File No. 861.00/1063
The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received midnight.]
1455. Have just received information by telephone from our representative at Finnish frontier at Torneå who reports Torneå captured by White Guard last evening between 5 and 6 o’clock; Russian soldiers disarmed by force, 100 Russian prisoners, 60 Russian soldiers escaped to Sweden; maximum casualties 50. White Guards numbering several thousand arrived secretly surprising Red Guard. All northern Finland suddenly well organized and equipped; two trains arrived this morning, first one bringing Rumanian Legation, second train ordinary train; also third train expected on which are American couriers who left Petrograd last Saturday. Passengers of first train were twelve days en route crossing territory of opposing parties. Reliable report that Viborg in hands of White Guard which is planning to cut connections between Finland and Petrograd and proceed against Helsingfors; unconfirmed reports this morning that all Allied missions expelled from Russia and already en route. This report also given me by Finnish railroad authorities at Torneå. Petrograd reported with [in] disorder, much shooting on streets and food stealing.