War Developing in their Favour

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1939, Page 9

War Developing in their Favour

DEFENSIVE POLICY

Russia's Aim Stated

OUSTING OPPRESSORS OF

FINLAND

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) '(Received December 5, 11.30 a.m.)

LONDON, December 4. A message from Helsinki states that the military situation is unchanged. - . . Finnish circles in London feel that the military situation is developing in favour of Finland, whose Legation emphasises that her approach to Moscow through the Swedish Minister is no gesture of surrender, since she will not accept jeopardisation of her independence. Optimism regarding the campaign relies largely on the frontier of the Karelian Isthmus being so narrow that it is capable of defence by as many soldiers as Russia could deploy in an attack. Already Russia's advance has been stemmed in this area, while elsewhere only guerrilla tactics can be employed, for which the Finns, who are trained on skis since childhood, are notably well prepared. A Russian claim to the occupation of the island of Hogland, Seiskari, Lavansaari, and Tytarsaari after naval battles is derided in London, where ''battles" are described as a salvo from Soviet warships over the vacant island. A Moscow communique claims that the Red Army continues its advance. The "Pravda" reports a large-scale battle near Kronstadt, where the Finns were routed. The paper asserts that Britishers are assisting the Finns. The official Soviet newspaper "Prayda" states that Russia does not intend to seize territory belonging to Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, her only aim being to liberate the Finns from their oppressors and from the warmongers, namely, Professor Cajander, M. Erkko, M. Tanner, and Field-Marshal Mannerheini. It adds that the Red Army will leave Finland immediately the People's Government finds it necessary. . NO BOMBING OF CIVILIANS. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press states that Soviet airmen received orders on December 1 not to bomb civilians. The "Pravda" comments: '.'These orders are superfluous, because Soviet airmen are too humanitarian to fight an unarmed people." Stockholm reports that violent snowstorms are raging throughout Finland. Picked companies of ski soldiers are preparing to engage the Russians. The high command has ordered the troops to attack o;aly for the purpose of regaining positions; otherwise they are to remain strictly on the defensive. All air activity has been reduced to a minimum. Contrary to earlier reports, the Government is still at Helsinki. ~ ' The Moscow correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" states that the Red Army has been ordered to secure a victory by December 21, which is M. Stalin's sixtieth birthday. A blinding snowstorm yesterday, plus the presence of a German refugee ship till the evening, was apparently responsible for the absence of bombers over Helsinki all day. The churches, nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, abandoned their services. The schoolchildren have been given a vacation and allocated to evacuees. An army communique last night stated that the Finns were holding a line on the Karelian Isthmus through Vammelsuu, Kivennapa, Rautu, and Metsapirtti to which they strategically retired after the first onslaught. Russia lost 21 planes. The communique added that the fronts were quiet yester-^ day except north of Lake Ladoga, where tb.e front was very active. The enemy suffered heavy losses attempting to cross frozen lakes. They were easily seen, and where the ice was thin it frequently broke. , INVADERS HELD UP IN NORTH. The newspaper "Sanomat" says that about 1000 Russians were killed at Terijoki when landmines exploded. The Finns filled up trapped'tanks with inflammable material and set them on fire. The newspaper adds that six Finnish divisions continue to hold the far northern town of Petsamo. The Russians unsuccessfully tried to land troops in Petsamo Fiord from ships. The latest Red Army communique claims advances on all fronts, together with the occupation of the islands of Hogland, Seiskari, and Lavansaari. 1 A Stockholm message says that the Russians claim advances from Uhtnaeg, which is in the same latitude as Uleaborg, representing an effort to cut Finland's '' waistline.'' Military circles in Paris express the opinion that the Russian advances are small, namely, 12 miles along the Karelian Isthmus and just over three miles, north of Lake Ladoga. The Moscow newspaper•''Pravda" admits that the Finns are resisting more strongly and pays a tribute to the effectiveness of the mines and sniper posts concealed before their initial retreat. The Helsinki correspondent of "The Times" reports from Helsinki that after being delayed owing to the refusal by twothirds of the German colony to be repatriated, the German refugee ship Donan departed for^Reval with 400 Germans, 60 members of the Russian.Embassy, and 72 Italians. The American colony is going to Sweden tomorrow.