FINLAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 55, 5 March 1918, Page 5

FINLAND

> A ALAND 1 ISLAND'S TO BE OCCUPIED'. PROTEST FROM SWEDEN. (Reuter's /Telegrams,' STOCKHOLM, 'March 4. Germany officiallv informed Sweden that she was sending troops to Finland at. the request of the Finnish Government t-o suppress- the revolution. The German troops will use, as a halting place, th© Aaland Island' (a,n archipelago at the e ntrance of the Gulf of Bothnia, about 25 mMes from the coast of Sweden and 15 miles from that of Finland, constituting a position of the greatest strategic importance commanding iboth the entrance to the port of Stockholm and th 6 approaches, to- the Gulf of Bothnia. Germany- assures Sweden that she has no territorial interest in the Aalands, and recognises Sweden's vital interest 5 therein. Sweden, in reply, strongly objects to the eventful inclusion of the Aalands in the sphere of war operations, _ and emphasises that even 'limited utilisation according t-o German * conditions might create difficulties in the way of Sweden's humanitarian "work of protection of tne population of the islands. The Swedish commander . at the Aalands has 'been informed that he must expect the arrival of a German expedition.

GERMAN NAVAIL MOVEMENTS.

(Australian aad N.Z. Cable Association) STOCKHOLM. March 3. A large German squadron passed Gothland (Sweden) on Saturday, steering in a northerly'direction. 'COPENHAGEN, March 4. The t*erman scmadroiv which passed Gothland is apparently transporting troops to the Alaand Islands, where the transports, protected by cruisers and destroyers, disembarked on Saturday. There is great excitement in Sweden at these developments.

TERRIBLE FAMINE AT HELSINGFORS.

lAustraliaa and N.Z. Cable Association) STOiOKHOIJM, March 4. There is a terrible famine at Helsingfors (the capital of Finland). The last bread ration was 'distributed' yesterday. The Premier is to resign.