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Show Britain Considers Land, Sea and Air Aid to Finland WAR LEADERS 1 STUDY DIRECT-BLOW DIRECT-BLOW AT REDS Move Would Bar Nazi Support From Russians HELSINKI, Feb. If (.VI The Helsinki radle announced tonight thai the first Canadian volunteers volun-teers had arrived in Finland to Join the Finnish ferees. By DREW MIDDLETON LONDON, Feb. 28 (AP) An expeditionary force supported sup-ported by men-of-war and planes and designed to strike at Soviet Russian forces in Finland has been the subject of serious discussion in military mili-tary and naval circles for the last month, it was learned authoritatively au-thoritatively today. Talk of such an expedition has been inspired by protests sgainst haH-measures of aid for Finland expressed by such divergent personalities per-sonalities as former War Secretary Leslie Hore-Belisha and Commander Comman-der Oliver Locker-Lam peon, member mem-ber of parliament Would Block Soviet As envisaged, the expedition would: 1 Give the Finns relief In the form of trained manpower lots of it. 2 Strike st Russia, which now Is classed with Germany In moat British public speeches as. "an enemy nation" this despite the fact the Soviet Union and Great Britain technically are still st peace with each other. Actually, the only formal declarations of war thus far in Europe have been the British and French declarations against Germany. 3 Stall Russlsn economic assistance as-sistance to blockaded Germany. The reasoning here is that Russia would have few supplies to spare once she were matched against a well-armed aumerlcally strong foe. Still another possible effect Influence In-fluence on Itsly In favor of the allies is cited by General Sir Herbert Her-bert Gough, famed World war commander, com-mander, in an article in the magazine, maga-zine, The English Speaking World. "Our open resistance to Russian sggresslon .now will go a long way to influencing Italian policy in our favor," he wrote, adding that it is possible Germsny will not sttack at all this summer, devoting her energies rather to increasing her economic power In central Europe." Eu-rope." With the western front still static, the allies are said to be tContlniint on Pas four) (Column Two) British Ponder Sending Armed Aid to Finns 4 (CoatMMS rival Pes Om) turning to a broader concept of strategy. Finland and the middle east are looked upon by the highest military and naval authorities as potential fields for flanking attacks at-tacks on Russia and Germany. It la noteworthy that despite recent Finnish reverses circles close to the British foreign office believe the war In Finland will be of "considerable "con-siderable duration." Quarters which say an expeditionary expedi-tionary force la under consideration considera-tion add that the temper of the British people calls for measures more drastic than the collection of funda for food, clothing and medical med-ical supplies and approval of British Brit-ish enlistments for the defense of Finland. About 900 British volunteers, members of an International brigade bri-gade organized to help Finland against Russia, were disclosed today to-day to be already on their way to the northern war front. This first contingent comprises about a quarter of the International Interna-tional forces enlisted In Britain to give unofficial military aid to the Finns, supplementing undisclosed quantities of war materials which the British government haa sent Finland. It waa reported that Kermlt Roosevelt, eon of the lata President Presi-dent Theodore Roosevelt, waa considered con-sidered for the post of commander of the brigade by Field Marshal Baron Carl Guetaf Mannerhelm, Finland's defense chief. British government spokesmen have aaid "real aid" Is being sent to Finland, Including planes, but the actual extent of such assistance HERMIT HOObEVIXT Considered fer Brigade Commander haa been, shielded . ai , a' militant secret. Locker-Lampson has pointed out what he terms the "imminent peril of Finland's overthrow" and proposed pro-posed In the house of commons that his majesty's government "free a substantial force (from the allied armies) for Instant service In Finland." Hore-Brlisha, liberal member of parliament, last Friday In a public address called for full Intervention by "sea, air and land" on behalf of Finland, aaying "the risk of helping Finland may be great, but the risk of not helping her may be greater." |