STORMS & SNOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1939, Page 7

STORMS & SNOW

' THROUGHOUT FINLAND I SKI SOLDIERS READY PREPARING TO ENGAGE RUSSIANS. i MANY INVADERS KILLED BY LAND MINES. LONDON. December 5. Helsinki reported last night that the day passed quietly. The military situation was unchanged. The bad weather, which has resulted in reduced air activity, has enabled Helsinki and other places to be evacuated without interruption. On Sunday there were only about 50,000 people, or one-sixth of the population, living in the capital. It was announced in Helsinki that in the Russian raids 85 civilians had been killed and 181 wounded. Of the dead. 65 were killed in Helsinki. Sixteen buildings were destroyed by bombs and 11 by fire. The Finnish official news agency announced that the Russian air raids had not attacked a single military objective. Stockholm reported yesterday that violent snowstorms were raging throughout Finland. Picked companies of ski soldiers are preparing to engage the Russians. The high command has ordered the troops to attack only for the purpose of regaining positions otherwise they are to remain strictly on the defensive. All air activity has been reduced to a minimum. Referring to the fighting in the south, a "Pravda" correspondent states that mines are everywhere, in roads, shops, offices, and every kind of building, and danger lurks on every path and in every corner. Mines have been found even under the front doors of houses. The recent snow has helped the Finns in sowing the ground with mines, which the Russians cannot see till they are blown up. Several hundred Russian casualties were reported from hidden mines in a wood in the area in which the bogus Government has been set up by Russia. North of Lake Ladoga, a radio report states, the Finns have been particularly successful with ambushes and tank traps, and they claim that on Sunday they put 18 tanks ou-t of action, killed 300 Russians, and took 700 prisoners. The Finnish military authorities, who have just received 10 Italian aeroplanes ordered some time ago, claim that 21 Russian machines have been destroyed since hostilities began. ITALIAN PLANES (Received This Day. 9.10 a.m.) ROME, December 5. It is authoritatively confirmed that the Finns arc using mostly Italian planes. SOVIET TANKS .FINNS CAPTURE EIGHTY. ißeceived This Dav, 10.25 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, December 5. The "Extrabladet’s" Helsinki correspondent says the Finns have captured 80 Russian tanks. HELSINKI QUIET RUSSIANS CHECKED IN NORTH. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) HELSINKI, December 5. The hourly expected air raid has not materialised. Dispatches from Petsamo say the Russian attempt to turn the Finnish position failed. Three Russian bombers again raided Salmijarvi and also a nearby town. SIXTY PLANES DESTROYED AT MURMANSK. FINNS DROP INCENDIARY BOMBS. (Received This Day. 10.25 a.m.) OSLO, December 5. It is reported that Finnish airmen, dropping incendiary bombs, destroyed 60 Russian planes at the Murmansk airport. ATTACKS BEATEN OFF SOVIET BOMBING RAID REPELLED WITH LOSS. (Received This Day. 11.20 a.m.) ROME, December 5. A report from Helsinki says Finnish aircraft dispersed Soviet troops who landed on the coast and attempted to march on Petsamo. A.nti-aireraft guns inflicted heavy losses on Soviet aircraft which tried to bomb the Imatra hydro-electric plants.