FINNS RESISTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 47, 5 December 1939, Page 5

FINNS RESISTING.

SMALL ADVANCE BY RUSSIANS. ACHIEVED AT HEAVY COST. LONDON, December 4. A Finnish Army communique last night stated that the Finns were ,holding a line on the Karelian isthmus from Vammelsuu, through Kivennapa and Rautu to Metsapirtti, to which they strategically.retired after the first onslaught. Tlie Russians had occupied the unfortified islands of Seiskari and Lavansaari, and had unsuccessfully attacked Hogland and Russaro, the port outside Hanko. Russia had lost 21 aeroplanes. The communique added that the fronts were quiet yesterday except north of Lake Ladoga, where there was much activity, the enemy suffering heavy losses in attempting to cross the frozen lakes. They were easily seen and the ice, where it was thin, frequently broke. The Finnish newspaper “Heiisingin Sanomat” says that about 1000 Russians were killed at Terjoki when land mines exploded. The Finns are filling up trapped tanks with inflammable material and setting them on fire.

Six Finnish divisions continue to hold Petsamo. The; Russians unsuccessfully tried to land troops in Petsamo fjords from ships. From Stockholm it is reported that the Russians claim advances from Uhtnaeg, which is in the same latitude as Ulcaborg, representing an effort to cut Finland’s “waistline.”

A Red Army communique claims a 1 vances on all fronts. “We occupied ‘ho islands of Hogland, Seiskari and Lavansaari,” it says.

French military circles express the opinion that the Russian advances are small, namely, 12 miles on the Karelian isthmus and just more than three miles north of Lake Ladoga. REFUGEES FROM HELSINKI. * ( DEPARTURE ON GERMAN SHIP. LONDON, December 4. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says that the German refugee ship Donau departed from Helsinki with 700 Germans, 40 1 members of the Russian Embassy, 150 Italians and 100 Estonians. The American colony will go to Sweden to-morrow. Tlie correspondent reported that the departure of the Dbnau was delayed because of the refusal of two-thirds of the German coltiny to lie repatriated. He commented that they preferred to remain in Europe’s most dangerous city rather than return to Germany.