FINLAND'S DEFEAT

Grey River Argus, 15 March 1940, Page 7

FINLAND'S DEFEAT

■ FORESEEN FROM FEBRUARY 21 Foreign Minister’s Review TRIBUTE TO SOLDIERS [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] HELSINKI. March 1.3. The Finnish Foreign Minister, M. Tanner, revealed that the Finnish Government got in contact with the Soviet about a fortnight before the Finnish delegation went to Moscow on March G. The Soviet’s peace terms, he said, were much heavier than their original peace offer, and much heavier than their demands last autumn.

M. Tanner said: Finland’s new frontier approximates the line fixed during the reign of Peter the Great. We were not prepared for this war, because we trusted in treaties. We also had certain guarantees from other quarters. We asked for help from Sweden, who was in the best position to give aid, but Sweden did not find it possible to do so. We received some help in the form of arms and money, and humanitarian help. Our army did well. It fought with all its might. I will not use the commonplace words “heroes” but will say that they fought like men. We achieved many great victories and only on the main frontier were we forced to withdraw a little. There will not be any political changes in the Finnish Government, and there is no question of the Soviet’s Puppet, the so-called People’s Government, being imposed on the Finns. Mannerheim s Lament LAST ORDER TO FORCES. (Received March 14, 9.5 p.m.) HELSINKI, March 14. Field-Marshal Mannerheim, in his last order of the day, paid a tribute to the 15,000 of Finland’s men who would never return to their homes. He said that the help which the Western Powers had promised had not arrived, because Sweden and Norway were looking after their own house rather than allow the transit of such help for Finland. Field-Marsha* Mannerheim pointed out that only two battalions of volunters, some artillery, anti-aircraft guns, and planes had been able to arrive in Finland in time to fight alongside of the Finns. He added that it was extremely hard to give up this land which the Finns had possessed for centuries to a foreign race with an entirely different culture and entirely different morals; “but,” he said, “we must do our best with what is left.”

Final Fighting RED ARMY HURLED BACK (Received March 14, 5.5 p.m.) HELSINKI, March 13. Finland’s last war communique revealed that the Finnish troops were hurling back the Russian attackers to the bitter end. CAPTURE OF VIBORG. SOVIET’S FINAL CLAIM. (Received March’l4, 9.15 p.m.) MOSCOW, March 14. The Soviet’s last war communique claims that Wiipuri was captured five hours before the armistice. FINLAND’S NEW DEFENCES. (Received March 14, 9.10 p.m.) HELSINKI. March 14The Finnish Foreign Minister. M. Tanner, replying to a question as to whether the new Finnish frontiers could be defended, said: “Our military experts advise that any .of the frontiers could be defended. The railway across Finland, from Kandalaksha to Sweden, will remain entirely Finnish.”