Evening star., 1939-12-10
War in Air


and predicted but has not yet arrived
in allied-German conflict may develop
instead in Baltic hostilities.
After opening their invasion of Fin
land with destructive and indiscriminate
aerial sorties against Helsinki and Pet
samo, Russian flyers were less active, or
less effective, during past week.
Red squadron did transport attack
patrol of some 200 soldiers into death
trap" behind Finnish lines, however,
carelessly or thoughtlessly parachuting
them to earth almost in midst of superior
Finnish forces. Most of Russians were
added to large list of captives reported
by Finn military authorities.
But memories of Spain were aroused
as so Italian fighting planes reached
Helsinki, bound apparently for continual
ton of bloody and desperate competition
with Russian ships which marked civil
war on Iberian peninsula
Accompanying italian squadron to
Baltic country were instructor pilots and
mechanics most OF
ltoIion Ptunes whom are likely tc
For Finland see more than peace
time duties behind
belligerent lines. Interesting, too. was
speculation as to route flown by Italian
ships on way across Europe with GER
tainty they crossed either German or
Russian territory, perhaps both.
Fact that planes repeatedly were
ordered before hostilities broke detracts
little in light Of other circumstances from
opinion that Italians are actively SYM
pathetic to Finnish cause.
And from England came word that
British firms are planning speedy deliv-
cry of more than score of British
fighting planes to Firms. with other
types of military supplies likewise being
bound from Britain to Baltic.
Meanwhile, reports seeped out OF
Helsinki that small but doughty Fin
nish air squadrons had made successful
bombing attacks on Soviet air concen-
trations at Murmansk. Arctic port, anc
Baltiskii, Estonian Baltic base taken ovel
by Russians under mutual assistance
pact. At Murmansk according to Asso-
ciated Press dispatches, 60 grounded
Soviet planes were destroyed by fires
started by Finnish incendiary bombs.
That Firms will not bomb civilian pop.
ulations was pledged by Helsinki govern.
ment in formal reply to President Roose.
velt's request that both Baltic belliger.
ents exercise restraint in aerial warfare
Firms will, they promised. go 'in nc
event, and under no circumstances, un-
dertake the bombardment from the all
of civilian populations or of unfortifiec
cities, upon the understanding that these
same rules of warfare will be scrupu.
lousy observed by all their opponents"
First was week end raid of German
naval base at Helgoland with direct
hits" being scored or
British Roid several Nazi warships
HeIooIond among them cruiser
And when German
bombing squadron of eight planes ap.
peared over British naval base at Firth
of Forth, R. A. F. was credited with re.
pulsing attackers. A similar fate was
reported for second pair of German
raiders with one of them "seen to be
hit" by r. A. F. pursuit planes. Later
claim was amended to five Nazi casual
ties
More important, perhaps, were reports
on Monday and Friday that British pa.
troll planes had destroyed Nazi sub.
marines. On first occasion, London re.
ported, pilot stalked U-boat from behinc
cloudbank, scored direct hit with bomt
as German Grew frantically tried te
close matches and submerge. Seconc
Nazi victim also is caught while idline
on surface, British bomber claiming
two hits demolished undersea boat.
By-product of Europe's potential aeria.
wars is development of American avia-
ton industry, reported last week soon tc
exceed that of Germany. BY June, 1910
1t is now estimated that American plants
will be producing, for foreign and do.
mestic purchasers, at rate of %, 600 planes
and $1,000 motors yearly, virtually dou.
BILE capacity of last June.