Finns Can Not Withstand Soviet For Ever

Northern Advocate, 24 February 1940, Page 7

Finns Can Not Withstand Soviet For Ever

(Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 23. SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON GIVEN IN HIS HONOUR AT AT THE ENGLISH SPEAKING UNION YESTERDAY, THE FINNISH MINISTER (M. GRIPENBERG) SAID: “We are not blind to the fact that we cannot withstand the Soviet onslaught for ever. “There will come a day when sheer weight of numbers in weapons and men may eventually overwhelm us.

t “That is the reason why we need a continuous supply of war materials, and some help in manpower. Grateful indeed are the people of my sorely stricken country for the help which is already coming from Great Britain. Defending Mankind. “On behalf of my country, I would like to express my thanks to all those Britishers who have volunteered to fight for Finland. At this moment we in Finland are defending some of the eternal values of mankind, and we appeal to all men and women who believe in honour, duty, dignity and courage. “The British Press has from the beginning followed events in the Finnish war with the greatest interest, and universally has commended the heroism of the Finnish troops and civilians, in their desperate struggle for life.” Allies Warned. The “Manchester Guardian” today says: “If Russia succeeds, not only will the freedom of Finland —a country which the Comintern organ last July acclaimed as standing for freedom and democracy against Fascism—be extinguished in blood, but the Allies will be exposed again as being helpless to save aoother of the victims of violence. “At the same time, it will become even more clear that Stalin has set his foot on the road of imperialistic conquest. “The Finn-'sh war cannot be regarded purely by itself. Already it is much more than an individual struggle of a little people against a great oppressor.” Round to Help Finns. The “Guardian” proceeds to analyse the sympathetic difficulties of the Scandinavian Powers, and observes that the Scandinavians may be exaggerating the danger. There are reasons why Germany should think thrice before invading them. “To take only one, the Swedish supplies of iron ore which are flowing down the Norwegian coast are indispensable to Germany.” The newspaper concludes: “We and the French are bound by every consideration of the cause for which we wage war to help the Finns to the utmost of our power, just as are other countries which have accepted the same international obligations. “The Swedes and Norwegians, though less is heard of them —have also fo consider that, in giving their utmost voluntary aid to Finland, they are keeping a probable enemy from their own hearth.” Russian Guns Hammer Russian 6-inch guns are hammering Viipuri from fronts 6£ and 1\ miles away, says the Copenhagen correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” The Finns have blown up three railways leading to Viipuri. The first was part of the Bjorko-Viipuri Line, the second a branch line from Summa to the main Raivola-Viipuri Line, and the third the Kyyrola-Viipuri Line, says the Stockholm correspondent oi “The Times.” The Russians have occupied some of the Islands north of St. Johannes, but the Finns think that the batteries on Bjorko Island remain intact and are shelling the Russian flank and communications. Russian aeroplanes severely bombed North Finland and killed eight civilians. A Russian communique says: “Nothing of importance occurred today. We continued our advance and occupied 21 fortifications on the Karelian Isthmus, including 15 ferro-concrete artillery forts. “Our air force boftnbed troops and military objectives and shot down six aeroplanes.” A Finnish cofinmunique says: ‘‘We killed 2000 Russians at Taibela and took 200 prisoners. North East of Lake Ladoga we dispersed columns of the enemy. We shot down 13 aeroplanes. “Snow continues to fall.” Finns Still Holding Out.

The Finnish lines are still intact at Viipuri, despite vicious attacks with heavy barrages. Numerous tanks participated in these, but many became bogged deep in the snow. A Finnish communique states: “We repulsed attacks between the Gulf of Finland and Muola Lake, and disabled 16 tanks. Between Muola Lake ancl the Ayrapaan Lake, the enemy unsuccessfully attacked twice, leaving almost a battalion of dead each time. An attack across Ayrapaan Lake was similarly defeated, the enemy losing 800 killed and 100 taken prisoner. Relative Deathrolls. “We threw back continuous assaults at Taibela, and our planes bombed marching troops at assembly centres. Er.emy planes have been active.” In Stockholm it is estimated that the ; Finns lost between 50,000 and 75,000 dead and wounded in the first phase of the Mannerheim Line battle, compared with the Russian losses of nearly 300,000. The birthday of the Red Army finds the Finns fighting hard to prevent the capture of Viipuri The last of the city’s population of 75,000 has departed. The weather favours the Finns, as it is snowing today, and there is a fog , along the south-eastern coast. The Governor-General (Viscount Galway) and Captain Lord Dormer, A.D.C., after taking part in the welcome to H.M.S. Achilles yesterday morning, left Auckland again by air in the afternoon for Napier. Such of the cable news in this Issue as Is so headed has appeared in “The Times” and is sent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of “The Tiroes" unless expressly stated to be so.