FINLAND'S VERDUN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 December 1939, Page 6

FINLAND'S VERDUN

MORE RUSSIAN ATTACKS SMASHED Defence of Mannerlieim Line Still Maintained STORIES OF SOVIET DISSENSIONS EVIDENCE OF INTENSIVE PURGE IN LENINGRAD COMMAND (By Telegraph—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 1 p.ni.) HELSINKI, December 18. The Finns smashed the Russians across the Taibela River in the twelfth day of the battle for the Mannerheim Line, which now is familiarly known as Finland's “Verdun.” Ths Russians day and night assaulted the Finnish position with wave after wave of tanks, artillery and infantry, but the Finns retain the north bank and mouth of the river. There is evidence of an intensive purge in the Leningrad command, to ’which is ascribed the new tactics of heavy frontal attacks. Dead Russian officers’ pockets contained notes threatening summons before a tribunal unless the advance was speeded up. -. M. Stalin is reported to be dissatisfied with Marshal Voroshilov’s generalship. A Russian battalion of 800 men mutinied, shooting their officers and political commissars, some of the troops escaping to the Finnish lines.