RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT MASSED

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 94, 15 January 1940, Page 7

RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT MASSED

Raids More Intensive

EFFORTS TO PREPARE BIG OFFENSIVE

Possible Desire For Later Mediation (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) Received January 14. 9.20 p.m. LONDON, January 14. Russian movements in Finland now indicate preparation for a determined effort to end the tale of failure by concerted attacks on all fronts with heavily reinforced troops supported by air bombaidmenMoscow dispatches suggest that Russia would gladly accept German mediation, provided she was first able to secure a majoi victory. Authoritative German circles suggest that Scandinavia is wiling to mediate, but in view of the lack of. confirmation outside Germany this is regarded as clumsy kite-flying dictated by Germany’s desire to see the end of the Finnish conflict and minimize the necessity of German experts going to Russia. A Helsinki message reports that the Russians are massing 1000 planes in Leningrad and Paldiski (possibly Baltiski, Estonia). . An air raid on Turku on Thursday was a prelude to intensive air straffing of south-western Finland, aimed chiefly at the railways for the purpose of disorganizing the supply lines in this section of the country. The reverberations were felt from heavy bombing of gulf islands 30 miles distant. Eighteen bombers destroyed a radio station at Lahti. RUSSIANS CHANGE METHODS. The Russian preparations elsewhere include the mustering of 2000 field guns on the Karelian Isthmus, where 20 divisions totalling 400 000 men face the Mannerheim Line. The Russian soldiers now wear white mantles, while sledges are replacing some of their motorized units. The most modern skis have been requisitioned and the Finns have captuied thousands of books entitled: “How to Ski.” The armoured cars are now painted white and the big guns are covered with white cotton. Nevertheless, the Finns maintain their control of the central sectors, wrecking isolated units and cutting comunications. Russian planes on Thursday raided the port of Turku for foui hours, setting fire to houses and injuring a woman. Several groups of parachuters, each bO strong, who attempted to land behind the Mannerheim Line, were annihilated. Despite bad weather, the Finnish Air Force carried out a series of daring leaflet raids over the Russian bases in the Baltic and over Leningrad. The Russian army appears to be practically immobilized.