GRIM CONFLICT STILL RAGES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20132, 29 December 1939, Page 11

GRIM CONFLICT STILL RAGES

— Invaders regather strength | : HOUSES RAZED BY HAIL OF BOMBS PUBLIC TENSION GROWS IN MOSCOW FUTILE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dee. 28, 2.50 pan.) LONDON, Dee. 2 1. Messages from Helsinki state that the Red Army hurled back at all points, is regathering strength in the hope ot smashing the Mannerheim Line between Lake Ladoga and the unit of Finland. The Finns repulsed three assaults in -4 hours, but the conflict continues to rage. A Finnish communique refers to heavy gunfire and records the capture of eight tanks and some German-made ammunition. Heavy snow halted the Russian offensive at 1 etsamo. Russian bombers vigorously attacked several strategic ■ points with little result. Twelve bombers twice raided the munitions centre at Tampere and dropped 50 bombs. Only one person was killed and one was wounded. Several houses were destroyed. A squadron similarly attacked Turku. Most of the' bombs fell into the water. Six planes raided Wiipuri. The Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that Russia is calling up more men. The Moscow correspondent of .the Daily Telegraph says that a communique briefly reports the assaults on the Mannerheim Line yesterday as “petty skirmishes and refers to the widespread bombing in the south of Finland as “reconnaissance flights.” The correspondent adds: Everything is being done to induce the Russian public to forget t hat the flower of their forces has been concentrated against Finland. This conspiracy of silence is futile. Despite the demonstrations attending M. Stalin’s birthday and the there is secret tension due to the public learning of the ghastly casualties in what was originally represented as a mere manhunt of Finnish policemen and White partisans by an overwhelming Red force.”