated and the end
only o matter OF time.
That possibility has been borne
home strongly TO the Scandinavian
countries, which took the lead In the
League OF Nations efforts to pro-
mote new negotiations between
Moscow and Eelsinki. The neutrals
also were feeling German pressure
again and r. J. Sander, Swedish
foreign minister who had been bit.
terly attacked In the Nazi press as
encouraging Finland to resist Rus
STA, was pointedly left out Of q re-
organized Swedish cabinet.
In the Allied German sea war
fare, the British reported five
more merchant ships missing and
believed sunk by the German sea
raider, Admiral Scheer, O 10O0O.ton
pocket battleship which was oper-
ating at one time off the African
coast. The British claimed, how
ever, that the allied blockade Of
German exports was proving highly
effective and that Germany's over