SOVIET GROUPS IN DISORDER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20128, 23 December 1939, Page 5

SOVIET GROUPS IN DISORDER

COUNTER-ATTACKS BY FINNS MANY THOUSANDS OF RUSSIAN DEAD LENINGRAD HOSPITALS OVERCROWDED AIR RAIDS ON TOWNS AND TRAINS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dee. 23, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, Dee. 22. A message from Svanvik states that the Russians may be seen retreating in disorder through Salimarjarvi. The Finns are advancing along the Pasvig River. The retreat of the Russians is said to be due to carelessness in the establishment of communications to the base. It was reported from Stockholm yesterday that the successful conclusion to a two-day counter-attack at Kuolajarvi by the Finns forced back the Russians for 20 miles and averted immediate danger to Komittrask, which is connected by rail with Rovaniemi and Sweden. The Finns captured scores of machine-guns and 30 armoured cars aiid 200 horses. The Russian dead on this front were reported yesterday to be 20,000. The Russians on the Petsamo front were driven back many miles north of Nautii, which is the southernmost tip of the Norwegian frontier and north of which the bare terrain favoured an advance, but the Finns have now received modern anti-tank guns. Moreover, east of Kyro a 60-mile belt of forest.hills renders the advance of the Russians much more difficult. Russian Wounded Reach Moscow A Moscow message states that wounded Russian soldiers are arriving there because the Leningrad hospitals are overcrowded. It was officially stated yesterday in Helsinki that the Russian air raiders' had killed 23 civilians, including women and children. The raids included attacks on Kontiamaki and Sortavala.

Air attacks on the battlefield were without result. The enemy were dispersed by fighters. The Finns attacked the enemy’s rear.

The Finns also made reconnaissance flights over Leningrad but dropped no bombs. Italian and Spanish airmen participated in several bombings of the Leningrad-Murmansk railway.

A passenger on a train which was machine-gunned by Soviet planes said: “Five planes attacked us in 10 minutes from a height of about 150 ft, We were an easy target, but ran into the woods immediately .the train stopped.” A second train which was machine-gunned was full of refugees.