SOVIET LAUNCHES OFFENSIVE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22907, 2 January 1940, Page 7

SOVIET LAUNCHES OFFENSIVE

News Of Revolt In Army

REINFORCEMENTS BROUGHT UP (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTBIGHT.) (Received December 30, 5.20 p.m.) LONDON, December 29. A furious, assault on the Mannerheim Line, in the Karelian Isthmus, has been launched by- the Russians in an effort to break through before the New Year, according to a report' from Finland. The Finnish Intelligence Service anticipates an offensive from the south end of the Mannerheim Line, the attack at the northern end having failed. This is expected to employ 100,000 Russians, but the Finns are prepared for anything, even parachute landings. Soviet losses are reported to total 3000, and those of the Finns several hundreds. In an encounter north of Lake Ladoga 300 Russians were killed and the FJnns captured 10 quick-firing guns. On the northeastern front the Finns claim to have captured a number of tanks, and in the far north ski-troops surprised Russian aeroplanes which had landed on a frozen lake. ..The Russian retreat in the far north is, said to be due to lack of food. , Russian communiques still report that "nothing in particular" is happening on any of the fronts. Soviet Troops Rebel A report from Helsinki states that Finland defiantly holds her own, heartened by semi-official Finnish news that a revolt has broken out in the Russian lines because of defective discipline among troops in.the Kuolojarvi district, where Russian war aeroplanes were forced to bomb, and Russian machine-guns to fire on their own troops. Two infantry regiments fiercely fought each other, but this may. be due to mistaking each other for Finns. The confusion was by Finnish patrols penetrating the Russian lines. Finnish reports before the announcement of the revolt stated that the Russians were bringing up more guns to the Kuolojarvi front, but disastrous confusion prevailed. A message from Stockholm says that a squadron of Soviet airmen alighted on the ice near Lake Enare. They surrendered, complaining of engine trouble and lack of petrol, though the engines are perfect and