INVADERS DRIVEN BACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 December 1939, Page 5

INVADERS DRIVEN BACK

Numerous Russian Attacks Repulsed on isthmus TWENTY-THREE SOVIET PLANES SHOT DOWN (By Telegraph. —Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDON, December 27. Last night’s Finnish army communique states that the Russians are concentrating on the destruction of Viborg (Wiipuri), and waves of 40 to 50 planes have bombed the empty city. The Russian “Big Berthas” are ceaselessly shelling the city. On the northern front the Russians were driven back 50 miles in the vicinity of Kuolajarvi in the last 10 days. The invaders are now holding roughly the same positions on this front as in the first week of the war. T ( he Russians on the Karelian Isthmus throughout the day bombarded on a 62-mile front, but the Finns held on successfully. Numerous Russian attacks on the isthmus, supported by tanks, guns and planes, were repulsed with heavy Russian losses, including 700 dead left on the frozen surface of a small lake. < During the day the Finns captured five rifles, 60 machineguns, five quick-firers and 50 prisoners, and put out of action two tanks, the communique continues. A small amount of material was captured on the eastern front, where the Finns destroyed two tanks and 20 lorries. The navy and air force combined shot down 23 Russian planes. Three members of the Finnish women’s defence organisation who refused to leave dangerous posts close to the enemy were killed in action. Yesterday’s brief Russian communique did not mention the losses, but confined itself to stating that there were petty skirmishes. It is now clear that though the Russians attacked with great intensity in the south of Finland on land and in the air on Christmas Day, they secured no material advances. All the civilian population in Viborg has been ordered to leave, and special trains have already taken out 4000.