REDS FORCED BACK ACROSS FRONTIER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 7

REDS FORCED BACK ACROSS FRONTIER.

ATTACKS BY FINNS.

Aircraft And "Big Berthas"

In Action.

EVACUATED TOWN AFIRE

United Press Association.— Copyright.

(Received 1 p.m.)

LONDON, December 26

The British United Press correspondent at Viipuri (Viborg) says the Russian "Big Berthas," 25 miles distant, bombarded Viipuri throughout the night, excavating craters 12 feet across and six feet deep.

A pall of smoke from burning buildings envelops the town, which is in a constant stat» of air raid alarm.

A Helsinki message says four Russian 'planes are reported to have been ehot down at Imatra, west of Lake Ladoga. Six bombers flew over the capital but no bombs were dropped.

The latest communique in Moscow does not claim an advance, but reports local skirmishes.

It is officially stated, says a cable from the Vatican City, that the Pope has sent financial help to needy Finnish Catholics.

In Leningrad, it is denied that M. Kuusinen, leader of the Red puppet Government in Finland, has been arrested.

Fighting On Russian Soil. It is officially announced from Helsinki that the Finnish troops on the Karelian Isthmus, south-eaet of Viipuri, were fighting on Russian soil yesterday for the first time since the invasion. The Russians had been driven back across their own frontier, east of Leiksa and north of Lake Ladoga.

Russian aeroplanes repeatedly bombed Viipuri yesterday, but the only result was that several persons were wounded. The casualties would have been high but for the fact that practically the whole of the population had been evacuated. Buildings were demolished, but there was no damage of military importance.

Hundreds of Russian aeroplanes flew over the country all day, some dropping bombs and others 'leaflets. The main object apparently was to disturb the Finnish observance of Christmas. Three enemy aeroplanes were ehot down near Viipuri.

A Moscow communique says: "We seriously defeated the Finns in the Suoinuesalmi sector, occupying their fortified positions, and routed two battalions in the- Illomantsi area, killing many. . Our Air Force reconnoitred, shooting down six Finnish aeroplanes," In Helsinki it is stated that 10 Russian aeroplane* were brought down, including three in Helsinki itself, which wae raided continuously for five hours. At Stockholm message saye 13 bombs were dropped on Porvoo, killing nine and wounding 20.

FIGHT FOR YEAR.

Finns , Stand Behind Natural

Defences.

NOT AFRAID OF SUMMER.

HELSINKI, December 22.

General K. M. Wallenius, commander of the Finnish forces in the north, eays he believes Finland can hold out against the Russians for at least a year.

He is one of the Old Guard who fought for Finland against the Bolsheviks in 1918-20, and is a stockily-built man with the face of a hardened fighter.

"Winter is on our side," he says. "Our troops are better trained and better equipped for winter fighting than the Russians. The eummer is also our ally, for then the lakes, without their ice covering, form, with the forests, natural defence lines. When the summer comes things may be greatly changed in other parts of Europe, enabling ue to get help."