FINNISH WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20123, 18 December 1939, Page 5

FINNISH WAR

RIVAL VERSIONS DEFENDERS’ CLAIM ADVANCES REPULSED HEAVY SOVIET LOSSES HOSPITALS OVERFLOWING TRUCE APPEAL IGNORED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) 4 (Reed. Dec. 18. 11 a.m.) LONDON. Dec. 17. A Helsinki message states that, a night communique reports that all Russian advances were repulsed except in the Petsamo district, from which the Finnish troops have been withdrawn. Fourteen tanks were destroyed in a new attack on the Karelian Isthmus. Russian naval units were very active in the eastern Gulf of Finland. . Helsinki claims that the Russian losses since the war started include 50 planes and over 100 tanks and armoured cars. It is estimated that 100 Russian lives have been lost for every Finnish one. The Finns recaptured Kuolajarvi, halting a two-prong offensive towards the Gulf of Bothnia. A Moscow communique claims a continued advance in th.e Murmansk and Kutno sectors, and insignificant skirmishes elsewhere. Advance in Central Zone A later communique claims the capture of Salmijarvi and also an advance of 79 miles in the central zone and a “successful advance" on the Karelian Isthmus. Hospitals in Leningrad are overflowing and schools are rapidly filling with casualties from the Finnish war, concerning which the public are receiving meagre details.. The newspapers, at the . outset, when ... the operations envisaged a glorious walkover, were filled with ardent dispatches. They now publish merely three or four-line communiques, .none of which claims the capture of a single important centre. The newspapers publish the bare fact of Russia’s expulsion from, the League without • comment. Appeal by President Broadcasting to the army, M. Kallio, the President of Finland, appealed to the civilised world for more action and help than had thus far been received. A Brussels message states that the Belgian Chamber sent a message to Finland expressing “profound sympathy in the brutal aggression,” which was endorsed by the leaders of all parties. A message from Moscow states that the . Government spokesman declared that the Soviet was not aware of the broadcast of the Finnish Foreigr. Minister, M. Tanner, who appealer, to- Russia for a truce. It is no longer expected that M. Molotov will reply to M. Tanner, bu: the Pravda expresses the official attitude, saying: “The Sbviet Union wil' firmly continue its policy and liberate the Finnish people from the chains o” imperialism, despite the comedies performed at Geneva and elsewhere’