VERDUN RECALLED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20125, 20 December 1939, Page 7

VERDUN RECALLED

FIGHT OF 12 DAYS CHECKING INVADERS STALIN DISSATISFIED THREATS TO OFFICERS MUTINY BY TROOPS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 19, 2.20 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 18. Helsinki messages state that the Finns smashed the Russians across the Taibela River on the twelfth day of the battle for the Mannerheim Line, which now is familiarly known as Finland’s “Verdun." The Russians throughout the day and night assaulted the Finnish positions with wave alter wave of tanks, artillery and infantry, but the Finns retain the north bank and mouth of the river. There is evidence of an intensive purge of the Leningrad command to which is ascribed the new tactics ol heavy frontal attacks. The pockets of the uniforms of dead Russian officers contained notes threatening a summons before a tribunal unless the advance was speeded up. Voroshilov’s Generalship M. Stalin is reported to be dissatisfied with Marshal Voroshilov’s generalship. A Russian battalion of 800 men mutinied, shooting the officers and political commissars. Some of the troops escaped to the Finnish lines A communique issued in Helsinki states that the Russians yesterday, after artillery preparation, attacked with great force in the Karelian Isthmus and the Taibela River. “Wc destroyed 31 tanks,” states the Finnish communique. "More intensive attacks north from Lake Ladoga were repulsed.” The British United Press correspondent at Svanik says that the Russians have driven in the Finns on a line running eastward from Kyro, thus cutting the Finns off from the Arctic, but daring guerillas continue to terrify the enemy. One band entered Salmijarvi and destroyed an ammunition dump. Finnish headquarters claim that the Russians violated Norwegian territory in attempting an outflanking movement, but were defeated.