THREE DAYS' SLAUGHTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 22, 26 January 1940, Page 7

THREE DAYS' SLAUGHTERS

RUSSIAN FAILURE

CAUSES OF HIGH MORTALITY

HELSINKI, January 24.

The big Russian offensive north-east ". of Lake Ladoga collapsed after three ■ days of slaughter. The Finns repulsed. -; all attacks, including the drives against the middle of the Mannerheim lane \. and also at Kollaanjbki and Aittojoki. , The Russians, hoping to smash tha left wing of the Mannerheim Line, brought to bear the full force of their ■: mechanised units. The tanks and ■-. planes were under the control of , crack troops, but they could not even! ;. cut the railway to Sortavala, which ; would have intercepted the transport - of Finnish soldiers and material, -The / Finns definitely held their own against.. the waves of Russian attacks, besides threatening the Russian .flank, which.,was the bastion of the offensive. - '* The Russian losses already number : thousands, which can be ascribed tot. their advancing in too close formation!" because of their tendency to. break or- ; surrender if allowed to spread. The high Russian mortality is also '■ due to their inadequate clothing/.in- \- sufficient food, filthy personal condi- : tions, lack of medical personnel, and ; - the practice of giving first aid to;commissars and officers while wqunded ;_■ privates are allowed to ~; freeze.- .to , death. ■*,'.'- - '*'■ A Finnish communique states: The., enemy, supported by artillery, were ~ repulsed when they attacked- the. ■ Summa sector (near the centre of the r Karelian Isthmus), where the Finnishguns demolished the Russian advance . over the ice-covered lake of Muolaa, .: but the fighting continues. The Finns' " heavily repulsed all attacks on the -." eastern front, destroying seven tanks.