REPELLED WITH LOSS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1940, Page 5

REPELLED WITH LOSS

RUSSIAN EFFORTS TO REACH VIBORG ACROSS ICE OF FROZEN BAY INTENSIVE AIR RAIDING. CLEARLY-MARKED HOSPITALS BOMBED. The latest, Finnish communique states that all Russian attacks in an attempt to eraeh Viborg across the ice have been repulsed with heavy.loss, Daventry reports. The attacks were supported by tanks, artillery and aircraft but they failed to make any impression against the Finnish defences. The Russians in Finland are trying to get a footing on islands in Viborg Bay and on the north-western shore of the bay. Finnish coastal batteries met the Russian advance across the ice with withering fire, and while some Russians got across, the fire from the batteries smashed the thick ice, causing other men and material to be plunged to the bottom of the icy waters.

Intensive air raids have been carried out on towns in this area, while infantry and motorised columns advance across the ice. These air raids were along an area from 40 to 50 miles from Viborg. In one attack a military hospital was frequently bombed and received five direct hits. On land the Russians are still battering their way through the Mannerheim Line.

Helsinki reports that Soviet planes bombed three Finnish hospitals on Tuesday, killing 14 patients and wounding seven. The roofs of the hospitals were clearly marked with the red cross.

MORE HELP NEEDED IF FINNS ARE TO MAINTAIN DEFENCE. INTERESTS OF ALLIES VITALLY' CONCERNED. “The Times” devotes a leader to Finland. and says that if the Russians sue-' ceed in penetrating the Mannerheim Line and using their strength further on the Karelian Isthmus, the Finnish defence will be stretched to a dangerous degree, a Daventry report states. The Finnish Government and its . commander, Marshal Mannerheim, have made no secret that the help that, has been, promised already in the way of arms has fallen considerably short of their minimum' requirements. The Finnish war is now a side issue, says “The Times.” The whole north is imperilled from the aggression direct- " ed' against Finland, and the Allied cause is being buttressed by the Finnish resistance. It has had the effect of holding up large quantities of oil which might have reached Germany for use against us. For that, if- for no other .reasons. Finland is entitled to expect ■ gratitude and recompense. ‘ “Our interest is clear,” "The Times” says, “and there is a moral issue involved as well as a material. The whole sentiment of this country demands that Finland should not be allowed to fall.”

Stockholm reports that British fighting planes built for South Africa have been released for duty to Finland and are now arriving in Finland (states the Press Association). Recent arrivals of foreign -aircraft have included planes from the United States. France, Italy. Sweden and Britain. Help for Finland in meh and money in other ways is coming in. BOMBING MURDER ::: ATTACK ON HOSPITAL AND SHELTER. FIFTY CIVILIANS KILLED AND 200 WOUNDED. HELSINKI. March 6. The latest Russian air raid on a Finnish hospital was one of the worst of the war. Bombers swooped on a little town in Southern Finland and bombed the hospital five times. They directly hit an air raid shelter, killing 25 women and children huddled there. A total of 50 civilians were killed and 200 wounded. RUSSIAN DEAD HEAPED BEFORE FINNISH POSITIONS. VIOLENT ATTACKS DEFEATED. (Received This Dav. 10.25 a.m.) HELSINKI. March 6. A communique states: We repulsed violent Russian attacks in Viborg Bay and at many points between there and Vuok Lake. Heaps of Russian dead v, ere left in front of our positions. There is artillery activity on the eastern part of the Karelian Isthmus and also north-east of Lake Ladoga. SOVIET CLAIMS ISLAND AND OTHER POSITIONS CAPTURED. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) MOSCOW, March 6. A communique states that the Russians have occupied the island and town of Revensaari, behind the eastern head of Viborg Bay and also Osland, Suonsaari and the village of Karisalmi on the Viborg Sestroryetsk railway. Nothing of importance occurred on other fronts. Russian aircraft bombed Finnish troops and military objectives and shot down 20 Finnish planes.