IMPORTANT GAINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1939, Page 6

IMPORTANT GAINS

CLAIMED BY THE RUSSIANS IN FINLAND Defences on Karelian Isthmus Broken ADVANCES REPORTED IN VARIOUS AREAS GENERAL STAFF COMMUNIQUE (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received This Diiy, 11.20 ii.ni/ LONDON, December 7. The first comprehensive survey of the Russian General Staff plans is given in a Leningrad communique which claims considerable advances. “From the direction of Murmansk, it states, “the Red troops advanced twenty miles south of Petsamo. In the Petrozavodsk and Prozosero (possibly the vicinity of Karelia) zones, the Soviet troops advanced over the railway line between Nurmes and Oensnu, penetrating forty miles. At the eastern section of the Karelian (Isthmus, the Finns’‘Maginot Kirke Line, along the Vuoski water system, has been broken by artillery and troops advancing norths aids. On the 'western section of the Karelian Isthumns, the Soviet forces have occupied the town of Kiviniemi and are reported to be on the railway line leading to Kexholm and also at stations on the several railways leading to Wiipuri and villages on the eoast of the Gulf of Finland.” These claims mean that the main Finnish defences on the eastern sector of the Karelian Isthmus have been broken. WARM SYMPATHY Declared by King of Sweden MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT KALLIO (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) HELSINKI, December 7. King Gustav sent a message to President Kallio“Sweden has the wannest sympathy for Finland’s sorely afflicted people. I confirm that Sweden’s warm feelings for a free Finland have been deepened year by year by growing, intimate noithem collaboration.”