ENTRAPPED SOVIET DIVISION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21558, 22 January 1940, Page 11

ENTRAPPED SOVIET DIVISION

Fierce Attacks By Finns Invaders Again Bomb Capital United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 21, 6.30 p.m.) HELSINKI, January 20. The entrapped Russian division on the Salla front is hastily throwing up fortifications at Markajarvi. The Finns are attacking from the front and flanks in a hope of annihilating them. Russians heavily bombed a dozen south Finnish towns and caused 12 fires at Tuku, where the British Vice-Consul's house was damaged while the family were sheltering in a dugout. A Russian communique claims the destruction of a Finnish battalion and the capture of 26 machine-guns at Kitela. Soviet aeroplanes thrice bombed the suburbs of Helsinki yesterday, starting fires. It is not yet clear how general is the Russian retreat in the Salla sector. The Finns are reticent, but neutral correspondents in Helsinki comment that previous silences by the Finnish High Command have preceded Finnish victories. Finland is calling up further men for military service. The second class of the militia has been warned to report and men hitherto exempt from service are also liable to be called up. Five hundred ’planes bombed Finland on Saturday, states a later message, setting fire to 20 houses in Turku. Turku has had 30 raids since the outbreak of war. Twelve hundred bombs have been dropped, which have put out of commission BCO buildings. A Moscow communique says: “Nothing of importance has occurred at the front. Our,’planes made successful bombing raids. Fifteen Finnish ’planes were brought down.” A semi-official review of international relations in Rome expresses the opinion that the myth of irresistible power of the Bolshevist army has been exploded in Finland. The Soviet leaders preferred a German alliance to a British and French alliance because they realised that the Red Army could not defeat the Germans. Concurrently with the official announcement from Helsinki that Swedish airmen participated in the bombing of Russian camps and columns, Danes, Norwegians, Italians and Americans went into action with the Fnnish forces. Pilot-Officer Zackau. the first Swedish airman to be killed fighting for Finland, crashed over the Russian lines while recommoitring. Swedish volunteer fliers, including A. A. Jung and P. E. Stirner, who were killed in a mid-air collision, had destroyed six Soviet planes in North Finland since January 12. Sweden Cautious Sweden officially is very cautious regarding the extent of her aid to FinI land, but contributions from industry, mostly in the form of materials and i supplies, have reached £3,500,000 in { addition to £500,000 cash. Contingents of volunteers, convoys and lorries laden ; with supplies leave daily for Finland. . The Government has announced that I it is digging air raid trenches imme- ■ diately in all parks. It is erecting shelters in market places and speeding up large underground shelters. Norway’s Parliament expressed identical views to those of Denmark. T. Maeki and Paavo Nurmi are going to America to participate in athletic exhibitions for Finnish relief. The president of the Pan European Premier, Dr. Salazar, to summon a Union has invited the Portuguese conference at Lisbon to co-ordinate aid to Finland. Dr. Salazar is considering the invitation. M. Litvinov. Chief of the Information Bureau of the Soviet Foreign Office, is reported to be in disgrace because of his opposition to the Finnish campaign.