REPORTED ULTIMATUM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 45, 2 December 1939, Page 5

REPORTED ULTIMATUM

V DEMAND FOR CAPITULATION. LIGHTNING CAMPAIGN PLANNED. LONDON!, December 1. Russia is reported, to have sent an ultimatum to Finland, demanding complete capitulation by 3 a.m. to-day, otherwise Helsinki and all larger towns would bo rased.

News of the ultimatum was reported first, without confirmation, from Copenhagen, and later confirmed by the Moscow radio. However, the Helsinki correspondent of the British United Press reports that the so-called ultimatum, hour, 3 a.m., passed without incident.

The Finns assert that no ultimatum was* delivered.

An unofficial report from Moscow do. dares that the Soviet is relying on a lightning campaign to subdue Finland before the Gulf of Finland freezes and jeopardises naval activity. Serious difficulties are expected for Russia in south-eastern Europe and she wishes to settle her Baltic problems first, so she can attend to the Balkans.

Finland can muster slightly, more, than 250,000 men to counter more than 18,000,00 available' to Russia. Moreover, Finland has little hope of assistance from the outside world, sandwiched as she is between Russia and the Scandinavian nations. It is not known whether tho Russian attacks are simply designed to cover the seizure of the disputed territories, after which there will bn an offer of a negotiated peace, or whether Russia is l determined to break Finland’s defences.