GREAT SOVIET OFFENSIVE

Evening Star, Issue 23503, 17 February 1940, Page 9

GREAT SOVIET OFFENSIVE

FINNS RETREAT UNDER TERRIFIC PRESSURE CARNAGE AMONG INVADERS . ' Pf«f A^nrintion—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 16. The Russians claim that they have now gained a foothold on the front line of the Mannerheim Line near Summa, but the Finns claim to have made counter-attacks and to have recaptured some of the lost advance posts. The Russians are launching concentrated attacks at three points of the line and in the intense fighting the Finns claim that 3,500 Russians have been killed. An eye-witness of the fighting near gumma says: “ The Russians seemed to sweep forward in a vast mass headed by seven lines of tanks, 10 abreast. The Finns must have had nerves of steel to keep their positions in the face of such a terrific attack.” The Finns admit that under terrific pressure from the Russians they have withdrawn from their first-line positions at a number of points on the Summa sector. The narrow Taibela River alone separates the Russian and Finnish armies. A Leningrad communique states that the Finns are retreating, abandoning arms, and suffering grave losses. The Russians occupied 53 fortifications on the isthmus yesterday, including 21 ferro-cohcreto artillery forts, CAPITAL BOMBED MANY FIRES BURNING HELSINKI, February 16. (Received February 17, at 10.35 a.m.) Thirty-four people were killed and 60 -injured in air raids. Many fires are burning. UNDIMINISHED FEROCITY RUSSIAN ONSLAUGHT CONTINUES HELSINKI, February 16. (Received February 17, at 10.20 a.m.) The Rassian onslaught on the Karelian Isthmus continued to-day with;un■diminished ferocity. On the Summa,and Taibela sectors the depth of the posi-' tions lest by the Finns iff unknown, but it is stated that they are not regarded as part of the real Mannerheim Line. POSITION SERIOUS FINNS RETREAT TO SECOND DEFENCE LINE STOCKHOLM, February 16. (Received February 17, at 11 a.m.) The situation on the Karelian Isthmus is reported to be serious. The Finns have retreated to their second line of defence and their eounter-attacks were unsuccessful at all places. A communique from Helsinki admits that the Russians penetrated the Finnish positions east of Summa, also at two points between the Muola and Vuok lakes.