REDS' BONIS FILL IN SEA DURING RAIDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 7

REDS' BONIS FILL IN SEA DURING RAIDS.

OBJECTIVES MISSED.

Finnish Successes Alarm

Moscow.

SOVIET ARMY'S FAILURE,

United Press Association. —Copyright.

(Received 11 a.m.) LOXDOy, December 27. Russian bombers vigorously attacked several strategic points, with little result, states a message from Helsinki. Twelve bombers twice raided the munitions centre of Tampere and dropped 50 bombs. Only one civilian was killed and one was wounded. Several houses were destroyed. A squadron similarly attacked Turku, where most of the bombs fell in the water. Six 'planes raided Viipuri (Viborg), the results of which are unknown. The morning communique iesued at Moscow states that only local skirmishes have taken place.

Alarming reports from Finland are beginning to circulate in Moscow, says a message from the Soviet capital. The Red Army's casualties are stated to be between 25,000 and 30,000 dead and between 30,000 and 40,000 wounded, frostbitten, ill, captured or deserted. Such figures are not a calamity for an army of such size, but they create talk that does not redound to the credit of the Soviet regime. Troops Too Cold To Use Rifles. Reports that the Russians are poorly clothed are causing surprise, because the Government has previously boasted of their clothing. The lack of gloves is reported to be preventing the use of rifles in the freezing weather. It is also whispered that too many shells and bombs fail to explode. The Russian communiques continue to give the impression that activity is confined to patrolling and skirmishing. The official newspaper "Pravda" publishes the names of a number of factory managers and workers who have been summoned to appear before the Moscow People's Tribunal. A Finnish communique issued in Helsinki last night stated that numerous Russian attacks on the Karelian Isthmus, supported by tanks, guns and aeroplanes, were repulsed with heavy Russian losses, including 700 dead left on the frozen surface of a small lake. Guns And Material Taken. » During the day the Finns captured 60 machine-guns and five quick-firing guns, and took 50 prisoners. They also put out of action two tanks. A small amount of material was captured on the eastern front, where the Finns destroyed two tanks and 20 lorries. The Finnish Navy and Air Force combined shot down 23 Russian aeroplanes. The Russians on the Karelian Isthmus yesterday bombarded the Finnish lines on a 62-mile front, but the Finns held on successfully.

The Russians are concentrating on the destruction of Viipuri, waves of between 40 and 50 aeroplanes bombing the empty city. Russian "Big Berthas" ceaselessly bombarded the city from a distance of 25 miles. A pall of smoke from burning buildings envelops the town. On the northern front the Russians have been driven back 50 miles in the vicinity of Kuolajarvi in the last 10 days, and the invaders are holding roughly the same positions on this front ae in the first week of the war. Three members of the Women's Defehce Organisation, who refused to leave dangerous posts close to the enemy, were killed [jn action.