RUSSIAN ATTACKS ON MANNERHEIM LINE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1940, Page 5

RUSSIAN ATTACKS ON MANNERHEIM LINE

Small Advance at One Point Not Vital HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES IN MEN AND MATERIAL SIX HUNDRED TANKS DESTROYED SINCE WAR BEGAN Tlio Russians are si ill hammering al the Mannerheim Line, according to a Davenlry repori, bid yesterday's attacks lacked the thrust of those of the past few days and the Finns have been able to beat them back. Lor ten days tin 1 Russians have been throwing strong forces of troops against the Finnish defences. The Soviet forces have made a small advance at a point about 20 miles from Viborg, where they have denied the line, bin not seriously. The Russians are said to have suffered heavy losses, one estimate being '>()()() casualties, against Finnish losses less ilian one-tenth as great. Yesterday the Finns claim to have destroyed 20 Russians lanks. making a total of GOO since I he war began. . . It is considered extremely unlikely that the Russians will penetrate far. as Ihe defences are not a single line but a series of fortified posts, and there there can be no question of a breach. The high morale of the people of Helsinki during the trying period of air raids is shown by the fact that one thealre has reopened, in addition to which the light opera. ‘‘The Merry Widow?" is playing to full houses every night.