FINLAND’S PLIGHT

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21051, 1 March 1940, Page 7

FINLAND’S PLIGHT

URGENT NEED OF HELP 30,000 MEN WANTED DEBT OF FREE NATIONS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrigbt) (Received March 1, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 29 Increasing attention is being paid in the press to the position of the fighting on the Mannerheim Line, where the Finns are opposed by forty to one. The Daily Telegraph says that for friends of freedom all over the world the urgent question is whether the men and armaments required to strengthen the Finnish lines will arrive in time. The newspaper recalls that the estimated number of volunteers which Sweden could furnish would not exceed 10,000, and notes that its own correspondent in Finland puts the number required by Finland at a minimum of 30,000. Volunteers, it adds, are on their way from this country and from others, but many more are needed, and at once. Finland has done all that heroism could do to save herself by her own exertions, and every free nation owes her a debt for her example and her exposure of the menace of tyranny. There should be no delay in payment.

MENACE IN BALKANS

ITALY MAY ENTER WAR LITTLE HOPE OF PEACE KEY TO NATION’S SECURITY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) ROME, Feb. 28 Emphasising that it was his personal opinion, Signor Gayda, who is generally regarded as the mouthpiece of Signor Mussolini, in an interview today, said Italy would enter the

war if it spread to the Balkans. The reason was that the Danube, in addition to the Mediterranean, was a key to Italian security. The conflict of years between the Allies and Germany was so great now that he did not see a single factor making for peace. The end of the war was far distant. There might be a new factor which would open the way for some sort of mediation, but such a factor would arise only from the war itself—perhaps from its spread, perhaps from its failure to spread.

SOVIET SUCCESSES

SIX VILLAGES CAPTURED HUGE FORCE AT VIIPURI (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 1, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 29 A Russian communique states that the Soviet troops captured six villages, including Alasomme, which is less than four miles from Viipuri. It is estimated that the Russian forces confronting Viipuri number 175,000. The communique adds that the Soviet forces repulsed counterattacks and captured 42 fortifications.