Initiative in Hands of Finns

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 308, 30 December 1939, Page 7

Initiative in Hands of Finns

Drive to Cut Railway Line Russian Losses Mounting United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. HELSINKI, December 29. Two contingents of Finnish troops on skis are now in Russia between Murmansk and Leningrad. The first crossed the frontier to the south of Salla, and the other a little further north near Kandalaksha, which is a key point on the railway from Leningrad to Murmansk. Their object is to break up the railway line at whatever points they reach. Because of their small numbers they are trying to avoid any heavy engagements. If Kandalaksha is taken and held Russia would be prevented from sending reinforcements of troops to the far north. In the district around Petsamo the Russians have completely lost the initiative and are in a state of siege. A Finnish officer who has just returned from there reports that 150 Russian tanks arc snowbound and the crews of some have been frozen to death. Other crews had surrendered, but most had fled. On the north front, the Finns have relieved a threat to their own railway in their advance east of Petsamo. In their retreat the Russians lost a large number of men and much material, but further north the Soviet troops have been digging themselves in and arc said to have halted their retreat. Because of the failure of the Russian troops on the Karelian Isthmus. 100.000 picked Ogpu troops are being sent to this sector, according to a Copenhagen report. A battalion of 800 women, mostly Leningrad and Moscow factory hands, is reported to have arrived at Murmansk. The Finns are reported to have pushed the Russians back across the frontier at a new point north of Pielesjarvi. It is reported that 40 English and 20 Italian aircraft are embodied in the Finnish Air Force, while a thousand trained airmen are waiting to take over the delivery of aeroplanes from England and America. Initiative by the Finnish airmen is indicated by the bombing of the lighthouse at Baindlo, Russia’s naval base.