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Southland Times, Issue 24055, 20 February 1940, Page 5

FINNS’ DEFENCES INTACT GARIBALDI LEGION TO SERVE SOVIET EXULTS OVER SUCCESSES SEVERE FIGHTING ON ICY BATTLEFIELD (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received Feb. 19, 11.30 p.m.) HELSINKI, February 19. The main Finnish defences remain intact though Russia is exulting over reported successes. The Russians claim that the Finnish key positions are crumbling under the weight of opposing men and metal. Germany has officially informed Sweden and Norway that she will regard it as a breach of neutrality if they give Finland aid. A Finnish communique says that Russian pressure on the Karelian Isthmus is weaker. Finnish aeroplanes scattered and drove back enemy bombing formations and bombed enemy columns at assembly points, shooting down 24 aeroplanes. A Garibaldian Legion of 10,000 French men and Italians is going to Finland soon under Camillo Marabini, president of the Garibaldians who fought in the Argonne in the last war. He appealed

to 10,000,000 Italians outside Italy, as heirs of the Garibaldi tradition, not to permit an adversary to annihilate a free people. A congress of former combatants at Brussels passed a resolution in favour of helping Finland. The Finnish forces claim that after severe fighting on an icy battlefield they have broken up the Russian 54th Division and also severely punished another division.

The Soviet losses are estimated at 6000 killed, and 20,000 wounded. A Leningrad communique says: The Isthmus offensive has developed successfully. The enemy continues to retreat. Russian troops reached the sea coast between Wiipuri and Bjorko, occupying the Somme station, six miles south from Wiipuri, also the Saint Johannes and Marksalahti stations.

“The Russian forces captured 313 strong posts on Saturday and Sunday and occupied the fortified area of Muolaa in the centre of the Mannerheim Line, reaching the Salmenkaita river, which is five miles north of Kyyrola. We captured in the week up to yesterday 475 fortifications including 92 ferro-concrete artillery forts. We brought down yesterday 21 enemy planes.”