OVER 2000 SOVIET BOMBS AND SHELLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 14, 17 January 1940, Page 7

OVER 2000 SOVIET BOMBS AND SHELLS.

ON FINNISH FORT.

Reds Straf Right Wing Of Mannerheim Line. LOSE MORE INFANTRYMEN. United Prese Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON , , January 16. One thousand bombs and over 1000 heavy shells struck Bjorko, which is the site of the Finnish heavy naval guns guarding the right wing of the Mannerheim Line, says a Helsinki message. Fighting on the Karelian Isthmus was confined to artillery activity. The Finns destroyed the Soviet field headquarters and wiped out' two patrols totalling SO men. They halted two Soviet battalions which were attacking the Isthmus, and disrupted the supply of mechanised columns' , . Twenty towns were in flames as a result of the earlier raid by 300 Russian warplanes, said another message. Most of the towns were of no military importance. Forty civilians weru killed and 100 were injured. The airmen machine-gunned vehicles and even solitary pedestrians and they bombed three hospitals.

The principal target was Wasa, but all the shop fronts in one street were blown away in Wiipuri.

The Finns shot down three of the bombers and discovered the wreckage of three others. The enemy dropped 2000 bombs ci 42 localities in the last week. ; Russian aeroplanes in the Petsamo area came in from the Arctic Sea over I Norwegian territory. Finnish officers believe the operations are due to Russia's anxiety to exploit her Air Force before Finland can obtain sufficient aeroplanes from abroad to retaliate. A Leningrad communique confines itself to reconnaissance work, gunfire, minor infantry engagements and bombing r&ids on railway junctions and other military objectives. The Moscow radio stated to-day that men born in 1921 and students born in 1922 who are in the final year of their studies must register for military service. The League of Nations has been in- j formed that Eire is sending £1000 to Finland, says a German message. NO BRITISH GUARANTEE. 1 NORWAY AND SWEDEN. (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 10. It is officially denied in Stockholm and Oslo that Britain offered to guarantee the integrity of Sweden C and Norway.