FINNS GALLANTLY HOLDING THEIR OWN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 January 1940, Page 5

FINNS GALLANTLY HOLDING THEIR OWN

Violent Struggle on Karelian Isthmus SUCCESS IN CENTRAL AREA FOLLOWED UP AIR BOMBING ATTACKS BY BOTH SIDES (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright? HELSINKI, January I. Finland still holds her own. New Russian attacks on the Mannerheim Line, preceded by artillery barrages, have resulted in violent, fighting on the Karelian Isthmus and also on the opposite side of Lake Ladoga. .The defenders are feeling secure along the entire SOO miles of the eastern front. North of Lake Ladoga they are taking the initiative in all sectors. (The Finns are now following up their important victory over the Russians at Suomussalmi in the centre of Finland, stated a Daventry broadcast last night. The latest Finnish communique says that Finnish troops are pursuing the enemy and have taken considerable booty.) A Finnish communique states that fighting on New A ear’s Eve was most, severe between Lakes Ilatjan and Mnola and the Snvanto and Taipale Rivers, but the enemy attacks were futile. - Patrol activity occurred elsewhere, particularly to the north-east, of Lake Ladoga.

MANY TOWNS RAIDED Russian planes flew over Norway from Petsamo and dropped two bombs in the River Pasig. Good flying weather enabled the Russians to carry out numerous air raids on southern towns, killing 20 civilians, but material damage was small, except at Jyvaskyla and Wasa. Finnish planes dropped bombs .on the Russian rear. It is unofficially slated that six Russian planes were brought down. Russian bombers have set ablaze the centre of Turku. (Turku is a busy shipping port on the Gulf of Finland, and has recently been the receiving depot for a considerable amount of war material from Scandinavian countries to Finland). The Moscow radio announced that nothing important has occurred on the Finnish front. Russian aircraft successfully bombed certain parts of Finland. The Swedish radio stated that 50,000 Russian troops are massed at. Leningrad, en route to the Karelian Isthmus. The Finnish tactics in. overcoming the Russians at Kiantajarvi consisted of surrounding and starving them out, preparatory to their annihilation, despite inferiority in numbers and equipment. The Russians, who hoped to drive through to the Gulf of Bothnia in order to break Finland’s military backbone, blundered into an area between the arms of Lake Kianta. They could have fought a way out in normal weather, but the Finns isolated them, cut off supplies, left exposure and lack of food to do the deadly work and then attacked on the tenth day. The Russians resisted for three days, but it was all over on the fourth. Thousands of the invaders were slaughtered and few of the survivorswere strong enough to stand. ASSURANCE OF HELP M. RYTI’S EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE. HELSINKI. January J. The Finnish Prime Minister, M. Ryti, in a statement declared: “If Finland is left to her own resources her task will be too great, but from what has happened I know now that the civilised nations are with us. I know the assistance will come on a sufficient scale and in time.” M. Ryti paid a tribute to the help from Sweden.