NAZI MISSION TO LENINGRAD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20136, 4 January 1940, Page 7

NAZI MISSION TO LENINGRAD

RESPONSE TO PLEA BY STALIN CRUSHING REVERSE TO SOVIET FORCE!: ANNIHILATION OF CRACK DIVISIONS MADE MONKEYS BY FINNS’ TACTICS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Jan. 4, 9 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 3. Following' yesterday \s report by the Berlin correspondent of the Copenhagen paper Politiken, that M. Stalin had asked lierr Hitler for 200,000 German technicians, engineers, and specialists to reorganise Russian economic life and the subsequent denial of that story in Berlin, the Amsterdam correspondent of the News Chronicle to-day reports that, in response to M. Stalin’s appeal, Germany has sent a military mission ,to Leningrad to aid -the Russians against the Finns. The members of the mission are mostly German officers who fought against the Russians in the Finnish war of liberation in 1918, and whom M. Stalin specially requested should be sent. For military reasons the extent of the crushing Finnish victory over the Russians at Kiantajarvi has been carefully screened in the communiques, states the Kiantajarvi correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. It surpassed the terrific blow delivered by the Finns on the Suomussalmi sector, 200 miles further north. It involved the destruction of a crack Russian division of 18,000 men, the capture of much war material, and 700 prisoners. Three Russian divisions participated in .twin battles at Kiantajarvi and Algajarvi. The Russians were not ill-clad, badly trained or “proletarian cannon fodder, ’’ but were wellclothed, fully equipped shock troops. Made Monkeys of Soviet Leaders The Finnish strategy made monkeys pf the Soviet High. Command, thus securing the eastern front for two months. The officers directing this tactical masterpiece have been promoted from colonel to general. The Finns are now tying the Russians into knots east of Algajarvi. A message from Helsinki states that the Finnish triumph at Kiantajarvi, coupled with the successful thrusts into Russian territory elsewhere, has relieved the pressure against the Joensuu-Nurmes and Oulu railways which are most important for the transport of Finnish reserves. Russian planes bombed Turku harbour, five persons being killed and 20 wounded. The bombs ignited many houses, hit the Finnish steamer Leo and damaged a Swedish steamer and two tugs. Thirty-two planes participated in a raid on Wasa. The bombs killed or wounded 30 persons and destroyed many houses, but the historic museum in the castle, which was damaged by fire, Avas saved. Blizzard Checks Air Raiders A blizzard not only prevented further Russian raids to-day, but forced a number of Soviet planes to land in Finnish territory. The Russians bombed Oulu last Monday. The casualties and damage are extensive. A serious accident is reported on the Murmansk railway, where a troop train crashed down an embankment, causing hundreds of deaths, but it is not certain whether it was due to Finnish mines or to the condition of the railwav line. A search of the Pasvik River revealed no trace of Russian bombs that were allegedly dropped in Norway. Finnish hotels and restaurants have been ordered to serve simpler meals. Householders have been told they must economise in heating. Rations are still substantial.