REDS PUNISHED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 71, 21 February 1940, Page 9

REDS PUNISHED

TERRIFIC HAMMER-BLOWS LAKE LADOGA FRONT. HIGH LOSSES CLAIMED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received Eebruarv 21, 8.5 a.m. PARIS, Eeb. 20. The Ilavas News Agency reports that Field-Marshal Manneriieini, the Finnish Commander-iu-Chief, is raining terrific hammer blows against the Red Army’s Lake Ladoga front. Further Russian divisions are reported to be in difficulties and suffering considerable losses in this sector, where Ihe Finns claimed to have annihilated the 18th Division on Monclay.

The Finns claim to have captured a “very well-known high Russian military personality, together with some members of his staff.”

A Leningrad communique states: “The Russians continued clearing the enemy from (he Bjorko fortified area (at the western end of the Mannerlicim Line), and occupied Rionstari Island, three miles south-west from Saint Johannes, and also the stations at Lahteenmaki and lJumoljoki, on the Bjorko-Viborg railway. They brought down 14' Finnish ’planes.” A Moscow communique states : “Our advance on the Isthmus lias continued. We have captured two islands and coastal railway stations. The air force has bombed enemy troops and military objectives, shooting down 14 Finnish ’planes.”