SOVIET ONSLAUGHT ON FINLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1940, Page 5

SOVIET ONSLAUGHT ON FINLAND

Indications of Russian Defeat

HEAVY LOSSES IN MEN AND MATERIAL (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, January 27. The first official indication has been given that, the Russian drive north-east of Lake Ladoga is losing its force. The latest attacks, a Finnish report states, are weaker • than those on previous days. Neutral military observers in Helsinki express the opinion that, the failure of the Russian offensive north-east of Lake Ladoga amounts to a definite defeat. 11, is estimated that the Russians lost. 5000 dead in their six days’ offensive. The Finns claim that. 500 of 1000 tanks with which the Russians began the campaign have been destroyed and that the Finns captured 100 tanks and a large number of machine-guns in the most recent fighting. The Finns yesterday continued to hold fast against the great offensive, and new attacks were repulsed. The Russians retired, leaving several hundred dead and 1,000 wounded.

Fierce fighting occurred at Alattsi, on the eastern bank of Lake Ladoga, when fresh Russian forces, supported by artillery, furiously attacked, apparently in an endeavour to extricate a large Russian force which had been lured into a dangerous situation on this sector. Finnish batteries enfiladed the Russian lines and hurled back the, attackers, inflicting heavy casualties.

A Finnish communique says: “The icy battlefield northeast of Lake Ladoga is covered with hundreds of Russian dead.” Several Soviet, companies -were cut. up.

Two Russian attacks on the main Mannerheim Line at. Lake Muola and Lake Taipale, on the Karelian Isthumus, were also repulsed.