FINLAND STILL READY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 162, 20 May 1940, Page 7

FINLAND STILL READY

BUILD NEW LINE ARMY RECRUITED Proposals to build three newtowns to be called Viborg, Hangoe, -and Scrtavia. to replace those ceded to Russia, arc being discussed in 'Finland, according to messages reach ing Stockholm. It is also reported that two more Ministers, Mr J K. Paasikivi (without portfolio) and M. R. Ficandt (Supply), who .ioiiicd the Cabinet after the outbreak of the war, have resigned owing to the harshness of the peace with Russia. The treaty, according to the Paris Soir, was only signed after the German Minister in Helsinki had informed the Finnish Government that Germany would intervene with all her forces if it were not signed. In the meantime there is no question of the Finnish Army being demobilised. Eighteen year old recruits are still being enrolled, and it is apparently the intention, once tlje armj 7 is withdrawn from the •Ceded territory, to construct a new Mannerheim Line. Sweden, also, is looking to her defences. A volunteer home defence corps, in which men from 16 years ■upwards would be enrolled, is in•■cluded in the plans. Thousands of Swedish motor cars, "buses and lorries were sent to Finland to help in evacuating the population oif the lost towns. A Danish Communist ,found guilty of spying for Russia, is 'reported to have been shot at the Danish volunteers' camp in Finland.