RUSSIAN ADVANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 February 1940, Page 8

RUSSIAN ADVANCE

CONCRETE FORTS CAPTURED ? PROGRESS DEARLY PURCHASED [BY. CABLE—PBESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, February 12. The Russians claim advance's in the Mannerheim' Line,' and say they have taken 16 Finnish positions, including ‘eight iron and concrete forts’. The Finns, however, repeat that all attacks are still being repitlsed, arid that thousands of losses have been inflicted on the Russians. The Russians are attacking on a wider front north and . south of Summa. The Russian High Command appears to attach great importance to the attack on Summa, for it is reported' that the troops they aye usirig are all men of the regular army, and not conscripts. The Russian attacks have now been going on for 10 days, and the Russians have daily brought up heavy, reinforcements to throw into the battle. So far, they have suffered losses with not much, to show for them, unless it is the hope that superior weight of men and materials will wear down the smaller forces of the defence. On the Arctic front operations are held up by snow, which has been falling for two days. Not only has the the snow stopped Russian bombing raids, but it has also held up supplies and interfered with communications.

LINE STILL INTACT. LONDON, February 12. The special correspondent of the Associated Press of Britain in the Summa sector, in Finland, reported on Monday: The Finns predict an early end to the eleven-day battle in this sector of the Mannerheim Line, as the Soviet infantry attacks are becoming less intense. Columns of Russians, protected by an artillery barrage, continue to advance through the forests and the fields, but the Finnish commander remarked: ‘The tiredness of the Russians is apparent.” . The Mannerheim Line is still intact. The Russian effort to pierce it certainly has fallen short of expectations. I have seen no indication of a Finnish retreat or of plans for a retreat. Instead there have been several strategic counter-attacks and shells fell within yards of woods on either side of our narrow path. RUSSIAN CLAIMS. LENINGRAD, February 12. A Soviet, communique reports that there have been artillery duels and infantry clashes on the Karelian Isthmus, which have resulted in the capture of sixteen Finnish fortifications, including eight ferro-concrete artillery forts. RUSSIAN ARMORED SHIELDS. (Recd. February 13, 10.30 a.m-) LONDON, February 12. The American Press special‘correspondent in the Summa sector says. Finnish officers showed me armoured shields which the Russians push before them as they crawl across the battlefield. They are about two feet high, shaped like a snow-plough, with a hole in the apex for a rifle. Many captured shields have been placed on top of the Finnish trenches. Some of the larger are used to protect machine-guns. Others are fastened on skiis, and have protected sledges, on which infantrymen rode into battle. Officers say that throwing back the Russians was easy. Their artillery was mostly inaccurate, but the tank crews were highly trained, and weie difficult to combat. About 170 planes support the enemy artillery on the days of big attacks. The Russians rarely set close enough for hand-to-hand fighting. SKIS NEEDED. (Received February 13, 1 p.m.) LONDON, February 12. The Finnish Consulate at The Hague is making an appeal for gifts of skis, after the destruction of one of the biggest ski factories in Finland.