HEAVY FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1940, Page 6

HEAVY FIGHTING

ON SHORES OF THE GULF OF FINLAND RUSSIANS CUT TO PIECES BY BATTERIES. MARKING TIME TN ASSAULT ON VIBORG. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day. 12.55 p.m.) HELSINKI. March 5. The Russians in their latest attempt to outflank the Finnish defences have launched masses of troops across the ice to the shores of the Gulf of Finland. The attacks are centred against Vederlaks, forty miles west from Viborg, against the coastal islands of Viro and Lahti and farther west against the island of Haapasaari, which is twenty miles from Kotka. The coastal batteries cut the attackers to pieces. Bombers played havoc with the vanguard of light tanks and motorised units and fighter planes mercilessly scattered the supporting columns with machineguns. The same fate met attackers trying to cross the ice om Viborg’s outer harbour. but three hundred Russians managed to reach the ndrlh-wost shore in the morning and held on while support came up. Bitter fighting continues. accompanied by fierce air encounters and continuous cannonading from the coastal forts. The direct thrust on Viborg marked time while the Russians attempted to protect their flanks, to avoid being caught in Viborg in the pincers movement which has spelt disaster to so many of their forces to the north. Tlie Finns repulsed local West Isthmus attacks. Russian onslaughts during the day against mid-isthmus and East Isthmus strongholds also failed. Fighting continues at Kuhmo, whore the Finns have captured several strongholds and killed five hundred Russians.

AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS ’ DEPARTURE OF FIRST DETACHMENT. (Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) NEW YORK. March 5. The first detachment of a thousand American volunteers is sailing for Finland shortly. It is (he vanguard of three thousand soldiers and mechanics signing on throughout the United States.