FINNISH TACTICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 289, 7 December 1939, Page 7

FINNISH TACTICS

AVOIDING DECISIVE ENGAGEMENTS THE RUSSIANS ANNOYED HEAVY SOVIET CASUALTIES IBy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright I LONDON, Dec. 5. All available information indicates that it is premature to expect anything in the nature of a major Russian-Finnish engagement, inasmuch as neither side has taken up positions from which they will eventually give battle. Both are experiencing difficulty in moving artillery. The Finns claim the infliction ot heavy casualties on the Russians in the Salmijarvi district yesterday. Dispatches from Soviet correspondents reflect Russian annoyance with: the defenders’ Fabian tactics (avoiding decisive contests), which seem to have delayed the advance ot the invaders' forces despite the latter’s superiority in tanks and mechanised vehicles. No Raid on Capital The hourly expected air raid on Helsinki has not materialised, states a Helsinki message. Helsinki remains quiet. Supplies are ample and are being distributed effectively. The bad weather, which has resulted in reduced air activity, has enabled Helsinki and other places to be evacuted. On Sunday there were only about 50.000 people, or one-sixth of the population, living in the capital. It was announced in Helsinki that the Russian raids had killed 85 civilians and wounded 181. Of the dead 65 were killed in Helsinki. Sixteen buildings were destroyed by bombs and 11 by tire. Russians Fail Again A re; Vam Helsinki received in Rome says that Finnish aircraft dispersed Soviet troops who landed on the coast and attempted to march on Petsamo. Anti-aircraft guns inflicted heavy losses on the Soviet aircraft which tried to bomb Imatra hydroelectric plants. Despatches from Petsamo say that a Russian attempt to turn the Finnish position failed. Three Russian bombers again raided Salmijarvi and also a nearby town. Oslo reported that Finnish airmen, dropping incendiary bombs, destroyed 60 Russian planes at Murmansk airport. The Copenhagen Extrabidet's Helsinki correspondent says that the Finns captured 80 Russian tanks. Snow Continues The heavy snowfalls during th: past 24 hours, which had formed a natural curtain of defence for Helsinki, have cleared. Advantage of the respite was taken to finish the defence preparations in readiness for further attacks. In other parts of Finland heavy snow continues to fall and has put a stop to any fighting. North of Lake Ladoga several squadrons of Russian planes were reported to have crashed in forest regions. In the Karelian Isthmus, Russian troops were still struggling in the no-man’s region in front of the Mannerheim line and had suffered heavy losses. North of Lake Ladoga the Finns have been particularly successful with ambdshes and tank traps. The Finnish military authorities, who have just received 10 Italian aeroplanes

I ordered some time ago. claim that 21 | Russian machines have been destroyed ' since hostilities began. Danger Everywhere Referring to the fighting in lhe south, a Pravda correspondent states I hat mines are everywhere; in roads, | shops, offices, and every kind of building. and danger lurks on every path and jn every corner. Mines have been found even under the front doors of houses. The recent snow has helped the Finns in sowing the ground with mines, which the Russians cannot see until they are blown up. Several hundred Russian casualties were reported from hidden mines in a wood in the area in which the bogus Government ' has been set up by Russia. Jamming of Broadcast The reported jamming of a Finnish broadcast from Lahti at a point when the announcer recalled the policy laid down by Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik leader, for dealing with Finland causes little surprise in London, says | a British Official Wireless message. , The policy ran entirely counter to • the present Soviet action. J Writing in Pravda on May 15. 1917, i Lenin described the relation of Finland to Russia, stating that the Czar I and others were against agreement .with the Finnish Diet. They wanted to subjugate Finland to Russia. Classconscious proletariats and Russian sole’.al democrats, true to their programme, were for freedom of Finland as well as of other non-sovereign nationalities. Finland was annexed by Russian tsars through a deal with Napoleon. “As we are really against annexations we must come out openly for Finland's freedom. After we have said it and practised it then and nly then will an agreement with Finland become a really voluntary, free, and true agreement and not a deception. Comrades, workers, and peasants, do not be carried away by the annexationist policy of Russian capitalists ’ concerning Finland, Courland, ana, ! Ukraine. “Do not fear to recognise these people's right, to independence.’’ MOSTLY ITALIAN PLANES USED BY FINLAND. Received Dec. 6. 5.5 p.m. ROME, Dec. 5. . It is confirmed in authoritative j circles that the Finns are using mostly j Italian planes. MORE DEMONSTRATIONS IN ITALY i Received Dec. 6. 6.30 p.m. ROME, Dec. 5. The police without difficulty controlled further pro-Finnish demonstrations in Rome and Milan. U.S.A. WILLING ' PAN-AMERICAN PROTEST PROVIDED ALL TAKE PART. I I J I Received Dec. 6, 7.5 p.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. 1 | The Assistant Secretary of State, 1 Mr. Sumner Welles, announced that ■ 'the United States has notified certain 1 Latin-American nations which approached it on the subject that it ; would "be very glad to participate in 1 joint Pan-American condemnation of ■ the invasion of Finland, provided all f the Pan-American countries subscribe = to it. •