RUINED VIBORG

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 March 1940, Page 6

RUINED VIBORG

FINNISH FLAG STILL FLYING ON ANCIENT FORT ATTACK ON EASTERN LINE DEFEATED. AFTER BLOODY CONTEST. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day. 12.10 p.m.) HELSINKI. March 4. Alllioiiffli Ilie Finns .ire falling back to the wooded terrain behind Viborg, tin* Finnish flag is still waving over the ruins of lhe ancient fort. ’Pho Finns remain indomitable under I In* severest pressure and are light in<r back on hoih Ihe Western Karelian Ist hums and further inland, whore the Russian attempt to swing back the Eastern Mannerheim Line has beoii defeated after a bloody contest. Reports from the northern fronts reflect a widespread intensification of hostilities, of which an interesting development was a Russian retreat from Nautsi, where the Finns last week evacuated positions.

HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES REPORTED BY FINNS. SOME POSITIONS REGAINED. (Received This Day. 12.10 p.m.) HELSINKI. March 4. A Finish communique stales: "Wo repulsed an enemy attempt to cross Viborg Bay and attacks between Viborg Bay and Lake Vuok. also towards the centre of the Karelian Isthmus. The Russians lost heavily. We beat back attacks in the direction of Pitkaranta, north-eastward of Lake Ladoga. Fighting continues at Killaanjoki. Near Loimola twelve hundred of the enemy were killed. We captured a stronghold near Kuhmo and forced the Russians to withdraw from Nautsi. Our planes bombed enemy columns and positions. Russian aerial activity is concentrated on the Isthmus and north-eastward of Lake Ladoga. LACONIC REPORTS LITTLE NEWS GIVEN OUT IN RUSSIA. (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) MOSCOW. March 4. The press does not give prominence to the impending fall of Viborg. Laconic military commuiques barely mention the town.