Russians Open Big Push On Finnish Front

Northern Advocate, 29 April 1944, Page 5

Russians Open Big Push On Finnish Front

LONDON, April 28,

For Ilic first time in two years

there is news ot what, is described

as a major Russian offensive on the

Finnish front,

The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times,” quoting a Helsinki report. says that the Russians attempted to attack in force against Dietl’s forces in to Salla sector, astride the North Finnish railway line leading towards the Germans’ headquarters at Rouaniemi.

Although the report says that after two weeks’ fighting in temperatures as low as 30 degrees Centigrade below zero, the Germans, supported by Stukas, succeeded in halting the Russian movement. It added that fresh Russian thrusts are anticipated. The Russians, it is reported, initially surprised the Germans by sending shock troops through a non-man’s land covered with four feet of snow which the Germans hsd thought impassable, and therefore left without adequate fortifications.

Not Unexpected

News from this sector is by no means unexpected, adds the correspondent. It was known for months that the Russians had reinforced particularly at the Kandalaksha end of the Murmansk front. This activity also explains recent German evacuation of field hospitals in this area, and sending of the longest hospital train ever through Sweden to Germany with 500 wound'ed. , .

The going is very difficult in this wooded Arctic area, not permitting massing of large forces. The Germans in North Finland, who originally held the front from the estuary of the Litsa River to the Polar Sea. level with Tornio. this winter extended the front to Uhru, level with Oulu. This lengthened their total front to 300 miles. The Germans’ strength still is seven divisions, totalling about 100,000 men.