THE FINNISH ARMISTICE

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24369, 22 September 1944, Page 5

THE FINNISH ARMISTICE

ADDITIONAL TERMS ANNOUNCED

future independence ASSURED

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 5.5 p.jn.)' LONDON. Sept. 20. The United Nations concerned in the armistice agreement eoneluded between Finland and Russia and Gieat Britain are Canada, South Africa, Australia. New Zealand, India, Czechoslovakia, and Bolivia. _ , “The terms do not differ much from those offered to Finland last year, says a British Official * Wireless message. “Since rejecting those terms Finland continued shortsightedly to provide aid and comfort to Russia’s enemies and even promised not to conclude a separate peace without German agreement. It is not surprising, therefore, that Russia has now insisted on rather stricter territorial guarantees .of land’s good behaviour. . “The settlement is much more than a cessation of hostilities, and the oasis is laid for future permanent relations between Russia and Finland. The Finns can now be assured that they are to retain independence subject to the maintenance of a close connexion with Russia. Asa guarantee that this indispensible connexion will be maintained Russia will possess a base for her armed forces in a strategic position at Porkkala." , , The Moscow radio has announced the full Finnish armistice terms, which differ in some respects from those released in Helsinki. Additional terms are; . , (1) Soviet and Allied prisoners and interned civilians are to be repatriated immediately, and Finnish prisoners and internees are to be repatriated. (2) Finland is to restore all the prewar rights of Allied subjects. (3) Finland is to co-operate with the Allies in the arrest' of war criminals. (4) Property taken from Russia by the Finns during the war is to be returned immediately. ' (5) Finland is to hand over German and Axis war equipment, including warships and merchant ships. _ (6) No German or Hungarian property is to be exported without permission from the Soviet commarM. (7) All Allied ships are to, be handed over immediately. (8) Finland is to place materials and products at; the Allies’ disposal for war. (9) Persons arrested .for Allied sympathies or for: working for the Allies are to be released-immediately, .and racial discriminations are to’ be abolished. . (10) Fascist political, military, and semi-military organisations are to be dissolved and not allowed in future. (11) An Allied Control Commission is to control the fulfilment of the terms. (12) The Aalarid Islands agreement of 1940 is to be restored. . ■

RUSSIANS FIGHTING IN FINLAND

OPERATIONS AGAINST GERMANS

LONDON. Sept. 20. According to reports received in Stockholm from Helsinki, Russian operations against the Germans in northern Finland are already under way. ••-•••v : --- The Germans are leaving.Fmland.ati many points as the Russians move in. 1 ; A German spokesman said that' Fin-; land was now an area of war, and in consequence the Germans would not hesitate to destroy villages and lay the country waste if this was necessary for the safety of the Germantroops. • The Official German News Agency, quoting a report from the German Alpine Army in Finland, says the Russians have crossed the Finnish border in several places.

AWARDS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS

SERVICE WITH FIJI FORCES

SUVA, Sept. 21. The King has approved the ing awards to members of the Fiji Military Forces: Distinguished Service Order Upton, Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Thomson.' • ‘ „ Military Cross Freeman, Major Richard Osbert. Korovulavula, Lieutenant Isireli. Mowatt, Lieutenant Dpnald Nelson. Neeve,' Hon-Lieutenant Herbert Henry. Distinguished Conduct Medal Setuata, Sergeant Peni, _ Military Medal Vakararawa, Private Jeke. Mate, Sergeant George. Bainivalu, Corporal Kalipate. Mentioned in Dispatches Scott. Temporary-Lieutenant Thomas Cuthbert. Tokaibai, Corporal Josef a. Griffen, Company Sergeant-Major (W.O. Second Class), Gordon Joseph. ; . Lewaya, Private Paula. Veisa, Lance-Corporal Sekove. Egan, Sergeant Patrick William. Peterson, Sergeant Phillip. Lieutenant-Colonel Upton, of Auckland, is a battalion commander with the Fijian Military Forces, which have begn in action with the Japanese on Bougainville and in the Solomon Islands. He was formerly on the staff of the “Star-Sun,” and before the war was with the Auckland “Star.”

JAPANESE RETREAT IN BURMA

FULL FLIGHT DOWN TIDDIM ROAD KANDY, Sept. 20. "The Japanese retreat down the Tiddim Road has become a rout,” says the correspondent of. the Associated Press in Burma. “Thrown into confusion by the speed with which 14th Army troops forced the crossing of the Manipur river, hundreds of Japanese are fleeing along the road behind a light screen of artillery. Large camps near the river, crowded with tired, half-starved survivors of the running fight, which had lasted 100 miles along the Tiddim road, had to be hastily evacuated.

“Beyond Tongzang—the last village before .reaching Tiddim —the fleeing Japanese are having to run the gauntlet of ambushes laid by Ibng-range penetration forces which have been behind the Japanese lines for many weeks. So serious have been the losses inflicted on the Japanese that they were compelled to use tanks to hold the road open." "On the Tiddim road troops of the sth Indian Division have reached the outskirts of Tongzang, the village from which Japanese artillery was shelling the Manipur river crossing,” states a south-east Asia communique. "Near Tiddim the enemy is using tanks to clear the escape route. Heavy bombers attacked railway yards in and around Mandalay, and fighters struck at Wanting on the Burma Road."

CIVIL DEFENCES IN BRITAIN

EARLY REDUCTION OF SERVICES

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LQNDON. S?pt. 21. It is pfflciglly stated thpt ft substantial reductipn will be made Qctoper 15 in the civil defence services in all areas of Great Britain, except In London and the east and south of England. The reductions in London and the east and south of England will be on a much more limited scale than elsewhere. The date for the changes in these areas has ppt been settled.