Parachutes Fail In Blizzard

Northern Advocate, 26 February 1940, Page 5

Parachutes Fail In Blizzard

(Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 25. “Gromale d’ltalia” states that a motorised Russian detachment reached the suburbs of Viipuri yesterday, says a Rome despatch. Twelve hundred parachutists simultaneously descended intending to take the town, but they were dispersed by a blizzard before landing. All were taken prisoners. The motorised unit was therefore forced to retreat. 86,000 Russian Dead. The Finns estimate that 86.000 Russians have been killed since the beginning of the Russian drive on the west side of the Karelian Isthmus and a communique recorded 3,000 more killed elsewhere, 1,000 in the repulsed attack on Salmenkaita, 1,000 North East of Lake Ladoga, and others at Kuhmo, Taibela, and Salla. The eastern half of the Mannerheim Line is apparently intact, in spite of a heavy offensive, but the Russians claim the occupation of Bjorko Island and two other fortified islands in the Bay of Viipuri, with the capture of 22 guns. The land offensive continues, in spite of fogs and blizzards. The Russians claim the capture of 28 more strong points. Swedish Town Bombed. The Foreign Office in Stockholm asserts that an investigation has proved that Russian aircraft bombed Pajala, just over the Swedish border from Finland. The Tass news agency in Moscow' had previously broadcast a denial that Soviet aeroplanes flew over Pajala. No Russian aeroplanes flew over Swedish territory, says the agency. It also denied rumours that the Soviet had demanded new naval bases from Baltic States.