TERRIFIC BATTERING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24226, 19 February 1940, Page 7

TERRIFIC BATTERING

THE MANNERHEIM LINE ' i RUSSIAN SUCCESSES FINNS’ DESPERATE PLIGHT (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) / LONDON, Feb. 18. (Received Feb. 18, at 10 p.m.) A message from Helsinki states; that a, “great pall of ■ smoke and fire to-day spread over the Summa front. Eyewitnesses report that the Finns holding the Mannerheim Line can, in places, hardly see the Russian troops. They can hear only their cries and shots as they advance through the smoke. During each preliminary artillery bombardment the Finns, take refuge in deep dugouts, built of concrete and heavy timber and withstanding up to 30 direct hits from heavy shells before being destroyed. The farthest point the Russians have reached is. believed to be about five miles from the outside edge of the lino which has a varied depth of from 10 to 20 miles. Finnish fighters and bombers go ceaselessly over the Russian lines which are guarded by about 200 Russian fighting aircraft. POSITION MQST SERIOUS The Finns bombed the Karelian Isthmus and the Leningrad railway, setting fire to several stations in the hope of gaining a respite on the Mannerheim Line where the position is regarded as most serious. .A Russian communique states: The Soviet attack continues successfully on the isthmus. The enemy attempted counter-attacks but were repulsed with great losses on, all sectors. The Soviet occupied the isthmus at 4.12 p.m. and captured two stations and; 22 fortifications, including two ferro-concrete artillery forts. The Finnish losses for our week’s offensive were 420 machine-guns, and 170 guns from the fortifications which we occupied. The two stations referred to in the communique are the railway stations at Leipaso and Kamaro, which cannot be traced oh the maps, but some reports say that one Russian column occupied a vital railway centre 12 miles from Wiipuri on the Wiipuri-Lenin-grad line, which is most important for supplying the Mannerheim defences. A Helsinki message announces that Dr Ryti (Finnish Prime - Minister) and M. Tanner (Minister of Foreign Affairs) are going to London by air for immediate military aid. 1 SWEDEN’S REFUSAL OF AID There is disappointment at the news of Sweden’s refusal of military aid. It is urged that Scandinavia’s existence is at stake. _ , ' . A report from Stockholm says that reliable sources state that M. Tanner held a conference with M. Hausson (Swedish Prime Minister) and it is understood that he told the latter that Finland had “ a concrete promise of Allied military aid, consisting of three • divisions, of which one would be French alpine chasseurs.” Other reports from Helsinki state that Finland has. already accepted the promised aid. .. v.. FINLAND NEEDS MORE HELP The Manchester Guardian’s diplomatic correspondent .says that I the danger of a, Finnish defeat is very great. The .help reaching , - Finland is not sufficient to prevent Russia and Germany mastering•* northern Europe and gaining access to the North Atlantic. The Russian objective is Narvik, which suits the German objective, namely the downfall of the British Empire. A message from Paris states that a Government spokesman said that France is sending Finland artillery and planes and a great number of anti-tank guns. Permission for foreign residents to leave France if they wished to fight for Finland embraces 1000 refugees.