SOVIET TROOPS ON FRONTIER

Southland Times, Issue 23947, 13 October 1939, Page 7

SOVIET TROOPS ON FRONTIER

Finland Menaced By Tanks And Guns

EXODUS OF CIVILIANS FROM CAPITAL

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) HELSINKI, October 11.

The former Polish Ambassador to Moscow, arriving at Helsinki, declared that a division of Soviet troops and a large number of tanks and heavy artillery were massed on the Soviet-Fin-nish frontier. They were reported to extend eastward to.a point about 30 miles from Petsamo.

It is expected that 124,000 people, including 64,000 children, will be removed from the capital on Thursday. Machine-guns and anti-aircraft guns are mounted on all the large squares and on roof-tops. The population is calm.

The President of Finland (M. Kyosti Kallio) has issued a warning that the Finns are prepared for all eventualities. Steamers going to Stockholm are overcrowded and trains are crammed with refugees. There are large queues outside the savings bank. The newspapers point out that aeroplanes from the Soviet bases in Estonia could reach Helsingfors in 15 minutes.

A Moscow cable says that the Finish delegation has arrived. It was met by Soviet officials and the Finnish and Scandinavian Ambassadors. The United Press correspondent at Washington learns that Sweden, Norway and Finland have suggested to the United States that joint overtures should be made to Russia against any immoderate dealings with Finland. The Rome radio reports that Finland is ready to make concessions provided she is given equal concessions in the Karelian Republic. LITHUANIA CELEBRATES A message from Kaunas says that all the buildings in Lithuania’s capital are beflagged to celebrate the return of Vilna, which was seized by Poland. Mass demonstrations and military parades are being held in Kaunas. There is rejoicing throughout the country. Lithuania is confident that the Western Powers will recognize the return of Vilna, as the League of Nations several times condemned the Polish seizure of it. The Hague Court also recognized Lithuania’s right in 1931. A consignment of 17| tons of gold from Moscow passed through Lithuania by rail for Berlin, apparently under the obligations of the recent GermanSoviet economic agreement, says a Riga cable.