ATTACK BY REDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 104, 12 February 1940, Page 5

ATTACK BY REDS

MAINTAINING THEIR PRESSURE.

HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE DAILY.

’HELSINKI, February 10

The Russians claim that they are winning against the Mannerheim Lino and announce the occupation of an artillery position just west of the Summa sector, comprising eight batteries, and also the capture of five similar positions between Lake Ladoga and the Sakkola.

The Finns declare that all attacks have been repulsed,- but. they do not specifically refute the Russians’ claims. The invaders are,-obviously sorely trying the endurance of the defenders of the Mannerheim Line, but it is daily costing them thousands of men. The •Finnish losses also are considerable under closely-co-ordinated attacks from artillery, tanks and aeroplanes; and the Russians are preventing the reinforcement of critical sectors by increased activity on the Arctic, Salla and Kuhmo fronts, and revitalised resistance northeast of Lake Ladoga. The Russians fruitlessly attacked Finnish positions in the nickel mine area on the Norwegian frontier, and the Finns replied by penetrating into the Red lines by more than 10 miles. Soviet aeroplanes, it is reported, machine-gunned their own troops to force them to attack. The Finns announced that four separate attacks between Sunfma and Lake Ladoga were repulsed and that they had driven the Reds from strongly defended positions north-east of Lake Ladoga. A Finnish war communique states that the Soviet maintained her offensive for the ninth successive day without success. The Finns captured 32 tanks and shot down four enemy aeroplanes. The Karelian Isthmus is the scene of violent fighting. Heavy artillery and tanks, supported by massed Red infantry, attacked the Mannerheim Line, but were thrown back with heavy losses. -The'Russians lost another 80(? men north-east of Lake Ladoga The enemy pressure is heaviest he the Summa sector. All attacks have been repulsed, while the enemy lost about \BOO killed," beside a column oi 60 lorries and two tanks. The commander of the 11th Russian Division (Colonel Borisov) was killed.

The enemy’s weak efforts near Suo mussalmi were repulsed. The enemy lost four aeroplanes there. Another report says that the Russians are making tremendous assaults on all:.sections of " the Mannerheim Line. On the Karelian Isthmus the attacks are very determined, hut the Finns . are: standing firm. :. North of Lake Ladoga the attacks are* also continuing, and the fierce battle ■ which has been raging on the north-central front for the last week has not yet stopped.' It • is ' estimated that here the Russians have suffered 2060 casualties. • • Tho ' Finnish Prime Minister , (M. R.yti) lias sent, a message to France expressing appreciation of tho assist-ance-given by the French. It is stated that French help has been very important, including war material of all kinds.