FINNS’ TACTICS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 December 1939, Page 5

FINNS’ TACTICS

TRIBUTE TO GREAT SKILL FIELD-MARSHAL MANNERHEIM PRAISED. EIG PROBLEM OF SUPPLIES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, December 27. The determined resistance which the Finns are making to an invasion by the numerically superior forces of the Soviet and the success which appears to have attended their counterattack against such odds, have evoked enthusiastic admiration among the British public. Commenting on the laconic but significant claim in the Finnish official communique regarding operations in the Lieksa sector, that the “operations have moved to the other side of the frontier,” the “Evening Standard” says: “Finland has taught the invader that behind the forest and ice stand freedom ready to defend their independence.”

Military correspondents in the newspapers pay a tribute to the skilful tactics of the Finnish Command. Courage and the difficulties of the ground, it is said, cannot alone explain the Finnish resistance. The tactics during the past ten days—with their carefully timed retreats on the Petsamo and Sallo fronts, followed and redeemed by sudden counter attacks on the Soviet flanks—are considered by experts as bearing an unmistakeable imprint in conception and execution of Field-Marshal Mannerheim, who is once again proving himself an outstanding general. It is observed that the Finnish forces arc acting as a coherent whole, operating to a set plan. The Russians have not taken them by surprise at any point. Each Russian thrust has been anticipated and countered along the whole seven hundred-mile front. While military critics here stress the importance of the successes achieved by the Finnish arms in adverse circumstances and against almost overwhelming odds, it is not overlooked that the chief problem the Finnish Government has to solve, if Finnish generals are to maintain resistance, is one of supply and as several commentators remark, it is a problem not in the power of the Finnish Government to solve unaided. A war trade agreement has been signed between the United Kingdom and Sweden. The object of the agreement is to adapt the existing Anglo-Swedish trade arrangements to wartime conditions, with a view to maintaining trade between the two countries, so far as such conditions permit, at a normal level. To assist in the smooth operation of the arrangements contemplated, a joint standing commission is to be set Lip which is to meet periodically. MANY VOLUNTEERS ITALIANS. SWEDES & DANES. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) STOCKHOLM, December 27. Two thousand Italians are reported to have volunteered for service in Finland. Another detachment of Swedes has gone to Finland. Two members of the Danish Air Force have deserted and joined the Finnish Flying Corps. RED CROSS DONATION BY SWITZERLAND. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) BERNE, December 27. Cabinet has donated £5OOO sterling to the Finnish Red Cross.