NO ALTERNATIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1940, Page 6

NO ALTERNATIVE

FINLAND IN DESPERATE STRAITS

SERIOUS ECONOMIC LOSSES IN PROSPECT.

BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT.

By Telegraph—Prtfts Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) HELSINKI. March 14. The seriousness of the military situation is gradually becoming known and it is increasingly apparent that Finland had no alternative but to make peace. It is understood that 15,000 soldiers were seriously injured in February alone, in addition to the 15,000 dead mentioned by Marshal Mannerheim. The Russians made such progress across the ice that the coastal batteries east of Helsinki actually went into action. The snow, for which everybody, in Finland had been praying, began to fall today, too late to save the country. The economic consequences of the peace terms are serious. Some 20 per cent of Finland's exports went from Viborg and 10 per cent from Hanko. The Russians take over a large number of important wood pulp factories and sawmills. President Kallio, in a five minute broadcast, said Finland would fight her battle alone. He paid a tribute to the army’s and Mashal. Mannerheim’s great fight against overwhelming odds and said Finland must now devote herself to reconstruction, "in which we hope for the support of civilised nations, but above all we must rely on ourselves.” He concluded by expressing a deep hope for final peace and prosperity. President Kallio declared that a defensive alliance with Norway and Sweden was inescapably necessary.

NORWAY & SWEDEN READY TO CONFER. ON NORTHERN DEFENSIVE ALLIANCE. LONDON, March 15. Both Norway and Sweden have announced their readiness to discuss a defensive alliance with Finland. In Stockholm it is expected that the three States will confer as soon as the Finns have withdrawn their troops to the new frontiers. Denmark is not expected to have any part in the alliance. An Oslo .message states that the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Mr Koht, stated that the Government had replied affirmatively to Finland’s question whether it would consider the possibility of a defensive alliance between Norway. Finland and Sweden. SWEDEN AGREES (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) STOCKHOLM, March 14. The Foreign Office stated that Sweden had agreed to join a triple alliance. It is reported that a military and diplomatic conference of the three Powers is being summoned as soon as Finland has settled her now frontiers and signed the final peace documents.

SAD EXODUS FINNS LEAVE CEDED AREAS. I NONE WISH TO LIVE UNDER BOLSHEVIKS. (Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) HELSINKI, March 14. A hundred thousand men, women and children have started on foot and by car, lorry and train to cross the new boundaries to strange homes in what remains of their fatherland. Their homes are now in Russia, but none wished to live under Bolshevik rule. They took their cattle, pigs, horses and such belongings as they could gather. The Government faces a tremendous task of attempting to move as much property as possible and find new and; permanent homes and livelihoods for; 470,000 people evacuated from the ceded areas. Most are already evacuated owing to the-war. A further 140,000 people must return to their homes when bomb damage has been repaired. Sixty thousand cattle must also be moved from the Lake Ladoga region and the Isthmus. IVI. Koivisto, the Minister organising the evacuation, said the Government will try to keep neighbours’ communities together, but grave social problems are ahead. All available rolling stock is going to SouthEast Finland. All cars have been requisitioned and all drivers called up. The Army moves back 41 miles daily.