Evening star., 1939-11-27
Workers Join in
Urging Blow at
Finland
By the Associated Press.

MOSCOW, Nov 27.-Soviet Rus
sian troops in mass meetings fol-
lowing a border incident yester-
day in which Finnish artillery al
legedly killed or wounded 13 Red
Army soldiers, today urged the gov
ernment to adopt strictest meas
ures.'
The meetings we're held as Moscow
awaited an answer to an ultimatum-
like note in which Russia demanded
that Finland withdraw her border
garrisons to prevent a repetition.
Th> press campaign against Fin
land was Strikinglv similar to that
which preceded the invasion of Po-
land, and no mention was made in
the newspapers or over the radio of
the denial issued in Helsinki that
Firms had fired on the Russians.
The press was filled with stock
resolutions rushed through mass
meetings of workers on night shifts,
urging among other things in de-
nunciations of Finland that the So
Wet Union reply with triple blow"
Soviet Demand Reiterated.
They reiterated the Soviet Unions
demand that the Firms withdraw
their troops from the frontier,
stating that otherwise I'VE will throw
them out"
Soma warned that if the Firms
were unyielding Eve will repeat the
lesson given to Polish pans Qand-
lords)."
Finnish leaders were accused of
fulfilling orders of their imperial
istic masters rs"-presumably Great
Britain and France
Troops in the Moscow district
adopted resolutions declaring There
is a limit to patience" and request
ing the government to bride
provocateurs of war
Ten days were enough to conquer
Poland" the resolutions sternly re-
minded Finland, (which was left
facing the dubious alternative Of
complying with the Russian de-
mand or risking the wrath of the
mighty neighbor whose proposals
for territorial concessions she has
sternly resisted.
Some Moscow factory workers
were also reported to have met and
adopted resolutions expressing indig-
nation against Finland, which was
accused Of trying to provoke war.
Similar meetings of workers and
farmers were reported elsewhere.
Note Delivered to Envoy.
The Russian note was delivered
last night to the Finnish Minister.
Baron Aarno Yrjo-Koskinen. a few
hours after the incident in which,
Russia charged, four Red soldiers
were killed and nine wounded. =
While asserting that Russia was
mot inclined to magnify this abonii-
nable act of attack" the note. de-,
manded that Finland withdraw her
troops without delay" a distance of
II to 16 miles from the Soviet from
tier on the Karelian Isthmus.
Continued troop concentration at
this point, the note said, mot only
creates a menace to Leningrad, but
is in fact hostile act against the
U. S. S. R."
The Finnish border on the
Karelian Isthmus, which lies be-
tween the Gulf of Finland and Lake
Ladoga, is only about 80 miles from
Leningrad.
The Russian note, which was
signed by Premier-Foreign Com
missar Vyacheslaff Molotoff and
handed over to representative of
the Finnish Legation at a midnight
conference, charged that Finnish
artillery suddenly fired on Soviet
troops stationed near the border
village of Manila at 3:45 pm. yes
terday.
Seven cannon shots were fired in
all, the note declared. 1t added
that Soviet troops, having strict
orders not to yield at any provoca-
ton, refrained from returning the
fire"
May Provide Spark.
Foreign observers were unable to
agree on Moscow's intentions, but
they expressed belief that the alleged
BORDER incident" might easily pro-
vide the spark" which could set
Russia in motion to compel Fin
lands compliance with territorial
demands.
Withdrawal of Finnish troops on
the Karelian Isthmus, observers
pointed out, would mean virtual sur
render of frontier Notifications in
this area. Such move. they said,
also would be the first step toward
granting one OF Russia's S most insist
ent demands in her long dispute
with Finland over borders and mill
tary concessions.
Only few hours before the al
legged incident was reported, the
newspaper Pravda, Communist
party organ, loosed a bitter and
threatening attack upon the Fin
nish Premier, whom it urged to con-
slider the fate of the Polish jack