Russian Retreat Threatens Debacle

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 7

Russian Retreat Threatens Debacle

Heavy Losses of Men and Equipment Finns Fight Back Victoriously United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Monday, 7.20 p.m. LONDON, December 24. lted Army troops are retreating on two fronts in Finland following fierce Finnish counter-attacks. The Russian bid to split the country north of Finland’s “wasp waist” has been thrust back, and the Red troops are now withdrawing to fealla. They are also retreating in the Petsamo Corridor, where they had progressed ■'e greatest distance. Here the intense cold is proving to be the Finns’ best ally. All accounts confirm not only that the Russian drives have at least temporarily been brought to a standstill but that the Finns are couner-attacking on a 12-mile iront on the Karelian Isthmus between Lakes Kauk and Muola. They took a formidable initiative, repulsing and pursuing the Russians along the whole lines as far south as Lake Ladoga, capturing an abundance of abandoned war material. The British United Press’ Helsinki correspondent announces the collapse of the Russian attacks in North Finland and the stoppage of the most dangerous thrust across Finland’s waistline, including the annihilation of one Red column and the immobilisation of two others amid the deepening snow 25 miles from the frontier. The remainder of the Russians arc retreating, not towards their landing point at Petsamo whence their transports have been withdrawn, but towards Kila. The Finns pursued the enemy across the frozen terrain. It is estimated that the Russian death-roll is 30,000. This may be optimistic, but their casualties far outweighed any possible military advantage. The Finns claim to have disabled 250 of the 1000 tanks and declare they can hold their line indefinitely. The British Associated Press Helsinki correspondent says observers’ reports from the far north indicate that the Soviet retreat is becoming a major catastrophe. Russian planes dropped 15 bombs without casualty on Helsinki during to-day’s snowstorm. The Finnish Army claims that 35 Russian planes were shot down yesterday. The Red Army states that it brought down ten Finnish planes. Russian planes dropped leaflets over Helsingfors, but a strong wind blew them out to sea. Fourteen Russian Planes Brought Down Received Monday, 9.20 p.m. HELSINKI, December 25. An official Finnish communique states: “Soviet planes machine-gunned civilians in several places and attacked coastal batteries. “Finnish pursuit planes brought down 14 Russian machines during numerous aerial battles. The Finns lost two machines.”

Finns Continue Victorious March

Human Searchlights Introduce New Tactics REDS’ WEAPONS TURNED AGAINST THEMSELVES Received Monday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, December 25. A Helsinki message says the Finns continue their counterattacks, repulsing the Russians ou four fronts. The British Associated Press’ Kirlcenaes’ correspondent says a pertion of the defeated Russian forces in the Petsamo area have ceased retreating and have dug in in order to make a stand near Salmijarvi, where the Finns claim they have already surrounded them. A feature of the campaign is the employment of so-called human searchlights, who carry electric projectors which the Finns switch on when they reach their objective, after which in concert they throw dazzling beams towards the Russians as their riflemen and machine-gunners open fire, thus speedily terminating the action. Military' theorists foresee similar tactics on the "Western Front. Claiming 7000 dead in two battles, a Finnish war communique details the victory at Aglajarvi. “The whole of this area is now in our hands and the advance continues. Eight tanks and quantities of guns, rifles and ammunition were captured. ” The Finnish infantry is reported to have advanced behind tanks recently captured from the Russians. It is recalled that the Finns fought the War of Independence in 1918 largely with arms and ammunition captured from the Reds. Most of their army rifles and many of their field guns to-day use ammunition of the same calibre as the Russians. A Finnish communique dealing with the Russian retreat in the Salla sector estimate that the enemy lost 5000 dead. It says the route of the Finnish advance is marked by a long trail of wrecked tanks and corpses.

Russians Still Claim to be Advancing

MOSCOW, December 23. A special communique again asserts that the Russians are advancing. It also attributes the slowness to be due to the inaccessible territory and concrete fortifications. It adds that 1823 Russians have been killed and 7000 wounded, while 20,000 Finns have been killed, 10,000 wounded and 1300 taken prisoners. A Helsinki message says the Russians have arrested Herr Kuusinen, leader of the Terijoki puppet Government. Received Monday, 11.30 p.m. A Moscow communique says: “Nothing of importance happened on Sunday except serious clashes by reconnaissance units on the Karelian Isthmus, resulting in the Finns leaving 971 dead on the battlefield.” The Rome radio stated that 500 Russians surrendered at Savukoski on the north-east front. It is authoritatively confirmed from Helsinki that the Finnish coastal batteries severely damaged the Kronstadt naval base on the first day of the war. Fires blazed for four days.