STRONG DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1941, Page 5

STRONG DEFENCE

OF SOVIET NORTHERN AREAS GERMAN DIVISION BOGGED LITTLE ACHIEVED BY FINNS. POSSIBILITY OF RUSSIAN INVASION. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, August 5. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says that the easilydefendable Karelian • Isthmus is packed with Russian troops, who obviously do not expect to be obliged to retreat. Indeed, an idea seems to have crystallised in the Finnish mind that the Russians may launch a great offensive from the isthmus with the object of swarming into southern Finland toward Helsinki. This eventuality scarcely was mentioned previously, when the Finns imagined that their war alongside Germany would be exclusively offensive and would not involve the danger of Finland being invaded. The Finns are disappoimed at the small scale of the German help; the Germans have only five divisions in Finland, of which the majority are stuck in the northern mud while the brunt of the most vital fighting is falling on the Finns, who are believed to have 300,000 in the field. The Germans in the northernmost sector are still floundering on or about the Liza River, which they reached a month ago in the first blitz against Murmansk. It has proved very difficult, if not impossible, to move traffic across the tundra, because the' dried crust cracks easily and porridgelike mud oozes from seemingly bottomless depths. General Dietl cannot travel “light” with any chance of success against the Russians’ well-placed defences. The Germans’ claims to have destroyed the Russian air forces and bases in this area have been exaggerated, because the Germans now mention Russian bombers operating from the Murmansk base. General Dietl’s forces operating against Murmansk consist entirely of Austrians and Germans. The Germans outnumber the Finns on the Salla front, where initial progress was achieved only at the cost of heavy Tosses and the Germans’ subsequent efforts have been checked. General Siilavuo, who won a reputation in the winter war against Russia, commands the Finnish forces which are driving toward the White Sea exit of the Stalin Canal from Leningrad. The correspondent points out that the Finns opened their campaign with an offensive against Kakisalmi (at the northern end of the old Mannerheim Line) and also a thrust to Pitkaranta (at the north of Lake Ladoga 20 miles inside former Finland). They hoped to envelop large Russian forces, but instead they have failed to capture Kakisalmi and the Russians have maintained possession of the coastal strip. According to dispatches received in Vichy from Helsinki, heavy fighting is continuing round Sortavala, on the northern shore of Lake Ladoga, 45 miles inside the. old Finnish border. The Russians continue to hold the town against all attacks and Soviet tanks are ceaselessly counter-attack-ing, while reinforcements are being brought up. The latest Finnish communique claims the further capture and destruction of considerable war material, including 12 armoured cars, and also states that a great number of prisoners have been taken.

UNLIMITED LICENCES AMERICAN WAR MATERIALS FOR SOVIET. SIGNIFICANT INTIMATION IN WASHINGTON. LONDON, August 5. The American Assistant Secretary of State, Mr Welles, announced in Washington that the Administration has decided to issue unlimited licences for a wide variety of war materials required by the Soviet Union for strengthening its defences. Washington diplomats regard this as the most significant development in Russian-American relations since the United States recognised the Soviet Union in 1933. It was announced yesterday that the United States and the Soviet have exchanged Notes extending the present commercial agreement for one year. The United States pledged full economic assistance and priority in delivery of essential war materials. Mr Welles said that the United States was considering extending shipping facilities to hasten the aid to Russia.