Moscow Hears of Mounting Casualties

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 7

Moscow Hears of Mounting Casualties

Soviet Leaders’ Prestige Shaken United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 10.25 p.m. MOSCOW, December 27. Alarming reports are beginning to circulate. The Red Army casualties are stated to be 25,000 to 30,000 dead and 30,000 to 40,000 wounded, frostbitten, ill, captured or deserted. Such figures are not a calamity for an army of such a size, but they create talk not redounding to the credit of the regime. " Reports that the Russians are ill-clothed are causing surprise because the Russian Government has previously boasted concerning this matter. The lack of gloves is reported to be preventing the use of rifles in freezing weather. It is also whispered that too many shells and bombs do not explode. Communiques continue to give the impression that activity is confined to patrolling and skirmishing. The Pravda publishes the names of a number of factory managers and workers summoned to appear before the Moscow People’s Tribunal.

Russians Driven Back 50 Miles on Northern Front

Big Attacks in South Repulsed RUTHLESS DESTRUCTION OF WIIPURI Received Wednesday, 10.30 p.m. HELSINKI, December 27. A Finnish communique states: Numerous Russian attacks on the Karelian Isthmus, supported by tanks, guns and planes, were repulsed with heavy Russian losses, including 700 dead left on the frozen surface of a small lake. During the day the Finns captured five rifles, 60 machineguns, live quickfirers and 50 prisoners and putting out of action two tanks. A small amount of material was captured on the eastern front, where the Finns destroyed two tanks and 20 lorries. The Navy and Air Force combined shot down 23 Russian planes. The Russians on the Karelian Isthmus throughout the day bombarded on a 62-milc front, but the Finns held on successfully. The Russians are concentrating on the destruction of Wiipuri and waves of forty and fifty planes bombed the empty city. The Russian “Big Berthas” are ceaselessly bombing the city from a distance of 25 miics. On the northern front the Russians were driven back fifty miles in the vicinity of Kuolajarvi in ten days. The invaders are holding roughly the same positions on this front as the first week of the vyar. Three members of the Women’s Defence Organisation who refused to leave dangerous posts close to the enemy were killed in action. A correspondent of the British United Press in Finland says that Russian “Big Berthas” 25 miles distant bombarded Wiipuri (Viborg;, a city at the north of the Karelian Isthmus, all night, excavating craters 12 feet across and six feet deep. A pall of smoke from burning buildings envelops the town, which is in a constant state of air-raid alarm. Four Russian planes are reported to have been shot down to-day at Imatra, some miles north of Wiipuri. Six bombers flew over the capital, Helsingfors, but no bombs were dropped. Hundreds of Russian planes flew over Finland all day yesterday, some dropping bombs and others leaflets, the main objects being apparently to disturb the Finnish observance of Christmas.

Russian Counsellor at Berlin Dismissed Received Thursday, 1.25 a.m. MOSCOW, December 27. A Russo-German convention has been signed providing a daily Moscow-Berlin air service via Minsk, Bialostok and Kocnigsberg beginning on January 1. It is revealed that M. Astakhoff, Counsellor at the Soviet Embassy at Berlin, has been dismissed. He was Charge d’Affaires at Berlin during the negotiations for the RussoGerman Pact. A morning Moscow communique reports only local skirmishes. A Stockholm messsage says a further 50,000 reservists have been called up for “winter warfare training,” and have been ordered to bring their own skis. It is understood their training is occurring near the Swedo-Finnish frontier.