FINNISH REVERSES

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1940, Page 7

FINNISH REVERSES

LARGE RUSSIAN CAPTURES

KEY POSITIONS TAKEN?

[by cable —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, February 19.

I The main Finnish defences remain I intact, although Russia, exulting over her reported successes, is claiming that the Finnish key positions , are crumbling under the weight of’ the opposing men and metal. A Leningrad communique says:— “The offensive on the Karelian Isthmus has developed successfully. The enemy have continued to retreat. Russian troops have reached the sea coast between Wiipuri and Bjorko. occupying Somme, a station six miles south from Wiipuri, and the St. Johannes and 1 Marksalalßi stations. “Russian forces captured. 313 strong posts on Saturday and Sunday, and occupied the fortified area of Muolaa, in the middle of the Mannerheim Line, reaching to the Salmenkaita River, which is five miles north ‘df Kyyrola. “We captured in the week up tc yesterday 475 fortifications, including 92 ferro-concrete artillery forts, and we brought down yesterday 21 enemy aeroplanes.” A Finnish communique says: “The Russian pressure on the Karelian Isthmus is weaker. Our aeroplanes scattered and drove back enemy bombing formations and bombed enemy columns at assembly points. We shot down 24 aeroplanes.”

FINNISH REINFORCEMENTS

(Recd. February 20, Noon) HELSINKI, February 19.

It is claimed that the Russian offensive against the Mannerheim Line has been halted at various points by land-mines. It is reported that 15 tanks were blown up by mines in the former Finnish lines. Finnish reinforcements are relieving the troops in the second defence line. The Finnish Air Force has also been reinforced by fresh machines, and is seriously hampering the Russian rearcommunications.

, Finn's exempted in peace-time, owing to ill-health, have been called up. The Finns have brought down 412 Russian warplanes since the outbreak of the war.

NEW POSITIONS ATTACKED.

(Recd. February 20, 1.45 p.m.)

HELSINKI, February 19.

A Finnish communique announces the annihilation, by death or capture, of the shattered remnants, 18,000, comprising the Eighteenth Division, whose rout was described on February 5. The Russians renewed the attack on Taibala, but lost a battalion and six tanks attacking the new Finnish positions elsewhere were dispersed. A column .took guns, machine-guns, and ammunition. Their increasing aerial efficiency cost the Russians 24 ’planes on February 18.,

RUSSIAN CLAIM.

(Recd. Feb. 20, 2 p.m.). HELSINKI, February 19

A Russian communique makes _no mention of the Eighteenth Division, and concentrates on the Soviet occupation icf . the outworks of the Mannerheim line and Muola, and the isolation of Bjorko, whence the Finns shelled Russian advances. It also claims penetration to the shore of the Gulf of Finland, six miles from Wiipuri.

GERMAN WARNING

LONDON, February 18. Germany has officially informed Sweden and Norway that she regards as a breach of 'neutrality any aid they give to Finland.

SWEDISH KING’S REGRET.

(Recd. February 20, Noon) STOCKHOLM, February 19

King Gustav, in a statement, endorsed the Swedish Government’s rejection of the Finnish appeal for military assistance. He said: “I consider it is our absolute duty, so. far as possible, to try to keep our country outside a fatal conflict.” King Gustav, after paying a tribute to the Finns’ fight against an overwhelming- force, points out that Sweden tried to help in many ways. However, he had made it clear that Finland could not expect direct military assistance.

“With a sorrowful heart, I have decided that we must adhere to this attitude, otherwise .Sweden might run the greatest risk of being drawn into the war, not only against Russia, but against the Great Powers. Such. a responsibility I cannot take myself. If this happened, it might be impossible for Sweden to give Finland the help she is receiving.

King Gustav concluded .with the hope that Swedish people would understand and approve of this attitude.

King Gustav’s pronouncement caused a sensation in Sweden, which considers that he has-given a striking lead to the Government’s supporters, whose standpoint he has now made his own.

ITALIAN VOLUNTEERS. LONDON, February 19. A Garibaldian Legion of 10,000 Italians in France is shortly ’ going to Finland under Signor Gamillo Marabini, president - 0f..; ..the Garibaldians who fought in the Argonne in the last. war. He has appealed to 10,000,000 Italians outside Italy as heirs of the Garibaldi-tradition not to permit a free people to be annihilated. Signor Marabini said, that within two days the Italian legionaries would be in the front lines .in the fight to preserve Westerm •civi li sa ti on.

. . '■ • - ) (Recd. Feb. 20, 1 p.m.). j NEW YORK, February 19. | The Loan Administrator, Mr. Jones,' told the House Banking and Currency Committee that the Neutrality Law would prevent the Export and Import Bank lending to Finland, if Russia declared war. He added that he was willing to grant Finland additional credits, while she’still had a fighting chance.