HELSINKI EMPTIED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 December 1939, Page 5

HELSINKI EMPTIED

GERMANS VERY UNWILLING TO GO * PREPARED TO BE BOMBED. RATHER THAN RETURN TO REICH. LONDON. December 3. It was estimated yesterday that a total of 230,000 people have departed from Helsinki (of which the population in the 1930 census was 241.115). The British Legation advised British subjects to leave Finland today. The evacuation of Germans from Helsinki was completed this morning. The members of the Soviet Legation were also taken off in a German vessel. ‘■The Times” representative reports from Helsinki that the departure of the German refugee ship Donan is delayed owing to a refusal by two-thirds of the German colony to be repatriated. “The Times" comments that they prefer to remain in Europe’s most dangerous city rather than return to Germany. A later message stated that the Donau departed from Helsinki with 700 Germans. 40 members of the Russian Embassy, 150 Italians, and 100 Esthonians. The American colony is going to Sweden tomorrow. According to a Stockholm message broadcast by Daventry last night, some hundreds of Germans stated that they would prefer to remain and be bombed by the Russians than herded back to the Reich like the Germans of other Baltic States. It was stated that about '3OO had agreed to go. but the German Legation staff was trying vainly to persuade the remaining GOO to board the Donau. DONAU DEPARTS FOUR HUNDRED GERMANS ON BOARD. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON. December 1. A message from Berlin states that lhe Donau departed from Helsinki for Reval, carrying 400 Germans, 72 Italian and CO Russian members of Lega- , tion staffs,