STUBBORN DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1939, Page 5

STUBBORN DEFENCE

MAINTAINED BY FINNISH FORCES . Attack on the Mannerheim Line REPORTED RUSSIAN SUCCESS DENIED ENEMY HAMPERED IN MOVING HEAVY EQUIPMENT Daventry reports that a Red Army communique claims that the main Finnish defences in the Karelian Isthmus, known * as the Mannerheim Line have been broken, but. the 1< inns say that all the Russian attacks were driven back and their positions held. . , In the north the Red Army claims to have advanced -1 miles south of Petsamo. North of Lake Ladoga the Finns state that they have successfully withstood the attacks. In Finland it is declared that the Russians have undertaken more than they bargained for. Russian prisoners express amazement at the uncanny and silent swiftness of the lurking Finns, whom they liken to Red Indians, lhe nature 01. the country, heavy snow ami short, daylight are hampering the Russian movement of heavy war equipment, from which much was expected. The Russians claim that they are 20 miles south of Petsamo. hut thev have not come to grips with the Finns. Italian correspondents state that the Finns left nothing in Petsamo, burning some houses and denuding others and stores of every article. Over 1000 refugees, mostly women and children, have crossed into Norway. All the employees, including foreigners, of the nickel mines are reported to be sale in Norway.

On the Western Front the French repulsed a strong enemy patrol with heavy loss. Finnish planes, states a Copenhagen report, bombed Baltiski, the Estonian port taken over recently by the Russians. Several aeroplane hangars were staled to be on fire. Helsinki reports that. Finnish airmen have also bombed Terijoki (the seat of the puppet Finnish Government), from which town the inhabitants have been evacuated (slates the Press Association).