RAPID ADVANCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 45, 2 December 1939, Page 5

RAPID ADVANCE.

CIVILIANS MACHINE-GUNNED. GALLANT DEFENSIVE ACTION. LONDON, December 1. Overwhelming Russian forces trampled swiftly across the outposts of Fin land’s defences, and at the end of the first day of war were reported to be in occupation of several strategic military bases. Latest dispatches from the Baltic war zone say that the Red Army is now advancing rapidly toward the Finnish “Maginot Line,” 20 miles inside the frontier, and is encountering some resistance. The Red Army is already in possession of a number of frontier posts, from which all communications are cut off. > The hard-pressed Finns are fighting a gallant defensive action in the fact of. a triple onslaught from sea, land, and air. The Soviet Fleet has taken up stations and is hammering shore positions, and bombers are standing by in readiness for mass attacks. Sweden, whose nations form 11. per cent, of Finland’s population, has recalled its airmen liable to military service from neighbouring, countries, and has ordered them to military stations.

The Finnish Fleet put out from Helsinki and it is believed to have engaged the Russian Fleet, which occupied Hogland and other islands. The .majority of reports confirm the Russian occupation of Port Tcrijoki, on the Karelian Isthmus, and the island of Seislcari. ' Some sources also state that the Petsamo Peninsula, in the Arctic, has been occupied, and that troops were landed at Hanko after some aerial bombardments.

Russian aeroplanes carried the spearhead of the attack right to the Norwegian frontier, machine gunning a civilian transport. Five women and children who- were caught by machine-gun fire, struggled to safety across the frontier.

Aeroplanes partially destroyed several small Finnish towns above the Arctic Circle, near the Norwegian Irontier.

The Finnish radio declared that the invaders were repelled at most points, and prevented from advancing from the positions where they had gained a foothold. v Two tanks were destroyed oir the Karelian Isthmus.