FINNISH CRISIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 April 1940, Page 6

FINNISH CRISIS

UNABASIO AND UNAFRAID PEOPLE'S BRAVE STAND. HOW OUTBREAK OF WAR WAS RECEIVED. I was staying with a Finnish family on an island in the Archipelago outside Helsinki, write Paul Taylor in a London paper. We learnt the news of tlie war from the local shop, which was the meeting place for the inhabitants of the surrounding islands. My hosts accepted the news a little glumly and. sternly, but without the least sign of outward emotion. As usual we wandered down to the landing-stage, started up our motor-boats and made for our respective island homes. War seemed very far away, something in a dream that could not affect the people who lived so quietly in these beautiful forested islands. We continued our peaceful holiday life, bathing, boating, and basking in the sun. and the war was almost forgotten.

In the capital. Helsinki, as in the surrounding ‘country, life went on for the next few days much as usual. But soon apprehension and worry entered the minds of the people. Their thoughts, hopes, and energies had for mon (its been centred on one thing—the Olympic Games of 1940. These were to bring thousands of people to Finland who would see that Finland was not a backward country tucked away in the north, but a modern democracy with a standard of living and culture as high as any in the world. For many days the fate of the Olympic Games was discussed by everyone, and filled much of the space in the papers. .Soon this topic faded into the background. We began to feel personally the immediate effects of the war. Shortage'of petrol became serious. Private ears disappeared from the streets. Bus services were cut down, and lhe harbour. usually lull of chugging motor-boats, large and small, became still and silent. It was a real relict when the news came that an oil-tanker had arrived from Estonia that, would carry us on for some time. Next the coal shortage was fell. There was coal for three months, we were told. Shortage in coal meant restriction in heatin;.;. There was great personal discomfort. for lhe whole population of Helsinki. washed on Fridays and Saturdays.

As ir other countries, the outbreak of war brought a rush to (he grocers to buy ui> all available sugar. Thai caused rationing fur more severe than ours. Families had io cut 75 per cent of their sugar consumption. There was also a great rush for soap for the Finns, remembering the last war. when soap was an unheard of luxury, were determined to be armed for their weekly bath. But soap, sugar and baths —or rather the lack of them —were soon forgotten as I lie menace of war crept nearer. Russia was making her move towards the three Bailie States. The Finnish people assured me that there was nothing to worry about. Finland was one of lhe Scandinavian block and Russia would not intcrl'cre with her. If Russia should have any designs on Finland lie would surely wail until after winter. For Finland, wil.li its thousands of lakes and miles of forests, is a diliictilt country Io invade at any time. Bi.ll these hof."".: proved false, Secur-

iiy till after the winter was a myth. 'Moscow asked for a representative from Finland. The Finnish people were determined to show that they stood united behind their emissary. The Agrarian Government, they knew was slow to move and obstinately stubborn. .There was a fear that it might, plunge Finland in war before the vital questions had. even been discussed. The older people, who had fought, once against the "Reds." said that if the Government refused to negotiate it would be brave madness, ending in sell-crucifixion. All that they had worked for in the last. 20 years would be destroyed. But the Finns' hatred of Russia jind their memories of the bitterness and cruelty which Tsarism had brought to Finland are so poignant that the Finns are always inclined to treat with deep mistrust, any advances from the other side of the border. A Finnish sailor from the Aaland Islands expressed his country's attitude when ho said: "We only want to be free.”

And so Finland began to prepare with absolute calm. A nation which knew the suffering of many . wars, .which had been the fighting ground between Russian and Sweden for many years, and which had experienced lhe I horrors of modern civil war. prepared | itself for sacrifice. We saw the fine Fin- | nish troops, who claim to be the best fighting stock in the world, marching to the station. There was something sinister in lhe silence as they made their way in their high rubber boots through the cobbled streets. We saw members of the famous White Guard, each soldier well equipped, walking to their rendezvous in two and threes. Their wooden transport carts, wailing at the station, looked strangely out-of-date. Yet. they are a most feared unit, well versed in the difficulties of their native terrain. On the home front, as on the military, everything wont forward smoothly. There were no large posters, no orders in the streets, no frantic directions over the radio, but every Finnish family seemed lo know instinctively what to do, and how to do it, without unnecessary questions. Going about, their business with absolute confidence. I lie Finnish housewives prepared their families for evacuation. Within about five days of the beginning of tlie crisis lhe three large towns had been half evacuated and prepared against, air attack. The anti-aii'crall guns pointed all one way. towards Rus-

li loft with some of the first evacuees and just missed the first black-out. I was very sad to leave Finland and its hospitable people, and lo turn my back on a country that 1 had come to love, not. knowing' what its fate would be. A few weeks earlier 1 had met Finns who had Hod from our country to theiv own peaceful land, and now I in my turn was seeking the security of my own people.