KARELIAN BATTLES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1940, Page 5

KARELIAN BATTLES

DEFEAT OF RUSSIAN FLANK ATTACK Finnish Line Now Standing Firm OTHER ENEMY DIVISIONS IN DIFFICULTIES MORE SOVIET PLANES OPERATING THAN EVER BEFORE The import mice of the Kinnish victory in which the Soviet ISlh Division was wiped mH —a result ol operations extending over many weeks —is the removal (a Daventry report states) of the danger to the defenders of the .Mannerheim Line ol attacks from the rear. The ttiissian division was destroyed when attempting' to work round behind the eastern Hank 01. the defences across the Karelian Isthmus. As the battle was nearing ils end, General Mannerheim brought up his reserves and reformed his line at the Lake Ladoga end. where the Binns are now reported to be standing firm. A later b’innisli communique stated that several Russian divisions are in difficulties in the sector north-east of Lake Ladoga. One has been cut off from ils bases and can only receive supplies dropped from the air. In the Snoimissalmi sector farther north another battle is raging, and the 54th Russian division is cut off and in a perilous posit ion. The Soviet air force is increasing its activities. Observers estimate that more Russian planes are operating than ever before.

RUSSIAN CLAIM OFFENSIVE DEVELOPING SUCCESSFULLY. A Leningrad communique states: “The Karelian Isthmus offensive is developing successfully. The Russians continued clearing the enemy from the Bjorko fortified area (at the western end of the Mannerheim Line), and occupied Rionstari Island, three miles south-west from Saint Johannes, and also the stations at Lahteenmaki and Humoljoki, on the Bjorko-Viborg railway. They brought down fourteen Finnish planes.” RUSSIAN REPORT ADVANCE ON ISTHMUS CONTINUED. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) MOSCOW, February 20. ’ A communique states: "Our advance on the Isthmus has continued. We captured two islands and coastal railway stations. The Air Force bombed enemy troops and military objectives, shooting down fourteen Finnish planes.” • LOSS TO NAZIS DIVERSION OF RUSSIAN SUPPLIES. PROBLEMS OF TRANSPORT ACCENTUATED. RUGBY. February 19. Informed London circles express the opinion that the Nazi Government cannot view the Finnish army’s heroic resistance to the Russian invasion with any pleasure, considering the effects of the Russo-Finnish war on Germany’s war time economy. Russian oil, metal and textiles which might have been available to Germany are likely to be absorbed in supplying the Russian armies, while railway rolling stock is being diverted northward, thus making transport to Germany more difficult. Germany has difficulty

in obtaining Russian phosphates, in which she is quite deficient. She will also sadly miss tier annual shipment of 14.000 tons of copper from Finland. • The Nazis must realise that peaceful , trade could have been easily developed | with Finland, which has been describI ed as a veritable mineral storehouse.