FINNS' ENDURANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 36, 12 February 1940, Page 7

FINNS' ENDURANCE

DEFENCE OF THE MANNERHEIM LINE

RUSSIANS CLAIM ATTACK IS SUCCEEDING

(By Telegraph—Press Association — Copyright.) (Received February 12, 11.30 a.m.)

HELSINKI, February 11

The Russians claim that they are. winning- against the Mannerheim Line, and announce the occupation of an artillery position just west of the Summa sector comprising eight batteries, and also the capture of five similar positions between Lake Ladoga and Sakkola.

The Finns declare that all attacks have been repulsed, but do not specifically refute the Russians' claims.

The invaders obviously are sorely trying the endurance of the Mannerheim defenders, at a daily cost to themselves of thousands of men. The Finnish losses are also considerable under closely co-ordinated attacks from artillery, tanks, and planes, and the Russians are preventing- the reinforcement of critical sectors by increased activity on the Arctic, Salla, and Kuhmo, fronts and revitalised resistance north-east of Lake Ladoga.

■ •'. The Russians fruitlessly attacked Finnish positions in the nickel mine area on the Norwegian frontier. The Finns^ replied by penetrating the Red Army's lines for over ten miles. Soviet planes are reported to have machine-gunned their own troops so as to force them to attack. NINTH SUCCESSIVE DAY OF OFFENSIVE. A Finnish war communique states: "The Soviet maintained the offensive for the ninth successive day without success. The Finns captured 32 tanks and shot down four enemy planes. The Karelian Isthmus is the scene of violent fighting. Heavy artillery and tanks supported massed Red infantry attacks against the Mannerheim Line, but were* thrown back with heavy losses. The Russians lost another 800 men northeast of Lake Ladoga. The enemy pressure is heaviest on the Summa sector of the Mannerheim Line, but all attacks have been repulsed, while the enemy has lost about 800 killed besides a column of 60 lorries and two tanks. The commander of the llth Russian Division, Colonel Borisov, was killed. "Weak efforts by the enemy at Suomussalmi were repulsed, and the enemy lost four planes there."

Reports from Stockholm indicate that the Russians are making a tremendous effort to break through the Mannerheim Line. The attack is going on right across the isthmus ahd an effort is being made to prevent the Finns from getting reinforcements. The Finns have been standing firm, but the intensity of the attack is placing a severe strain on their reserves.