Invaders Demand Capitulation

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 287, 5 December 1939, Page 7

Invaders Demand Capitulation

ATTACK BY 800 PLANES NOTIFIED

EVACUATION OF SOUTHERN CITIES

[By Te.e»raph—Press Association— Copyright J Received Dee. 4, 7.35 p.m. LONDON, Dee. 3. Helsinki is steeling itself against a renewal of aerial attack following the dropping of Russian leaflets yesterday threatening that 800 planes would raze the city unless Finland capitulated. The people, however, have been heartened by the excellent performances of Finland’s small but efficient air force, which has been augmented in the last few days by the arrival of fifty Italian planes which were ordered before the war. The British Legation has advised Britishers to leave Finland to-day. Hundreds of thousands of people are streaming out of the cities and towns in southern Finland as a result of a Government, order for immediate evacuation, which it is hoped will be complete to-day. The exodus began overnight. Everyone who is not needed for essential work in maintaining public security was ordered to leave by last night. A total of 230,000 have departed from Helsinki. Householders were ordered before leaving to pour water inside and outside their dwellings and to leave it to freeze, with the object of minimising the effect of incendiary bombs. The evacuation of Germans from Helsinki was completed this morning. The members of the Soviet Legation were also taken off in a German vessel. Russians Being Held Up. Finnish resistance on all fronts is continuing, and they are holding up the Russians, particularly in the Karelian forest regions. The Finnish forest troops are doing very well with the new automatic rifles with which they were recently equipped, and their tank traps have also proved effective. Soviet losses in men, planes and tanks are reported to have been very heavy. The Soviet army made two further attempts io land attacking troops behind the Finn advanced positions by aeroplane, but on each occasion the soldiers were shot down or captured and disarmed before they could form up. The Soviet now admits that their advance has been held up. The official Moscow newspaper. Pravda, says that the Finns are resisting more and more on each front after they had recovered from the surprise of the initial attacks, and that the Soviet Air Force has been hampered in its operations by heavy snow. Latest reports indicate that the fighting on land has slackened considerably because of heavy falls of snow. The Finnish Social Democrat Party and the trade union organisation has issued a proclamation supporting the Ilyti Government, which “has the sole right to represent the Finnish people. If Russia does not recognise the desire of the Finnish working class for peace, there is nothing left for the workers except to fight against force.” says the proclamation. The Finnish Government has made a move toward peace, and a Note irom Finland has been handed to Russia through the Swedish Embassy in Moscow. In a statement the Finnish Government said that Cabinet had decided to endeavour to effect an amicable settlement without violating Finland's independence, but so far there has been no Russian reply. Capital Enjoys Respite. A blinding snowstorm, plus the presence, of the German refugee ship until the evening, apparently were responsible for the day-long absence of bombers from Helsinki. The churches, nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, abandoned their services. Schoolchildren have been given a vacation and allocated to evacuees, who continue to depart from all towns. An army communique to-night states that the Finns are holding a line on the Karelian Isthmus between Vammelsuu. Kivennapa. Rautu and Aletsapirtti, to which they strategically retired after the first onslaught. The Russians have occupied the unfortified islands of Seiskari ami Lavaeaari, and unsuccessfully attacked Hogland and Russaro, a port outside Hanko. Russia has lost 21 planes. The communique adds that the fronts were quiet to-day, except north of Lake Ladoga, where both sides were very active, the enemy suffering heavy losses in attempting to cross frozen lakes. They were easily seen and where the ice was thin it frequently broke. The newspaper Sanomat says that about a thousand Russians were killed at Terjoki. when landmines exploded. The Finns filled up trapped tanks with inflammable materia), setting them on fire. Six Finnish divisions continue to hold I’etsamo. The Russians iinsuccesst’ully tried to land troops in Betsamo Fjiord from ships. br Moscow newspaper Pravda admits that the Finns arc resisting more strongly and pays a tribute t.o the effectiveness of the mines and sniper posts concealed before the initial retreat. lhe Russians claim advances from Lhtnaeg, which is in the same latitude as I b aborg. representing an effort to cut Finland’s “waistline.” Moscow .> Red Army has been ordered to secure victory by Decembei 21. Stalin's sixtieth birthday. French military circles express the opinion that the Russian advances are small, namely 12 miles on the Karelian Isthmus ami just over three miles north of Lake Ladoga. A Red Army communique claims advances on all fronts. It says: “We occupied the islands of Hogland, Seiskaari and Lavansaari.” Germans Refuse Repatriation. The Tinies Stockholm representative reports from Helsinki that the departure of the German refugee ship Donau was delayed owing to the refusal of two-thirds of the German colony to be repatriated. The Times comments: “They prefer to remain in Europe's most dangerous city rather than return to Germany.” The Times’ Stockholm correspondent says that the former Finnish Foreign Minister M. Erkko, has been appointed Charge d’Affaires at Stockholm. The Donau departed from Helsinki with 700 Germans, 40 members of the Russian Embassy. 150 Italians and 100 Estonians. The American colony is going to Sweden to-morrow. The Press Association understands that M. Maisky is not going to Geneva for the League of Nations meeting on December 5. The latest report from Helsinki states that the position is whanged. Russia has not replied to M. Ryti’s overtures.