ALL FIT MEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1940, Page 5

ALL FIT MEN

CALLED UP IN FINLAND WITH OR WITHOUT TRAINING. WITHDRAWAL IN GOOD ORDER. Steps have been taken in Finland to call up every man fit for military service, including those who have had no previous training, a radio message states. A Government decree orders all men of the 22 and 43 age groups, who for health reasons had not had military training, to report for medical examination. There is no doubt that the position on the Karelian Isthmus is serious, but the Finnish withdrawal to their new positions was made in good order. One of the tactical reasons for this move was to straighten out the line, which had been dented by the Russians at Sumina and further east. Meanwhile Finnish reserves have taken over in the Summa sector ready to meet fresh assaults. Further north, on the central front, the Finns are now mopping up the Russian division which was cut off near Kumma. All efforts to bring up fresh Soviet reinforcements and supplies failed.

Correspondents who have visited the battlefield tell the now familiar story —frozen bodies, crippled tanks and helpless supply vehicles. A small remnant of the Russian force is still holding out at one point with tanks drawn into an armed circle, but their position appears hopeless.