The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-19
Russian Planes Roar
Over Southern F Finland
CONTINUED from Page u

planes was shot down, but officials
lacked confirmation,
Although no bombs fell In the
center Of Helsinki, there were heavy
detonations to the north, In the vi
entity Of the airport, that might have
been those of bombs,
10 Bombs Dropped
The police reported that 10 bombs,
fel lin the Town Of LumarlnSula
near Helsinki and that o few more
fell on the outskirts of the city but
caused no damage.
Reports persisted that four Rus
slams had parachuted down and
police cars and bicycle scouts
searched for them.
Leaflets were dropped In Kalso-
niemi Park at the edge OF the city.
Reports OF the number OF Russian
planes varied from eight to 10. One
man said he had seen one group Of
four planes and another group of
nine.
The speed with which the Films
set up an antl-aircraft barrage,
much o (which seemed of three-inch
shells, demonstrated how eXcellently
the city's defenses have been Or
ganized In the past two weeks,
The Russians had been grounded
two weeks by bad weather.
II was learned belatedly that the
suburbs OF Viipuri (viborg) second
largest Finnish city, near the from
tier, had been bombed yesterday,
One bomb fell near plainly
marked Red Cross hospital, accord
Ing to the Finnish News Agency.
Although there were no casualties
from bombs, one OF the planes
swooped down, machine-gunned the
streets and killed q woman, the
Agency said.
Planes Are Scouters
The planes over Helslnki today
apparently were on n scouting mis-
sion. They were flying very high,
Their approach was signaled by
heavy anti-aircraft fire north OF
the CITY, few minutes before il:25,
North OF the city are the airdrome
and the railroad lines to Aabo.
The anti-alrcraft fire grew louder
as gunners closer TO the center OF
the city took II up. The weather
was clear, the fairest since the war
began. The sky was filled with
puffs Of smoke from anti-aircraft
shells.
AS the planes neared the center
OF Helsinki, machine guns went iato
action on the roofs OF buildings
The firing lasted Is minutes. 1t was
well under way before the air raid
alarm was sounded.
I was In the main street near O
large department store. The deton.
ations north OF the city seemed
heavy, and might have been bombs
rather than anti-aircraft firing.
could hear the motors OF the
Russian planes, but they were 80
high they were out OF sight.
shoppers Are Out
The department store before which
I stood was damned with Christmas
shoppers. They dashed In every a.
rection, TO Easements and other
shelters. The streets were alive with
running people, the buildings shook
with the increasing thunder of anti
aircraft guns, and the shy was
spotted with bursting shells.
Policemen fastened people off the
streets. At press headquarters IN
the Kemp Hotel, they refused TO let
foreign correspondents go into the
street. One policeman poked q re-
volver into the stomach OF Warren
irwin Of the National BroadcOstIng
Company, to enforce his order.
Most OF the correspondents and
foreigners at the hotel ran TO the
windows to watch Some people
from the street ran into the lobby
and others ran to dugouts In rs
planade Park, across from the hotel
Some were seen hurriedly adjust
Ing gas masks, As the firing con-
tinued and no bombs fell, those IN
the air raid shelters began sticking
their heads out TO watch their gum
ners' Workmanship.
The morning had dawned clear
and bright, although the people had
expected q renewal OF the air raids
with good weather, they we're out
as usual, crowdlng the shops when
the shooting commenced.
10 Panic Anywhere
There was no panic. The streets
were cleared In a remarkable snort
time - 1t could not have been more
than few seconds. Police hailed
all traffic. Telephone and tele-
graph communication abroad were
cut the instant the alarm sounded.
They were not resumed until the
all clear signal was given at 1915
p. m.
The planes approached from the
north, turned west, then turned
south toward the Gulf of Finland.
Films said that one Russian plane
had been shot down at viipuri yes
terday. There were three alarms
there during the day. The city,
with normal population Of 10000,
has been three-fourths evacuated.
Other air raids we're reported yes
terday all along the south cost. Fin
nish sources have said that the next
time Helsinki was bombed the Firms
would bomb Lenlngrad, teemins
Russian city of 3,500.000, only "