GALLANT FINLAND

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 267, 4 December 1939, Page 3

GALLANT FINLAND

WILL NOT SURRENDER .'•••• . \ 'j-'V v, t . i HEAVY AIR-RAIDS/ ■ ' / MUCH DAAIAGE BONK l - . RAN) KBS' SU FF'ER, .1 .OSSKS NUMEROUS FIRES CAUSED LONDON, Dec, 1. Messages from Helsinki indicate that serious less of life, the dead being estimated to-day at up to ‘2OO, and extensive damage to property Ims been caused by air raids Avhieli have accompanies- the Russian invasion, of Finland. Although information regarding tho developments of the situation i.s scanty it Avculci appear that the Finnish Government lias been reformed on a Avider basis under Air. R-yte, rtbe governor of the Bank of Finland, 'lhe Finnish Legation in Loudon states that there is no (piestioit of Finnish surrender. J.| was claimed that the Russian advance had been stopped and there had been no landing from warships.

A great .squadron of Soviet- bombers raided Helsinki at 1.15 p.tn. r Phe raid lasted over an hour and a-lmlf Several planos'wero brought cloavu. Smoko rising from several parts ol the city indicated new fires. Alany Avooilen buildings Avore destroyed in the Avork-ing-class section. Tho buildings, burned included the German llindonburg school.

Helsinki last night avus a blaze of tires from the incendiary bombs which broke the total blackout. T'vonty buildings Avert* afire at midnight. All the.trains were jammed and a vast pilgrimage on foot avum in progress to the snow-covered Avoods. The main railway station is covered Avith Avomen and children preparing to evacuate. Government Officials Remaining The town of Wiipuri is also burning in several parts and air-raid sirens sounded at Turku. Finland’s second largest- city at the roar of high-flying planes was detected. 'Hu?, fires were still burning in Helsinki early this morning, but the Government. officials remained. 4 hey stated that no desicion had yet been made to evacuate the capital. The towns of Turku and Lahti Avcre also bombed, tour persons being killed. A daughter of the Finnish Alinistor, M. T.ceko'. aged 17 years, Avas among those injured in yesterday’s raids.