FS NENTS PT ENTREE TA

tal Of Logging Deaths Reaches 65

The ADVOCA

FOR PEACE, PROGRESS AND DEMOCRACY

FULL No. 257.

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1939

eS « 5 Cents

Guard sovermment from

and Oslo, the Red Army this week advanced st

elsinki

img reads across difficult country to facilitate its

consolidate its gains.

Strategy of the Red Army appears to be that of driving across®

Finland at two points in order to reach the Gulf of Bothnia and

bisect the country.

One Red Army column, having taken Kuolojarvi in northern
Finland, is driving in the direction of Kemijarvi and Kemi at
the head of the Gulf of Bothnia, where it would cut the Finnish
White Guards’ only railway link with Sweden.

A second Red Army column, which this’ week occupied
Suomussalmi, is pushing across central Finland towards Oulu
(Oleabors) on the Gulf of Bothnia, where the Finnish White
Guards are reported to be preparing for a stand.

Completion of either of these two operations will bisect the
country, cutting off the retreat of White Guard forces being
steadily driven southward from the Petsamo area and bottling
Finnish White Guard armies in the south.

Above the Arctic circle, Soviet forces which took Petsamo
early in the campaign, despite White Guardist claims to have
retaken the ice-free port, are driving southward. Red Army
troops have occupied the nickel mines at Salmijarvi, after re-
treating White Guard Finns had wrought all the damage they

could.

In the south, the Red Army is
slowly penetrating the Manner-
heim line or, as it is known among
the Finnish people, the Kirke line,
after the British general who
planned its construction and only
this year re-visited it. The Soviet
action here, while making head-
way towards Viipuri (Viboreg),
seems to be designed to hold the
main White Guard armies behind
their defenses. The main action

is concentrating on the enveloping
movement around the north of
hake Dadoga where fierce figcht-
ing is reported. Here Red Army
forces have taken the key railway

terminus of Pitkaranta and are
are astride the railway line be-
tween Joensuu and Nurmes. Suc-
cess of this enveloping action will

take the Mannerheim line from
the rear. .

Press Claims Refuted

This week a number of White
Guardist claims were promptly re-
vealed as lies by Soviet and other

sources.

First reporis from Helsinki of

Soviet naval action against Han-
soe claimed that the roy, Soviet
destroyer, had been sunk.with 500
men aboard by fire from fortress
Suns. Later, this was amended by
Copenhagen reports, which stated
that the Kirov had limped into
Tallin, Estonia, accompanied by
three tugs, for repairs. Tass, offi-
cial Soviet agency, blasted botn
these reports. Said it:

“Fhe foreign press is replete
with reports allegine that the
cruiser Kirov was seriously dam-
aged in the course of a demon-
Strative operation against the
Hangoe forts and that one of the
destroyers accompanying it was
sunk by the fire of the Finnish
eoast artillery.

“The headquarters of the Bal-
tic fleet finds it necessary to
State that this report in foreign
newspapers #s absoluely false.

‘New Soviet cruisers of the
Kirov type are armed with long
range guns throwing shells for a

distance exceeding 35 kilometers
while the Finnish coastal nine—
inch and six-inch guns at Han-
goe have a firing range of only
18-20 Kilometers.

“Phe cruiser Kirov was able
quite easily to shell Hangoe from
a long distance, maneuvering
out of reach of Finnisn artillery
and the shells of the Finnish
coastal gums missed the cruiser
isirov by four to five kilometers,
causing merry animation and
jeering among the crews of the
Soviet warships.

“Destroyers accompanying the
cruiser Kirov similarly suffered
no damage.” <
Taas also refuted as ‘an inven-
tion through’and through’ foreign
press reports that 60 Russian
planes were destroyed in a Finnish
air raid on Murmansk, Soviet Arc-
tic port. The statément said:

“Havas (French) news agency
reports that ‘a raid of Finnish
Planes on Murmansk districts
had as alleged results the de

(Continued on Page 5)
See FINNISH

Bombings
Fakes

Hint Allies

v

FINLAN

A\rrested

May Send

Troops

Czechs, Poles
May Be Sent
To Finland

LONDON, Eng.— Indication of *
further foreign imtervention in
Finland whereby troops would be ~
sent to aid the White Guards as
a so-called international brigade
Was seen in reports published
here that Czech and Pelish di-
Wisions, organized and armed in

Erance, might be sent to Finland.
British public opinion is asking
how it is that while no British
planes were sent to aid Poland,
planes can be sent to Finland at a
time when Britain needs them for
use against a Nazi air force ad-
imittedly superior numerically.

GENEVA, Switzerland.
The League of Nations, under-
mined and rendered impotent
as an instrument of collective
security by the policies of
British and French govern-
ments, this week was converted
into an instrument of anti-
Soviet intrigue as member
states met, solemnly denounced

the Soviet Union as an ‘aggres-
sor, voted to expel the Socialist

country.

The League, dominated by
Britain and France, failed to five
aid to China when Japan first in-
vaded that country before launch-
ing the present war, dodged effec-
tive sanctions against Italy when
thet country invaded Ethiopia, was
Silent when Germany violated the
military clauses of the Wersailles
treaty, did nothing when Germany
annexed Austria. It paid little heed
to the appeals of Republican Spain,
ignored Italian occupation of Al-
bania, accepted German seizure of
Czechoslovakia, was prepared to
Surrender Danzig and the Polish
Corridor to Germany.

But when the Soviet Union, after
negotiations failed, acted against

(Continued on Page 2)
See FINLAND

2S 2 =

CHARLES H. MILLARD, CLO or-
Sanizer and first president of
United Automobile Workers
union’s Oshawa local, arrested
under the War Measures Act on
erders of the Hepburn govern-
iment last week. Charges against
Millard are based on a speech he
is alleged to have made at Tim-
mins, Ont. Real reason for his
arrest is seen in the anti-labor
Campaign now being waged by
the Hepburm government under
cover of the war.

Pioneer
Negotiates

Wegotiations are proceeding to
find a common ground for settle—
ment of the strike which has closed
Pioneer gold mines since Oct. 8 and
brought the BC labor department
to the aid of mine operators by
Prosecution and conviction of the
union’s six-man executive.

W. J. Cameron, union president,
C. —&. Fitzgerald and Harold Winch,
MELA, met with Labor Minister G
S. Pearson Thursday but results
of this meeting and Pearson’s talks
with Pioneer Mine directors were
not made public.

it is understood that any proposal
which might be reached for a
Settlement of the 10-week dispute
would have to be submitted to the
Strikers for approval or rejection.

While union leaders seek ways to
bring about s satisfactory settle-
ment, supporters are not lagging
to provide strike relief to the fam-
ilies. Cumberland miners are donat
ing full proceeds of their annual
New Year's Day dance to the strik-
ers and Courtenay local PWA is
holding a dance for the strikers
Saturday.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. The
State board of prison terms and
Paroles will consider parole appli-
cations of the three victims of the
Alameda county ‘ship murder’
frameup, Frank Connor, Earl icing,
E. G@ Ramsay, former Marine Fire
mens’ union. officials, at the Feb-
ruary board meeting.

RED ARMY DRIVE AIMED
AT BISECTING

Pictures Of
_Exposed In London As

Contrary to fantastic claims of ‘successes’ issued by the Finnish White
Helsinki and relayed from Copenhagen, Stockholm
eadily on three fronts, build-
Progress and enable-it to

J

Business
Retains
Control

Non-Partisans Keep
Hold On City Hall
As CCF Defeated

Defeating CCF candidates by
a narrow margin, bis business
Sained a victory at the expense
of citizens when its candidates,
under the reactionary Liberal-
Conservative coalition of the
Non - Partisan Association,’
were elected by a minority vote
to city council, school. and
parks board, Wednesday.

Failure of the CCE to re-elect
Ald. Helena Gutteridge, Mrs. Susie.
Lane Clark and ex-Ald. Alfred
Hiurry, who were just nosed out
in the final count may be attribut—
ed in part to the party’s lack of a
concrete Civic =prosram:, based: on
the needs of citizens.

As usual, Non-Partisan candi-
dates ran on a program of ‘econo-
mic government? which, in the past,
has meant foisting of municipai
taxation burdens upon the small
taxpayers while allowing max:
mum concessions to big business,
which does not elect its representa-
tives to place taxes on high pro-
fits and large bank accounts.

The daily press has already de-
cided that CGE Speeches in the les-—
islature, eriticising British and
Canadian foreign policy, were re—
Sponsible for its defeat at the polis.

Actually, althougsn no CGF can-
didates achieved victory, Alfred
Hurry polled 9353 votes, approxi-
mately one-third of the total vote
Cast, an inerease over his vote last
year.

PRICE REPUDIATED.

Voters effectively repudiated
Jack Price, CCF renegade who ran
on a Non-Partisan ticket. Tile R.
P. Pettipiece, former CCF alder-
man who abandoned the CCE for
the Non-Partisan Asso Ciation,
Price failed in his bid for election
on the big business slate.

Proportional representation, one
of the four issues on which plebis-
cites were taken, failed to find
favor with woters, being defeated
by a 2-1 vate. Voters did, however,
demonstrate that they wish to elect
Whom they please for Mayor, whe-
ther he has had experience or not,
in the plebiscite On that question.

The required majority voted in
favor of he Crystal Pool purchase
bylaw, but daylight savings went
Gown to defeat with a decisive ma-
jority against the proposal,

NEW WESTMINSTER, BG —
Sam Hughes, labor Candidate for
city council, was defeated at Thurs-
day’s civic election.

Aldermen Sangster and Jackson
were re-elected, A_ Courtney, can-
didate in last year’s mayoralty con-
test, was also elected to council.

LEGION HEAD RECALLS WORLD WAR SCANDALS

Consumers’ Council To Press For Action Against Profiteers

A more pregressive policy in
Seeking out food profiteers by the
city council’s special committee
will be urged by Consumers’ Re
Search Council, it was decided at
2 public meeting held in the Wo-
men’s Building here on Monday.

#ndorsed also was a resolution
from Relief Project Workers’ un-
ion asking increased food and
Shelter allowances for destitute
Persons pending their employment
On works projects.

The meeting, called by Consum-
©Ts’ Research Council, heard Hob-
ert Macnicol, Canadian WDegion
provincial command Secretary,
Score the federai government’s

treatment of war veterans and de-
clare that profiteering was con-
nected with unemployment.

Recalling profiteering in the
last war, and declaring that it
was bound to exist in this war,
Macnicol cited the Ross rifle case,
told of Canadian boots “which
might as well have been made of
brown paper,” and of trench shov-
els supplied to Canadians at a cost
of $18,000 which were never used
and later were resold as junk for
$1800.

Victory bonds, whereby those
who bought them got their money
back aiter 20 years with 100 per-
cent interest, were another source

of profiteering, Macnicol held.

“I think it is a terrible thins
that 20 years after the war we
still have to tell people we still
have unemployed ex-Servicemen,”
he declared in castigating the Gan-
adian government for its treat
ment of war veterans who were
arrested on city streets prior to
the present war because the gov-
ernment could not provide"45 cents
a day for their maintenance “Yet
directly the war breaks out it finds
21.30 a day for them,” he added.

Maenicol also spoke of treat
ment accorded enlisted men whose
mothers were not getting their
Proper allowances, stating that his
organizaion had protested to Otta-

wa this week.

The Legion, he said, had passed
a resolution opposing conscription
unless wealth and industry were
included because it was unwilling
to send men overseas while others
Staye dbehind and “made good out
of the war.”

JOBLESS VIEWS.

Bert Platt, speaking on behalf
of Relief Project Workers’ union,
dealt with present relief allaw-
ances to single men of 28 cents a
day for meais or 23 cents a day in
scrip, with consequent undermin-
ing of their health and welfare. He
Pointed out that these men would
be unable to work if the opportun-
ity presented itself.

Mrs. M. ©. Norton, research com-
mittee convener, cited Dominion
Bureau of Statistics figures as an
answer to those endeavoring to
paste labels on the council. The
cost of living index for Sept. was
82.9, she stated, while in October
it rose to 84.7 and food ratings
were 74.2 and 79.8 for the respec-
tive months,

Other speakers included Mrs. E.
Scott, who pledged full cooperation
of the Canadian Federation of the
Blind te reduce food prices or gain
Higher pension allowances; Mrs.
. Mortimer, Mothers’ Pensioners
and Old Age Pensioners Associa-
tions, and Mrs. Grace Greenwood,
of the Housewives’ League.

More Men
Killed Than
In 1938

Labor Demands
Gov’t Measures
To Reduce Toll

Despite persistent demands
by BC District Council of In-
ternational Woodworkers’ un-
ion and a’pertinent address in
the’ provincial legislature by
Sum Guthrie (CCF, Cowichan-
Neweastle) for action to re-
duce the appalling annual death
toll in British Columbia’s log-
ging camps, Labor Minister
George S. Pearson continues
to ignore the issue. Results of
government inaction is that 63
loggers lost their lives in the
woods in 1938, 65 in 1939.

In the 10-year period, 1927-37,
e67 loggers were killed, 1766 per-

jured seriously enough to warrant
compensation, but when the rec
ord of the past two years is add-
ed it will shade even this terrible
Geath and accident list.

Majority of accidents are caus—
ed by fallines snags, by dead trees
left by logging operators in their
Gesire to get a maximum Profit out
of the industry with a minimum
of cost. An insight into the num-—
ber of snags left standing to claim
loggers’ lives or provide tinder for
a forest fire was given this week
by Peter Haramboure, Elk River
Timber company, superintendent,
Guring Supreme Court, where tim-
ber companies are endeayoringe- to
recover damages incurred in the
1938 Vancouver island forest fire.

The burly superintendent, an-—
swerins a question, stated he
would have knocked over every.
snag for a distance of 150 feet and
Gave kept right on until the fire
was out.

A safety first branch of the de-
partment of labor established as
a result of agitation for action to
keep the accident rate at a mini-
mum, has apparently met with no
measure of success. Instead, the
accident rate and death toll has
STOwn in the past few years.

‘Cut Forced
On Labor’

PRITCHETT

“Conservation of natural re-
sources is one of the &reatest pro-
blems which the People and goy-
ernments of both Ganada and the
United States will have to -séri-
ously deal with, because around
this the question of taxation, trade
and employment hinge,” Harold J.
Pritchett, Canadian-born head of
the CIO International Woodwork
ers union, told the Advocate in an
interview here fhis week.

Pritchett, who returned to Gan-
ada last weel for renewal of his
US visa, was enthusiastic over
conservation, Particularly of for
ests.

“Out of every seven persons em-
Ployed on the coast five are depen-
dent on the lumber industry for
a livelihood, but for every three
feet of logs eut only one is re-
Placed,” he said-

The union leader, reelected for
his third consecutive

those who Save evidence before 4
congressional committee on for

estry which met in Portland this
week.

COPY TC GO TO Gowr

A copy of his briei, he told the
Advocate, would be sent to BEC
Chief Forester —. C. Manning and
to leaders of the various political
Parties in the Provincial lesisla—
ture.

_ Pritchett declared that conserya-
tion of forests no only helped those
dependent directly upon it for a
livelihood, but also fishermen, in
that it preserved watersheds and
natural Spawning gerounds for
Salmon_

Speaking of union matters, Prit-
chett stated the TWA was proud Gf
its BC section for fains made in
the past few weeks to raise wages
of the loggers.

“These gains,” he Said, “must be
carried forward into every Camp to
make our slogan of ‘Raise our pay
2 dollar a day meet Present day
needs.”

He pointed out,

“Lumber and all other commo-
dities including food prices have
risen since war started, but
wages generally have reniazined
the same. In fact, a wage cut
has been forced on Iabor as 2
result of this war.”

Labor Minister George S. Pear-
Son’s recent use of a union let
ter in the legislature to attack a2
CIO affiliate was branded by Prit—
chett as “a backdoor method em-
Ployed by big business to attack
organized labor.” In so doing, Pear-
son allied himself with big business
because it feared the CIO, he

added_

manently disabled and 33,897 in- ~