THOUSANDS OF BOMBS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 February 1940, Page 6

THOUSANDS OF BOMBS

FOUR HUNDRED SOVIET PLANES RAID FINLAND

MANY PEOPLE KILLED AND INJURED.

THIRTEEN BOMBERS SHOT DOWN.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) HELSINKI, February 4.

The Russians rained thousands of bombs on southern and central Finland yesterday. Four hundred planes participated in the heaviest air offensive since the outbreak of war, killing 100, injuring over 100 and hitting three hospitals and seven air raid shelters. Sixteen planes fired on the Chapel of Sinaejoki in the Wasa district, killing 10 persons. Thirty-six bombers attacked Kcrvo causing serious fires. The damage was also heavy at Wiipuri, on the outskirts of Helsinki.

Finns on the north front sent up tile biggest eet of planes since the outbreak of the war, driving back Russian bombers reconnoitring Petsamo. It is officially stated that the Finns shot down at least 13, probably 19 bombers on February 2.

The Russians' attack at Summa seems to have failed, though intense shelling of the Finns’ defences continues,

Finnish reports of Friday's fighting on the Isthmus and eastern front claim that the Russians lost over 1000 killed. Sixty tanks were destroyed or captured. Russian attacks north east of Ladoga, Salla and Kuhmo were repulsed. At Kuhmo patrols are operating far into Russia. SOVIET CLAIM FINNS UNABLE TO PROTECT VITAL POINTS. IN SPITE OF MODERN PLANES. (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) LENINGRAD, February 4. The military authorities have issued a statement that despite modern planes from England, France, the United States, Sweden and Italy, Finnish airmen are incapable of protecting commanding points, including the Finnish headquarters of Lahti, Lovaniemi, Sortavala and Wiiburg, which Soviet bombers have demolished.