GUERILLA TACTICS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1939, Page 5

GUERILLA TACTICS

EMPLOYED SUCCESSFULLY BY FINNS SPEECH BY PRESIDENT KAL.LIO. APPEAL TO OTHER NATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, December 6. Reports received, in London on Wednesday night on the progress of the battle of the snows in Finland indicate that, though the threatened large-scale Russian offensive has not yet attained crushing momentum, the Finns are still falling back slowly before the southern advance, employing guerrilla tactics successfully. Helsinki admits that the Russian thrusts have penetrated as far as 30 miles. However, it is claimed that 15;000 Russians have surrendered owing to lack of food. A late Finnish communique says the eight more Russian tanks have been destroyed, making the total 80. A large number of civilian inhabitants of Helsinki were quietly buried yesterday. Helsinki, with only 50.000 people remaining, is fully prepared for a resumption of hostilities on a large scale. President Kallio, in an inspiring Independence Day speech on Wednesday, called on his people to rally in defence of their, homes and Western civilisation,. and invoked Divine assistance in their mighty task. He asked whether other nations would tolerate their, destruction, and gave “No surrender’’ as the watchword of his fighting forces. It is reported in Helsinki that there have been huge reinforcements of Russian troops. The Paris correspondent of the “New York Times,” Mr Archambault, says it is estimated that Russians engaged in Finland do not exceed 15 divisions. A proportion of the army is ill-trained and ill-equipped. Of those fit for action many are from east Siberia and the Rumanian border of Poland. If this estimate is correct, it explains the Russians’ slow progress. Moreover, the strategic competency of the politically dominated staffs is doubted. — SOVIET CLAIM MAIN FINNISH DEFENCE BROKEN. MOSCOW. December 7. A Red Army communique claims advances ranging from 20 to 40 miles. It adds that on the Karelian isthmus the Soviet troops have broken through the main Finnish defence line along the Vuoks water system. BRITISH PLANES THIRTY being delivered TO FINLAND. LONDON. December '7. Thirty British planes are being delivered to Finland.

RUSSIAN THREATS BOTH ITALY & SWEDEN WARNED. MOSCOW, December 6. The official radio last night warned Italy to keep out of the Russian-Fin-nish struggle, the announcer saying: “Italy wants to turn Finland into a second Spain. She is Europe’s reaction-ary-in-chief and wants to struggle with the newly-created Finnish People’s Government, just as she suppressed the People's Government of Spain. We will not tolerate such interference.” He added: "We also warn Sweden that she has no business to send de-> tachments. of so-called volunteers to Finland’s aid. Such support cannot prevent Finland’s liberation but will gravely endanger .Russian-Swedish relations.” ACTIVE SUPPORT ADVOCATED IN SWEDEN. FURTHER DEFENCE MEASURES TAKEN. All the Swedish newspapers on Wednesday published an appeal signed by the leaders of all sections of the community calling for a campaign of active support for Finland, a Daventry broadcast states. Sweden has taken still further defence measures, and the Prime Minister, Mr Hansson, has confirmed that discussions are going on for the creation of a new Cabinet on a united basis. RETURN TO DEFEND HOMELAND. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) HELSINKI. December 7. Some 230 Finnish-Americans. some of whom had never seen Finland, have arrived to enlist. POISON GAS SHELLS FIRED BY RUSSIAN ARTILLERY. FINNISH OFFICIAL STATEMENT. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) HELSINKI. December 7. It is officially stated that Russian artillery north from Lake Ladoga fired poison gas shells against the Finnish batteries, causing several casualties, AIR ATTACKS RUSSIAN BASES BOMBED. (Received This Dav. 10.50 a.m.) COPENHAGEN. December 7. Finnish warplanes successfully bombed the Russian air base at the port of Baltiski, which was taken from Estonia as a result of the Russian-Es-tonian pact. The Finns also are persistently bombing the Russian defence lines at several points.