TRAGIC TOLL OVER FINLAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20128, 23 December 1939, Page 7

TRAGIC TOLL OVER FINLAND

BOMBS SND MACHINE-GUNS USED RUSSIANS KEEP HIGH ABOVE CAPITAL RAZING OF TWO HELSINKI HOSPITALS FIERCE KARELIAN ISTHMUS BATTLE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dee. 22, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 21. Four hundred bombers dealt death and destruction over the south of Finland to-day, killing 23 civilians in the Sortavala district and many others in other areas, including two passengers in a refugee train which was machine-gunned. The Finns replied with magnificent attacks on all fronts, capturing enormous quantities of materials, and killing thousands of the invaders and thrusting the Russians back for miles in the northern area. Helsinki messages state that M. Stalin’s airmen celebrated his birthday by raining 6001 b. high explosive bombs on Finland’s chief southern towns, destroying two Helsinki hospitals and damaging three and seriously injuring patients too ill for evacuation. The-raiders simultaneously bomibed several towns within a 25-mile radius from the capital. They attacked ITanko and its approaches and machine-gunned two Turku-ITelsinki trains. They bombed Provoo and Turku’s working-class districts, setting fire to many houses and, it is believed, killed and wounded many persons. Important Industrial Centre They are also reported to have swooped on the important industrial centre of Tampere with similar results. They visited Wasa, which is 300 miles from the nearest Russian air base. The planes were very active over the Karelian Isthmus, bombing VViipuri and also participating in the battle for the Mannerheim Line which entered its third week with day-long onslaughts of infantry, artillery, and tanks. No planes flew over the capital at a height of less than 10,000 ft. Therefore, even if there were military objectives, ■ the bombing could only be haphazard. A further Helsinki communique states that the Karelian Isthmus offensive continued throughout the day. The positions were unchanged at nightfall. The enemy losses are severe. They included eight tanks and at least 20 machine-guns. Finnish artillery bombarded the enemy lines, causing heavy losses

The battle of Aglajarvi continues, the Russians losing nine heavy tanks, two field guns, three armoured ears, and 20 machine-guns. The Finns destroyed a battalion, killing 600 men between Pielisjarvi and Grigoreiv. The Finns advanced at Kuolajarvi, destroying a battalion and killing 800 men and capturing much equipment.