Filins Stand Fast Despite Red Pressure

Northern Advocate, 12 February 1940, Page 5

Filins Stand Fast Despite Red Pressure

LONDON, February 11. The Rusians continue to pound the Finnish line from the Gulf of Finland to Lake Ladoga. The Finns claim they have not yielded a yard. A Finnish war communique says the Soviet have maintained its offensive for the ninth successive day without success. The Finns nave captured 32 tanks and shot down four enemy aeroplanes. Violent Fighting. The Karelian Isthmus is the scene of violent fighting. Heavy Russian artillery and tanks, supported by massed infantry attacks, were thrown i against the Mannerlieim Line, but J were repulsed with heavy losses. The Russians lost another 800 men north-east of Lake Ladoga. The enemy pressure is heaviest in the Summa sector. All attacks have been repulsed. The enemy losses include a column of 00 lorries and two tanks. The commander of the 11th Russian Division (Colonel Borisov) was killed. The enemy's weak efforts in the Suomussalmi sector were repulsed. The enemy lost four aeroplanes there. Winning, Reds Assert. The Russians claim that they are winning, against the Mannerheim Line. They announce the occupation of an artillery position just west of the Summa sector. comprising eight batteries, and also the capture of five similar positions between Lake Ladoga and Sakkola. The invaders are obviously trying the endurance of the Mannerheim Line, at a daily, cost ol‘ thousands of men, says another report. Finnish losses are also considerable, under closely eo-ordin.ated attacks from artillery, tanks and -aeroplanes. The Russians are preventing the reinforcements of critical sectors by increased activity on the Arctic, Salla and Kuh.no fronts, .and revitalised resistance north-east of Lake Ladoga. Soviet Losses. A message from London says a Finnish communique says the Soviet losses since the outbreak of the war are:— 327 aeroplanes. 594 tanks, i 206 guns. 572 cars, lorries and tractors. 63 field kitchens. 8 ships. 1 submarine.