SOVIET NAVY SUFFERS

Southland Times, Issue 24003, 19 December 1939, Page 5

SOVIET NAVY SUFFERS

FINNS’ COASTAL GUNS RUSSIAN DESTROYER SUNK FIERCE FIGHTING NEAR TOLVAJARVI (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. December 18, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 17. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says that the Finns are gratified with the successes of the coastal batteries against the Russian Navy, whose operations will soon he hampered by ice in the Gulf of Finland. The Finns sank a new destroyer of the Gorki class on December 15 and a patrol ship on December 16. The Russians continue to advance southward from Salmijarvi. It is semi-officially stated in Helsinki that the Finns have destroyed 176 tanks. A communique states that Russians attempting to cross the Suvanto were repulsea. The Finns continue to advance slowly from Tolvajarvi, which is 30 miles west of Suojarvi. There is fierce fighting 12 miles northeast of Tolvajarvi.

Finnish counter-attacks on the northern and central fronts were amazingly successful. Two Russian divisions, comprising 36,000 men, were smashed. Nearly all were taken prisoner or wounded. The Finns in the north are not yet known to have withdrawn to the prepared line which has been christened the Laplands-Mannerheim Line. The Moscow radio announced that the Russians advanced 85 miles from the frontier in the Kutno sector. They also successfully attacked south of Petsamo.

STEAMER SUNK BY AEROPLANES BRITISH FIGHTERS DRIVE OFF ATTACKERS (Received December 18, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 18. Two German aeroplanes machinegunned, bombed and sank the steamer Serenity eight miles off the east coast. Fishing boats picked up all the crew, who were not injured. Fighter aeroplanes drove off the attackers. An eye-witness declared that one raider was destroyed. It also appeared that enemy aircraft attacked a mine-sweeping fleet off the north-east coast. Heavy firing was heard from the shore. Eye-witnesses also saw a bomber escaping from fighters in the clouds.