FALL OF VIBORG

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 227, 22 June 1944, Page 5

FALL OF VIBORG

Russians Press On At Brisk Speed

70 MILES IN 10 DAYS (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (.Received June 21, 7 pm.) LONDON, June 20. The Russians have captured Viborg. Marshal Stalin, in an order of the day addressed to Marshal Govorov, say’s: "The forces on the Leningrad fiont, developing their offensive, ovei the outer and inner defences of \ iboi= and today carried by assault the fortress and town of Viborg. lhe units and formations which particularly dis tlnguished themselves will assume the name Viborg. Moscow tomorrow will salute troops with 20 salvoes from 22 “In“addition to Viborg, we have .captured 60 other populated places, mclud ing Nuoraa. Ylasiinio, and Mauikkala, respectively three miles south, six miles south-east and six miles north-east of Viborg,” says a Moscow communique. “We have also captured seven railway cintions including Kaislaliti, which is light“miles south-of Viborg. There were no changes on other sectors of the fiont. “° A Russian supplementary communique states that street fighting Preceded the fall of Viborg. Many prisoners were taken and also much booty, including a large number of guns. Swedish commentators say that the fall of Viborg may be a prelude to Finland’s capitulation, reports a Stock holm message. They recall that in th. Russo-Finnish war of 1939-40, the capture of Viborg led to Finland s surrender. „ Coastal Defences Collapse.

The Associated Press correspondent in Moscow reports that in the attack on Viborg big guns poured salvoes into tne outer defences. The Finns coastal defences along the Gulf of V iborg have C °The S ßussian salvoes are threatening to cut off large numbers of the defenders on the little peninsula south of the city. According to “Red Star ” the Finns’ position is extremely critical. They 'ar hopelessly outnumbered by the Soviet forces. Soviet mobile units are. spreading chaos in the Finns’ rear, cutting com munications and demolishing ammunition; J u “ i ps t h e jq ( ] ays o f the Karelian offensive, the Russians have advanced 70 miles and broken through several belts of fortmcations. ~ “It is impossible to move up the Karelian T tamus without being overwhelmed by the evidence of the terrible fate which the Finns have brought on themselves,states the “Daily Express” correspondent with the Red Army on the road to Viborg. A Red Army colonel said :' It- is a war of extermination, and the only Finns I see are dead ones lying in the ruins of their fortifications, which the Russian artillery has smashed.” American Equipment.

Thousands of American trucks are bearing Russian troops to Finland, adds the correspondent. The prisoners are reported to be amazed at. the amount of American equipment which they are seeing, because they understood from their own Government that the United States was only lukewarm in its support of Russia. , . Red Army artillerymen say that the Finnish artillery is quite inadequate.. I have seen guns captured from the Finns bearing the date 1938—but they were of 1902 model,” says the correspondent. “The Russians completely rule the air. All day long I have not seen a single Finnish plane, and within five minutes I counted 90 Russian bombers and fighters flying high toward Viborg, while Stormoviks were constantly over the Finnish lineS ” LONDON, June 21. Russian troops are now fighting six miles beyond Viborg, according to reports from Moscow. The Finnish radio has issued a warning that all civilians possible should leave the capital, Helsinki, in view of the Russian drive.

TO NEGOTIATE PEACE New Finnish Cabinet Expected (Received June 21, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 20. As Marshal Govorov’s entire force converged on Viborg, reports from 1 inland stated that a new Finnish Government, which will negotiate peace with Russia, is expected to be formed today, says Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent. The new Government will be under the leadership of one of Finland’s most prominent personalities. Among the changes forecast in the Finnish Cabinet is the replacement of the present Prime Minister, M. Linkomies, by M. Paasikivi, who recently unsuccessfully conducted peace negotiations with Russia. The Minister of Finance, M. Tanner, is also expected to go. The “Daily Mail’s” Stockholm correspondent says that M. Georg Gripenberg, who was for many years Minister in Londbn, and who is now accredited to Stockholm, will be the new Foreign Minister. He has returned to Stockholm after a hurried visit to General Mannerheim, who acquainted him of Finland’s immediate political plans. Gripenberg agreed to serve under Paasikivi. The other members of the new Cabinet will be drawn from those who openly broached the subject of a separate peace last year, chiefly Democrats.