FINLAND OVERWHELMED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1939, Page 5

FINLAND OVERWHELMED

PITILESS RUSSIAN ONSLAUGHT

NEW GOVERNMENT FORMED AND ARMISTICE SOUGHT

Capitulation Demand Reported But Not Confirmed

NEGOTIATIONS FOR A TRUCE ANTICIPATED

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, December I. After further bombing raids, causing much damage and loss of life in Helsinki and other centres last night, and action by artillery, infantry and navy, Russia is reported to have sent an ultimatum to Finland demanding complete capitulation by 3 o’clock this morning, otherwise Helsinki and all the larger towns would be razed. The news of the ultimatum was reported first without confirmation from Copenhagen, and later was confirmed by the Moscow Radio. However, the Helsinki correspondent of the British United Press reports that the so-called ultimatum hour of 3 a.m. passed without incident. Ihe Finns assert that no ultimatum was delivered.

Earlier the’ Finnish Government resigned. The Exchange Telegraph agency’s Helsinki representative says it is officially stated that an all-party Government is being formed. It is understood it will make contact with the Kremlin through the American Legation today. Meanwhile, according to the newspapers, further Russian raids are being withheld. M. Tanner, the Minister of Finance, who was one of the delegates in the recent Moscow negotiations, is the new Premier. Dr Kivimaeki, a former Premier, will be the Foreign Minister in the new Government, which is expected to resume negotiations today witli the Soviet, after arranging a truce. A London message reported that, the Finnish Government had empowered M. Tanner to endeavour to arrange an armistice before 3 a.m. on Friday. Parliament, unanimously voted support for the Government’s policy. The Finnish Radio declared that the invaders were repelled at most points and were prevented from advancing from the positions where they had gained a. fool hold. Two tanks were destroyed on the Karelian Isthmus. At least 80 were killed and .120 injured, all of them civilians, during the raids on Helsinki, the radio added. The first war communique states that all the Russian troops were halted in the afternoon. It was denied that Finnish troops had crossed the Russian frontier. The Moscow Radio had earlier declared that. Finnish soldiers crossed the frontier and attacked Soviet posts, whereupon the Red army was ordered Io advance and penetrated six miles. Moscow admitted that a state of war existed and that Helsinki had been bombed. During the morning it had made no announcement of the Russian invasion. Helsinki announced last night that, the majority of the reports confirm Russian occupation of the port of Terijoki, on the Karelian .Isthmus, ami the island of Seiskari. Some sources also state that Petsamo Peninsula in the Arctic is occupied and troops were landed at Hanko (in the Finnish Gulf) after an aerial bombardment. Russian war plant's carried the spearhead of‘the attack right to the Norwegian frontier, machine-gunning civilian transport. Five women and children who were caught thus struggled to safety across the frontier. Helsinki last, night was a. blaze of fires from incendiary bombs, which broke the total blackout. It is believed at least 200 have been killed. Further raids were made on oilier towns and a number of additional points. Parliament was summoned last night to hear a Government, statement, in which it was announced that, the Government was remaining in the capital to fight with the people.