SOVIET GAINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 March 1940, Page 7

SOVIET GAINS

ADMITTED BY FINNS. ISLANDS AND FOOTHOLD ON SHORE. LONDON, March 10. A Finnish communique admits that the Red army has secured a restricted foothold on the northwest shore of Viborg Bay and captured several islands. It says that the Russian attacks south-east of Viborg were checked and all attacks on the centre and eastern part of the Isthmus repulsed. The enemy suffered heavy casualties. The Finns retook a number of strong points at Kuhmo and took 125 prisoners and captured a considerable quantity of booty. RUSSIAN CLAIMS MOSCOW, March 10. A Moscow communique says that the Russians occupied the village of Rapola, north-east of Viborg,’ on the railway to Sortavala and also the islands of Porkansaari and Puispansaari and the villages of Karpila and Ruhela, on the west coast of Viborg. Soviet planes attacked troops and other military objectives and shot down five Finnish planes. POSITION_OBSCURE ' OPINION IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES POLICY OF SCANDINAVIAN POWERS. REASONS FOR SOVIET ACTION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 9. Obscurity still surrounds the reported efforts to bring about a cessation of hostilities between Finland and Russia. The part which the German Government is taking in these rumoured moves is not known, though there is little doubt as to the keen desire of the Nazi leaders to see their Bolshevik allies disengaged from the embarrassing adventure in which they have involved themselves. In diplomatic circles it is not believed that the Finnish Government would be prepared to accept a settlement which conflicted with Finland’s honour or independence after the three months’ heroic defence which has won the admiration of the world and at a time when aid from y the Western Powers has begun to assume sensible proportions. The Finnish Government cannot be in doubt as to the readiness of the British and French Governments to give all assistance in Finland’s resistance to aggression which is compatible with their own-commitments and which may be rendered possible by the attitude of others Powers—themselves participants in the League of Nations’ response to Finland’s appeal—toward granting the necessary facilities, for no secret has been made in London or Paris that preparations have been in train to that end. The extent and rapidity of whatever aid Britain could give Finland depends not only on the attitude of the Finnish Government toward assistance from Britain and France but also inevitably and largely on the attitude of Sweden and Norway, which as far as has been revealed, is not such as to facilitate help to Finland being further intensified. Press reports suggest that it was the growing impression that the military help of the Western Powers to Finland would be increased that induced Sweden to undertake the work of an intermediary and that Russia became more inclined for a compromise when she realised that the alternative might be that she would be involved in a major war. The view is taken here that Finland's powers of resistance are by no means exhausted. In the Press there is evidence of a growing demand that if Finland’s resistance is continued further help should be forthcoming from the anti-aggression Powers. SOVIET BOMBING PROTEST BY GERMAN COLONY. HELSINKI, March 10.' The German colony in Helsinki has sent a letter to Field-Marshal Goering protesting against the bombing of civilians and beseeching Germany to “intervene on behalf of all civilised nations against the bloody action of the Soviet planes in bombing Finnish women and children.” RIBBENTROP IN ROME (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) ROME. March 10. Herr von Ribbentrop had a talk with Signor Mussolini lasting for 75 minutes. A crowd assembled and there was a little cheering. It is understood that Herr von Ribbentrop and Count Ciano will confer at greater length this afternoon. FINNISH DELEGATE DR. SVINTIUFRUD'S PLANS. (Received This Day, 10/15 a.m.) COPENHAGEN. March 10. Dr. Svinhufrud was still in Berlin last night and was due to leave for Rome tonight. A report that he already had seen Heir Hitler is believed to be premature.