HURRIED EXODUS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 December 1939, Page 6

HURRIED EXODUS

FROM FINNISH TOWNS & CITIES EXPECTATION OF MASSED AIR ATTACKS. DEFENDING FORCE SMALL BUT GALLANT. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) HELSINKI, December 3. The British Legation has advised British subjects to leave Finland today. Hundreds of thousands of people are streaming out of cities and towns in Southern Finland as the result of a Government order for immediate evacuation, which it is hoped to complete today. The exodus began overnight. Everyone not needed for the essential work of maintaining public security had been ordered to leave by last night. A total of 230,000 persons has departed from Helsinki. Householders were ordered before leaving to pour water inside and outside their dwellings and leave it to freeze, with the object of minimising the effect of incendiary bombs. The evacuation of Germans from Helsinki was completed this morning. Members of the Soviet Legation were also taken off in a German vessel. Helsinki is steeling itself for a new aerial attack, following upon the dropping of Russian leaflets yesterday, threatening that 800 planes would raze the city unless Finland capitulated. The people, however, are heartened by the excellent performances of Finland’s small but efficient Air Force, which has been augmented during the last few days by the arrival of 50 Italian planes ordered before the war. BULGARIAN VIEW PRESS SUPPORTS INVASION OF FINLAND. (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) SOFIA, December 3. The entire Bulgarian Press supports the Russian invasion. RUSSIAN CRUISER TAKEN INTO PORT DAMAGED. (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) STOCKHOLM, December 3. The Russian cruiser Kirov is reported to have put into Tallinn with the assistance of three tugs. The extent of the damage is not known.