FINNS PENETRATE SOVIET TERRITORY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 301, 21 December 1939, Page 8

FINNS PENETRATE SOVIET TERRITORY

SOVIET COMMUNICATION LINES WRECKED SEVENTEEN THOUSAND REDS ROUTED LONDON, Dec. 19. Small detachments of Finns are ; reported to have penetrated 30 to 40 miles into Russian territory in the region of Lake Kianta, states The Times Helsinki correspondent, playing havoc with the Soviet lines of communication. A Stockholm message says that, the Finns are reported to have routed 17,000 Russians at. Lake Kiantajarvi, east, of Suomussalmi (in the central western sector). The Russians bombed Wiipuri. North of Lake Ladoga the Russians claim to have advanced 80 miles, but the two thrusts aimed at cutting through the narrow waist of Finland appear to have broken down. An Associated Press Helsinki r ".s--sage states that, the Finns have mobilised 400,000 men. Down Arctic Highway Detachments retreating from Pitkcjarvi set fire to buildings before the Russians’ motorised troops pursued them down Ihe Arctic highway from Petsamo to Rovaniemi. ■ If the Russians reached Rovaniemi, which the railway connects with Tornio, they would effectively bisect Finland* A British United Press Svanik message states that to consolidate gains before resuming the attack the Russians are digging in in newly conquered territory on the far northern front, erecting barracks at. Salmijarvi, near which they concentrated 12,000 men and 200 tanks. The Moscow communique states that the Russians in the north have occupied Pitkajarvi, 55 miles southwest of Petsamo. Warships shelled the Bjorko batteries. Smallpox has broken out in the Russian Army and is already of epidemic proportions, says a Helsinki report. All Finnish soldiers are being vaccinated again and also civilians in frontier regions. The outbreak was discovered among Russian prisoners taken on the Karelian Isthmus. Planes Over Helsinki Soviet aircraft appeared over Helsinki yesterday for the first time for a fortnight. As far as was known, no bombs were dropped. The planes .were met. by heavy anti-aircraft ti e. Helsinki later reported that Russian planes again flew over the city to-day. Eighteen Russian planes participated in the raid but only fourreached the city at a great height and dropped 11 bombs. There were no casualties. The Finns claim that an antiaircraft gun brought down two raiders. Soviet bombers also thrice raided Turku. Finland’s main gateway io Scandinavia, largely constructed of wood, and destroyed several houses. Many buildings were burned but no one was killed.