RED HORDES PUSH FORWARD
Finns Contest Every Yard Shock T roops Attack In Waves United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 3. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting raged all the week-end in Wiipuri’s northern, eastern, and southern suburbs as he defenders contested every yard with wave after wave of Russian shock troops, tanks and armoured cars. The Russians, disregarding the cost in 11-’e and material, constantly renewed their vanguard. The Finns, in the hope of gaining even a little time for the completion of new defences, brought in all available forces, including girls, who acted as runners and stretcher-bearers. The Finns admit retreats at several points west of the Karelian Isthmus. They claim to have repulsed attacks east of the Isthmus and also at Salla and Kuhmo.
A communique announces the destruction of the 34th Tank Brigade and re-establishes the position at the outbreak of the war east from Lake Ladoga. The brigade was en route to relieve the 18th Division, but it became encircled at ine same time as the division was attempting to retreat. When it was destroyed 3000 were killed and the booty included 125 tanks, 12 armoured cars, two hundred lorries and 25 lorry-loads of shells. The Russians carried out air raids on south Finland, killing 20 and wounding 23 civilians, and damaging railways factories and homes. The Finns shot down 28 aeroplanes and raided railways from Leningrad to the Isthmus.
It is estimated that Finland lost 17,000 men in the battle of Wiipuri owing to the necessity of delaying the Russians while new defences are being prepared.
A later message states that the Finnish rearguard is still fighting inside Wiipuri.
This morning the main forces are retreating in good order to a new defence line, the nearest point of which is only three miles behind Wiipuri. The Red army has not yet contacted the new line at any point. The Finnish pistol champion Vartiovarri was killed in action on March 2 outside Wiipuri shortly after receiving a medal for bravery,
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19400305.2.56
Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21595, 5 March 1940, Page 5
Word Count
334RED HORDES PUSH FORWARD Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21595, 5 March 1940, Page 5
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