IN DISORDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 9

IN DISORDER.

RUSSIANS RETIRING.

Finns Capture Scores Of

Machine-guns.

COUNTER-ATTACK SUCCEEDS

t'nltod I'ress A«soelutiou.—Copyright

LONDON, December 22

In a successful conclusion to a two days' counter-attack at Kuolajarvi, on the north-eastern front, the Finns forced back the Russians for 20 miles and averted the immediate danger to Ketuittrask, which is connected by rail with Rovaniemi and Sweden, said an earlier dispatch from Stockholm. The Finns captured scores of mach'negun», 30 armoured cars and 1200 horses. The Russians were seen retreating in disorder through Saliniarjarvi, and the Finns are now advancing along the l'asvig River. The retreat ia due to Russian carelessness in the establishment of communications to the base. Italian and Spanish airmen participated in several bombings of the Leningrad—Murmansk railway. The Russians on the Petsamo front were driven back for many miles north of Xautii, which is the southernmost tip of the Norwegian frontier. Tile Itare terrain to the north of this urea favoured the Russian advance, but the Fiiius have now received modern Moieover, east of Kyro U a UO-mi?e licit of forest and hills which will render the Russian advance much more difficult. A Finnish communique states that the Russian offensive on the Karelian Isthmus continued throughout the day, but the positions had not changed at night. The enemy losses were severe. They included eight tanks and at leaat 20 machine-guns. Finnish artillery bombarded the enemy lines and caused heavy losses. The battle of Aglajarvi continues. The Russians there have lost nine heavy tanks, two field guns, three armoured cars and 20 machine-guns. The Finns destroyed a Soviet battalion, killing 600 men. A message from Moscow says wounded Soviet troops are arriving- there because the Leningrad hospitals are overcrowded. A passenger on a train which was machine-gunned hy Red flyers said that Jive aeroplanes attacked within 10 minutes, from a height of 150 ft. "We were an easy target," he added. "We ran into the woods immediately tlie train pulled up."

AID FOR FINNS.

VOLUNTEERS AEBIVE.

STOCKHOLM, December 22.

Fifty Finnish volunteers from the United States have arrived In Sweden. Volunteers leaving for Finland were farewelled at a large gathering at Stockholm.