A PEACE MOVE?

Grey River Argus, 21 June 1944, Page 5

A PEACE MOVE?

RUSSIA AND FINLAND

New Government Likely RUSSIANS CLOSE ON VIIPURI [Aus. & N.Z- Press Assn.] (Rec. 12.30.) LONDON, June 20. Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent says that as Marshal Govorov’s entire force converges on Viipuri, reports from Finland state that a new Finnish Government which will negotiate peace with Russia is expected to be formed to-day. The new Government will be under the leadership of one of Finland’s most prominent personalities.

An Associated Press correspondent In Moscow reports that the Russians are nine miles from Viipuri. Big guns are pouring salvoes into the outer defences. The Finns’ coastal defences along the Gulf of Viipuri have collapsed, and Russian salvoes are threatening to cut off large numbers of defenders in the little peninsulas, south of the city. According to the Moscow “Red Star,” the Finns’ position is extremely critical. They are hopelessly outnumbered bv Soviet forces on the threshhold of the town. Soviet mobile forces are spreading chaos in the Finns’ rear, cutting communications and demolishing ammunition dumps. BREACH IN LINE WIDENED LONDON, June 19. A Moscow communique states:— Russian forces on the Leningrad front in the Karelian Isthmus continuing their offensive, extended the breach in the Mannerheim Line to 30 miles in . width, from Muola to .the Gulf of Finland. The Russians fully cleared the enemy troops from the southern shores of Lake Suvanto Wuoksen. The Russians today captured large enemy strongpoints at Summa Lijahullan and Muola, and also fought a way into 70 inhabited places. There was no material change in other sectors of the front I LOSS OF TOWNS ADMITTED LONDON, June 19. A Finnish communique states: In particularly fierce fighting in the Karelian Isthmus we abandoned Bjorko, also Valkajarvi and Rautu,22 -.and 8 miles respectively, west of Metsapirtti. The Helsinki correspondent of the Stockholm “Aftonbladet” says military circles at Helsinki in an amazingly frank comment to-day on the position of the Finnish Army, described the situation as critical, with Viipuri directly menaced by the onrushing Red Army. Govorov’s triple advance towards Viipuri is beginning to encompass the city and entrap the Finnish forces remaining on the Karelian Isthmus, states Reuter’s Moscow’ correspondent. Govorov, bent on a lightning campaign, is switching a powerful artillery concentration from sector to sector as he varies the weight and direction of the attacks. His tactics so far have been wholly successful. The roar of Russian planes is almost continuous over the fire-scorched battle area. Ths Finns are reported to have appealed to the Germans for more aid, particularly additional planes, but so far the Germans have not responded. Dietl is sitting tight m northern Finland because the possession of Petsamo is more important for the German than Viipuri .and the other southern towns.