BIG DRIVE BY RUSSIANS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21575, 10 February 1940, Page 9

BIG DRIVE BY RUSSIANS

Finns Stand Their

Ground

Summa In Ruins United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received February 9. 9 p.m.) HELSINKI, February 8. The Finns repulsed two attacks on Summa and main'ained their positions elsewhere. They smashed a battalion near laate, killing 250. Admiral Tributz, commander of the Russian Baltic Fleet, declared that the offensive would continue until Field-Marshal Mannerheim’s forces are annihilated. Finnish patrols combed the territory for parachutists between Rovaniemi and the Gul. of Bothnia. Another penetrated Russia to the shores of the White Sea. In spite of eight days of failures, the Russians are again attacking the Mannerheim Line to-day, apparently determined to secure Summa, which is reported to be a mass of ruins from shelling. One observer states that the Russicns suffered 5000 casualties yesterday. The Finns claim to have destroyed 20 tanks, bringing the total to 600 since the beginning of the war. Further north, hi the Salla sector. Swedish volunteers have taken over from Finnish troops, who have been fighting almost continuously since the war began. It is officially stated that the Russians used explosive machine-gun bullets in a certain locality in Southern Finland.