SCORES OF SOVIET 'PLANES CROSS COAST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1940, Page 7

SCORES OF SOVIET 'PLANES CROSS COAST.

BOMBING FINLAND. LaFge-Scale Engagements Developing. ' FOREIGN HELP ARRIVES. United Press Association.—L'ujiy right. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, January 15. It is reported from Helsinki that, soon after dawn, scores of Soviet warpjaues crossed the coast, presumablyirom bases in Estonia, and began bombing. Large-scale engagements are developing on the fronts at 8a 11a and retsamo, in northern Finland. Twenty thousand Russians, with 30 armoured tanks and a number of armoured ears, are taking part in the offensive at Petsamo.

Russian aeroplanes attacked on the letsamo front and bombed a field hospital, driving the staffs and wounded into the snovv for shelter.

Appreciable foreign material help i* believed to have reached the Finnish noitheiii forces, including one or two brigades of Swedish volunteers, big »uns and other arms.

Fighting is intense at Koirinoka and Kitela, north of Take Ladoga, where two fresh Russian divisions are attacking toward Sortavalii. The Finns have made all preparations to resist and are digging in behind barbed wire, while patrols are trying to cut the Russian communications.

"llie I'in 113 hold strong positions and their lines on the Karelian Isthmus have nowhere been penetrated, but their losses from artillery fire are heavy. Russian air raids killed a total of 13 persons at Hameerlinna, Helsinki, Lahti and Hvvinkai and wounded dozens of others and destroyed many houses including that of the United States Minister, Mr. H. F. A. Schoenfield, which was empty. The Finns shot down two machines and found the wreckage of another. c