INVASION OF FINLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 June 1944, Page 6

INVASION OF FINLAND

RUSSIAN OBJECTIVE ARMS SUPERIORITY RUGBY, July 13. The Russians’ pressure is heaviest along the Viborg Highway towards the former Mannerheim Line, according to Moscow messages. Tanks are operating, although the dense forests, swamps and water barriers preclude mass tactics. The Russians apparently have air superiority. The Finns are stated to be well armed with German weapons, including Firdinand and Whippet tanks, all with large calibre guns,'but the Russians have a crushing superiority in all arms. The veteran Tenth Finnish Division suffered heavy losses on the first day’s fighting. It is assumed in London that the Russian objective is the industrial and agricultural area between Viborg and Helsinki. Quite apart from possible political consequences, if the Russians gained this region with the ports of Helsinki and Koika, the Finnish forces in the interior could be placed m a difficult situation.

STRONGER RESISTANCE.

(Rec. 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, June 13. Finnish resistance stiffened during the third day of the Russian offensive in the Karelian Isthmus, as reinforcements were brought up from the Viipuri region, and some order was re-established in the ranks of the units facing back before Govorov’s drive, says “The Times’si” Moscow correspondent. The Soviet advance, however, has lost none of its impetus and though the Russians are fanning out to suppress pockets of resistance, powerful armoured forces, in compact formation, continue the main drive along the chief lines of communication. At present, there is scarcely any darkness in these regions, and the fighting is incessant.

The Helsinki correspondent of the Stockholm “Afton Bladet” reports that the Russians, after a violent artillery barrage, launched an attack against the German-held Liza River sector on the Arctic front. The Liza runs into the Arctic. Ocean about 35 miles west of Murmansk. A Finnish communique makes no reference to this attack. The communique says the Russians in the western part of the Karelian Isthmus continued particularly fierce attacks' supported by artillery. All the thrusts ‘were repelled. Hard fighting continued all day in the Vam-melsuu-Kivennapa sector. MORE CAPTURES

LONDON, June 13

A Moscow communique says that Russians in the Karelian Isthmus, to - day, continued to fight offensive engagements. They captured several enemy strongpoints.