Hard-Pressed Finns Seek Aid From Allies

Northern Advocate, 19 February 1940, Page 6

Hard-Pressed Finns Seek Aid From Allies

('Received 2 p.m.) I HERSI\'GB()RS. February 18. THE FINNISH FORCES IN MINDINLAND CLAIM THAT, AFTER SEVERE FIGHTING ON AN ICY BATTLEFIELD, THEY HAVE BROKEN UP THE HUSSIAN 54th. DIVISION AND HAVE ALSO SEVERELY PUNISHED ANOTHER DIVISION. SOVIET LOSSES ARE ESTIMATED AT 6,000 KILLED AND 20,000 WOUNDED. 'The danger of a Finnish defeat is very great, says the diploma tie eorrespoiHiml of the " Manehester Guardian.” The help reaeliing Finland is not snffieient to prevent Russia and Germany from masteriny Northern Europe and gaining access to 1 lie X ort h At la ntie. The Russian objective says, the correspondent, is the Norwegian port el' Narvik. This suits the German objective, namely, the downfall of the ■British Empire. The help reaching Finland is not sufficient to prevent Russia and Germany frorft mastering Northern Europe and gaining access to the North Atlantic. The Russian objective, says the correspondent, is the Norwegian port of Narvik. This suits the German objective, namely, the downfall of the British Empire.

It is announced in Helsingfors that the Premier of Finland. M. Ryti, and the Foreign Minister, M. Tanner, are proceeding to London by air to seek immediate military aid. Norway Abstains The Russian announcement of successes comes simultaneously with a statement from the Norwegian Foreign Minister, M. Koht, that Finland cannot expect aid from Norway. The Stockholm correspondent of the Danish newspaper, “Politiken,” quoting reliable sources, states that M. Tanner conferred with the Swedish Prime Minister. M. Hamsson, and made it understood that Finland had a “concrete promise of Allied military aid. consisting of three divisions, of which one would be French Alpine Chasseurs.” Reports from Helsingfors state that Finland has already accepted the promised aid. A Paris report says a French Government spokesman said that France was sending Finland artillery, aeroplanes and a great number of anti-tank guns. Permission for foreign residents to leave France if they wished to fight for Finland, covered 1000 refugees. 67-Year-Old Commander. General Grandcourt. aged 67, who is a member of the Finnish Army Reserve. will command the Finnish Foreign Legion, says the Helsingfors correspondent of the British United Press. General Grandcourt enlisted as a private in the French Army at the outbreak of the war, but asked for his release in order to serve Finland. The Finnish position in the Mannerheim Line is regarded as most serious, says a report from Helsingfors. In the hope of gaining a respite, the Finns have bombed the railway on the Karelian Isthmus, leading from Leningrad, and set fire to several stations. The farthest point which the Russians have reached is believed to be about five miles from the outside edge of the line, which varies in depth from 10 to 20 miles. Finnish fighters and bombers are going ceaselessly over the Russian lines, which are guarded by about 200 Russian fighting aircraft. The pressure on the Finnish line to the north east of the isthmus is said today to have eased slightly. Call to Troops A stirring call which brings to mind Earl Haig's ““backs to the wall” message of the Great War was issued last night by Marshal Mannerheim, Com-mander-in-Chief of the Finnish Forces, to his hard-pressed troops on the Karelian isthmus. He told his men they must carry on in face of terrific odds in the new position to which they have withdrawn, and called on them to defendthe new line with such determination that the enemy forces would be exhausted. Marshal Mannerheim added that they were not fighting alone. Foreign help had arrived, and more was on the way. He concluded his message by saying: “The situation as it is developing offers us every prospect of success.”