3 uary 19, 1940 THE ADVOCATE Page Three jontinued From Page One =. ‘cores Lies i f losses of 2,000 Finns on the s +) White Guard officers in the diers, the communique said. ‘Claims that the Murmansk ni the first three weeks importa SBied in the creation of army bases for Soviet troops in Fin- - h territory, operations in the s “i ordinary clashes of reconnoitering detachments and small il SOLELY, units. a “The heavy cold which suddenly set in greatly facilitated » position of the Finnish troops but despite this they proved | tse of efficiently profiting s a favorable situation. ist dowever, the foreign press, es- hie jally the French and primarily @ French Havas agency, man- & d during this period to develop — 2nsive operations in the field of “E rications and slanderous inven- as regarding Soviet troops. Our headquarters have no time refute every day the slanderous @ rications of representatives of #cign agencies. But it believes it ut} not devoid of use from time to Bie te sum up the slanderous npaign of these gentlemen and @ expose their real face value. ‘Firstly, foreign agencies refer- = to mythical ‘sources’ in Gen- Mia, Helsinki, and Riga assert— Mc assert, but shout themselves iBarse—that Finnish troops broke ®-ough the front in all directions, WEssed the Soviet frontier and are ging operations on USSR terri- yy. This is an utter lie and a Wildless, witness and laughable “@ at that. ‘In reality the Finnish troops }ve not reached the Soviet fron- c at any point. As a matter of ‘t they hardly set themselves ha task. “Tr the Wyborg sector the Fin- ish troops are 43 miles (70 Kilo- ?ress Stoops ‘Thirdly, referring to the same urces, foreign agencies allege at Hinnish troops cut communi- aons along the Murmansk rail- y and this line is now ‘complete- paraiyzzed.’ This is a lie similar previous allegations. This is dent from the above mentioned st that Finnish troops have not iched the Soviet frontier at a gle point and that Finnish ‘ops are dozens of kilometers cant from Soviet frontiers and adreds of kilometers from the iwmansk railway. In reality, the nf irmansk railway has not sus- aded work fer a single minute. ‘Fourthly, the same foreign encies referring to ithe same ‘thical ‘sources’ unknown to any- dy allege that ‘Russians lost tsamo,’ that ‘Russians called Tmans to assistance, that 20 or or 140 ‘German military instruc- ‘Ss’ arrived in the USSR for the 0) pean on of Soviet troops. "We find it necessary to declare \at this extraordinary gossip ex- eds in its falsehood all other gos- > by gentlemen of the foreign encies. “Since the first of December, etsamo has been in the hands f{ Soviet troops. Soviet troops aintly with units of the First finnish People’s Corps, which eecntly arrived in Petsamo, not nly occupied Petsamo, but ad- anced 80 miles (130 kilometers) suth of Petsamo. ‘As to ‘German military instruc- rs, “~who allegedly arrived in the SSR ‘for the reorganization of fiviet troops,’ we think it embar- gssing to even deny this stupid ‘oviet Communique ‘Leningrad headquarters assailed stories of mass slaughter @ Russians’ and said that 900 Soviet casualties had been suf- fed due to sudden cold on the Suomussalmi front compared f ir wounded rather than leave them to talk to the Sous! s troops were ridiculed along with stories of German military i tructors called in to train the erack Red Army. ‘The communique published in the Soviet press follows: » “In the course of the second three-week period of hostilities ‘Finland, no substantial changes took place at the front. While In Press ame front. Mannerheim army are slaying railway has been cut by Fine nt operations took place which econd three weeks were limited meters) from the Soviet fron- tiers. Im the Serdopola area they are 50 miles (80 Kilometers) from the border, at Petsamo and south of Petsamo, 80 miles (130 Kilo- meters), on the Uleaborg-Royvan- iemi line 60 miles (120 Kilomet- ers), and on the Suomussalmi front 5 te 10 miles (10 te 15 Lilo- meters) from the frontier. “Foreign agences, especially Ha- vas ,referring to the same ‘sources’ allege that in battles in the Suo- mussalmi area the 44th Soviet divi- sien ‘lost 14,000 men.’ This allega- tion is due to the supernatural fan- tasy of its ill-starred authors. “The 44th division had in all no more than 10,000 men on the front. How then could it lose 14,000 men? In reality the casual- ties of Soviet troops there have not exceeded 900 men and they are due to the sudden cold which set in rather than the actions of the Finnish troops. “But foreign gossipers carefully pass in silence the fact that Fin- nish troops there lost not less than 2,000 killed and wounded and mem- bers of the Finnish Schutz Corps brutally killed their wounded in order not to leave their ‘tongues’ in the hands of the Soviet troops. Low prattle. We believe that only the animal fear of the prospect of a military bloc between Germany and the USSR could dictate the gentlemen from the French agency te tell his stupid extraordinary lie. “We realize that foreign agencies are authorized by their masters to conduct propaganda against Soviet troops and they conduct this ‘prop- aganda’ heaping one false fabrr cation upon another in order to justify their existence. “But what is the value of prop- aganda based not on facts but on deception? Doesn’t the ‘propa- ganda’ of the defenders of ‘civil- ization’ consist in systematic de- ception of public opinion? We didn’t think the representatives of the foreign press could sink so low.” Papanin Leads Aretic Reseue MOSCOW, USSR. — Ending an- other sensational rescue expedi- tion, Ivan Papanin’s ice-breaker Stalin last Saturday crashed through mountains of Arctic ice to reach the trapped, crippled sister ship Sedov in the Greenland Sea. Fifteen seamen of the Sedov, who have been in the Arctic wa- ters for two years collecting val- uable scientific data, were saved. Papanin, hero of the Soviet ex- pedition to the North Pole on a drifting ice floe, reported that the second complicated part of the ex- pedition—leading the Sedoy out of the ice—had begun. Shipping Tie-Up Ends WATERFRONT gangs surround a union dispatcher for as- signment working ships and moving waterfront cargo as the CIO ship clerks* strike, which had tied up San Francisco since Noy. 10, was ended with a truce. Throughout Canada ’Peg Unions Hopeful Labor Act Will Pass WINNIPEG, Man. — A year of activity in assisting the local trade union movement and promoting aims beneficial to labor was reported in a statement given to the press this week by Winnipeg and District Trades and Labor council executive, out- lining its work during 1939. Three Quit Labor Party LONDON, Eng.—Three more in- fluential Labor party leaders last week blasted the pro-war join the Communist party. stand of the party, resigning to Widespread defections from the leadership of Major Clement At- tlee, who has supported the ‘dem- ocracy crusade’ of Prime Minister Ghamberlain, has brought many Labor party leaders and rank and file members into the Communist ranks in recent weeks. The Communists are the only political group in England oppos- ing the imperialist war. J. S. Layzelle, secretary of the Upton MDivisional Labor party, West Ham, secretary of the Upton Ward Association, a delegate to the West Ham Central Labor par- ty, and a member of the Joint Consultative Committee turned in his resignation with a statement declaring the war was not for de- mocracy, “Anyone who, after the actions of the national government during the Spanish people’s fight for free- dom, still believes that it intends fighting fascism is, to say the least, incapable of reason.” When Layzelle announced his in- tention of resigning from the La- bor party, the assistant secretary was asked to take his place, but She also resigned to join the Com- munist party. The meeting rejected Attlee’s war policy by 22 votes to 10. Harry Ll. Self, prospective Labor parliamentary candidate for Eye Division, Suffolk, also resigned and has joined the Communists. ) <=> 0S 0 SED 0 SE 0 SED 0 GED ED 0D) GED 0 GREED 0 GED 0 GEE OOS i 4 | | The Trut Every Friday h Will Out .. But you will read it only THE ADVOCATE British Columbia’s Fastest Growing Labor Paper @ The Essence of the World’s News Articles by Leading Labor Writers | Get yourself a copy by D. N. Pritt, KC SUBSCRIBE NOW! ‘LIGHT ON MOSCOW’ TI wish to subscribe to of entitles me to receive Fill in This Subscription Blank Now your advertised rate of $2.00. I understand that this ‘Light On Moscow,’ without extra cost. The Advocate for one year at a copy of D, N. Pritt’s book, > () SD () GE () > () > () G-(.) FREE ae | Address d AGENTS ... Write for Details of Our Circulation-Building Campaign ! > OSS 0S 0S 0 aa 0a 04a > 0D 0a 0a OEE © Ranking high in the council’s efforts was the work it did to secure the enactment of a bill Siving workers the right to organ- ize in a union of their own choos- ing, efforts’ which were, in part, instrumental in haying the feder- al parliament endorse an amend- ment to the Criminal Code last year granting the right to organ- ize. “Unfortunately,” the report points out, “the bill as it stands is of little value unless the govern- ments of the various provinces en- act similar legislation.” However, the council has strong hopes that the Manitoba govern- ment will adopt such a bill at the coming session. After outlining how the council organized citizen groups to support the provincial bill last year and how it was de- feated by. only a few votes, the report states: “We are pressing again this year for the passage of the same bill, and on Dec. 14, 1939, a joint com- mittee of the trades council, head- ed by J .B. Graham, and the run- ning trades, headed by A. S: Mc- Kechnie, presented the legislative program to Premier Bracken and members of his cabinet. They re- ceived a very good hearing and all points were gone into thoroughly in a six-hour interview. “Details of this program will be discussed further with the vari- ous cabinet ministers before the house opens, and included in the desired legislation is the right to organize bill; and we expect it to pass at the coming session.” Eleven Strikes Last Month OTTAWA, Ont. — A federal la- bor department report released this week stated that there were eleven strikes and lockouts during Dec., 1939, involving 1570 workers with time loss of 20,679 man work- ing days. Number of strikes and lockouts the previous month was fifteen, involving 5088 workers with time loss of 37,381 days, while the Dec., 1938, total was eight, involving 267 workers with time loss of 2230 days . Sydney Elects Union Candidate SYDNEY, NS. — Labor and pro- gressive forces here are elated over election of Norman McKenzie, president of the Steel Workers union here, to the council in the recent civic elections, despite at- tempts to sidetrack the main ques- tions of taxation and civic prog- ress by a vicious red-baiting cam- Ppaign. Mayor Slavin won re-election by 1676 majority over Sid Mugegah, tool of Dosco, which for years has evaded paying its just share of taxation and which now is reaping tremendous wartime profits. wedish Count Recruits Fliers For Mannerheim In NY Count Bernadotte Was Once Groomed For Baltic King By ERNEST MOORER NEW YORK, NY.—Deep in the plush-carpeted grandeur of a suite of Wall Street offices, the nephew of the King of Sweden, who is also husband of a House of Morgan heiress, is negotiating for American aviators to fight for White Guard Finland. The man is Count Follke Bernadotte, whose uncle is King Gustav of Sweden, whose wife is the former Estelle Manville, of the John-Manville asbestos millions, and who himself was once the aspirant to the throne of a ‘United Baltic Kingdom,’ a White Guard dream of a combination of the three Baltie states into a unified anti-Soviet base. The Count’s role as recruiting agent for the Mannerheim forces was established through two direct interviews conducted with him in his palatial office in the Bank of Manhattan com- pany at 40 Wall Street. The Count frankly admitted that “publicity would be fatal to us at this stage.” I presented myself as an aviator, and negotiataed with him for 30 minutes during which he discussed recruiting me as a flier for Mannerheim at a stipulated salary of $750 a month. About two weeks ago an anony- mous telephone call gave Art Shields, well-known labor news- paperman, this tip: “I have learned that a Baron von Bleixon, a Finnish White Guard agent, is doing recruiting for Gen- eral Mannerheim and that word is being spread among aviators and around airports here. Recruits are to be taken by Clipper Plane to Europe. The Baron is.taking care of the passports.” Shields called the Baron and asked for instructions. Von Bleizon told him to go to the fourth floor of the Bank of Manhattan at 40 Wall Street and ask for Count Bernadotte. This was what Art did. : Art presented himself as a free- lance newspaper man. The Count was uneasy. “First of all,” he said, “I dont know that We can send aviators to Finland. “Publicity would be fatal at this Stage,” the Count said. He asked the Count what he thought about the military situa- tion. The Count was gloomy. The si- tuation was no good, he said. “The Finns (meaning, of course, the Fin- nish White Guard) are good fight- ers. The papers say that they cap- fured 25,000 Russians.” He shrugged his shoulders. ‘They have to capture 250,000—they hhaye to capture two million Russians.” He shrugged again. “And still the Rus- Slans come,” he said with a heavy sigh. Plans Are Di “And your terms?” he asked. “The same terms that my agent made to you,” I said. “Seven hun- dred and fifty dollars a month.” He nodded his head in assent. “Now as to a satisfactory prin- cipal in whose name to conclude a contract,” he said. “I don’t sup- pose the Finnish minister could sign such a contract. I am going to see the Finnish minister to- morrow.” The remark was so Bren octerous that it took me by surprise. The idea that the Finnish minister might haye gall enough to take part in such a.business in neutrai America was amazing. “I would be perfectly satisfied with a contract signed between the Finnish minister and myself,” I said, but added that such con- tracts were usually drawn in the name of financially responsible in- dividuals, “Yes,” he said, “arrangements will have to be made for a princi- pal to the contract.” The matter was left hanging there with the understanding that at a second meeting I would be presented with a contract drawn in the name of a person who would be “‘satisfac- tory to you.” The interview was drawing to a close, but still the matter of pass- “Finland,” he said with almost heated emphasis, ‘is the key to the whole war.” He did not say whose war, but into that sen- tence he packed the 22-year-old dream of the White Guards and counter-revolutionaries to Over- throw and crush the world’s first Socialist Republic. : I was presented to the Count as a flier with this kind of experi- ence who had just arrived from Mexico where I had been flying for an oil promoter. The interview got off to a busi- ness-like start. “You want to go to Finland to fight?” the Count asked. “Yes,” I said, “provided, of course, that satisfactory financial arrangements are made.” “And what about your experi- ence?” he asked. ZT ran through a story about fighting in the Chaco. The Count was satisfied. “Now about financial arrange- ments,” he said. « “I suppose you want Some sort of contract.” “I certainly would,” I replied. “There are difficulties,” he said, “legal difficulties about signing a contract on this side. Wouldn’t it be just as good if arrangements were completed over there?” “Wot for me it wouldn’t,” I said. “I will have to have a contract Signed here between myself and 4 responsible principal and payable in American dollars over there.” iscussed ports had not come up. I wanted him to be the first to broach the subject of passports. Just then he came out with it. “You are an American citiben,” he asked. “Yes,” I replied. “And you will be able to provide yourself with a passport?” “I never have anything to do with passports,” I said. ‘“That’s your problem.” The Count was lost in thought for a few moments. He murmured remarks like “We'll have to look into that—it presents many diffi- culties—we'll have to see what we ean do...” I volunteered that, while I didn’t know much about it, I understood that journalistic passports for newspapermen going abroad could be had. “That's a good idea,” he said and he brightened perceptibly. “Well, gentlemen,” he said, “I suppose that’s as far as we can fo for the present.” We made oun farevfells with the understanding that as soon as the Count could arrange for a satis- factory party to the contract and, by inference, as soon as arrange- ments could be made for a pass- port, we would meet again and close the deal. Big Business Link Here in the stronghold of fin- ance capitalism we find the meeting of the interests of Wall Street and a wornout Royal house in the common aim of at- tacking, as they did before in 1919 through 1922, the first worlk- ers republic. This story would not be complete if it did not trace the merger of these power- ful groups. Bernadotte is the ideal man for his role. As a foreign agent he springs from a long line of foreign agents. He is the great-grandson of Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, one of Napoleon’s generals who wan- gled and connived his way to the Swedish throne as Charles XIV as a result of the Napoleonic wars. The original Bernadotte was a Frenchman and ruled Sweden as a foreign militarist would be ex- pected to, ruthlessly crushing every expression of the resentment of the Swedish people to his re- gime. Since his father, Prince Gecar married a commoner and was forced to renounce his right to the throne, Count Folke Bernadotte was forced to seek his fortune in matrimony with an American heir- ess. Be it said to his credit that he did uncommonly well. In 1928 he walked to the altar with Estelle Manville of the $200,000,000 asbes- tos fortune under an arch of swords of the Swedish Horse Guards. Other events a few days earlier showed that Bernadotte was really being ‘taken into the family.’ Qn Nov. 27, 1928, the papers an- nounced that the Count was the guest of George Whitney at the stock exchange. is a Morgan partner whose brother, Richard, is now in Sing Sing, Later that same day, according to the society columns, the Count was the luncheon guest of J, P. Morgan, who shortly before had acquired 400,000 of 750,000 out- standing Johns-Manville shares. Former President and Mrs. Hoo- ver gave the couple the official White House welcome while they were honeymooning. George Whitney~ ™