1939-12-29 — Page 4

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 29, 1939

Finns Penetrate

Penetrate Soviet Territory At

At Two

Two Points

DRIVE SEEKING

TO CUT RAILWAY

TO MURMANSK

Helsinki, To-day.

TWO DETACHMENTS OF Finnish ski troops have now penetrated Soviet Russian territory and are heading for the Murmansk/Leningrad railway, with the object of cutting it.

In view of their small numbers, they are avoiding heavy engagements. They are headed for Kandalaksha, which is situated at a spot where the railway skirts the White Sea at its northern end.

If they can cut the railway and hang on in that area, the Soviets will be unable to get reinforcements and sup- plies through to the Petsamo Front.

Meanwhile, on the Petsamo Front, the Russians have completely lost the initiative and are practically in a state of siege.

A Finnish officer who has just returned from that area reports that at least 160 Soviet tanks are snow-bound, and in many cases the Finns found their crews frozen to death inside. The crews

surrendered of others either fled.

or

In other cases, the Soviet tank de- tachments have placed their tanks in a circle, forming a small but effective fortress. They are difficult to attack, but at the same time are isolated and useless to the main drive.

HEAVY RED LOSSES

On the Central Front, the Soviets have lost large quantities of men and materials in their retreat, while the last reports from the Southern Front

that Soviet stated

the attacks on Mannerheim Line and in the south- east had been repulsed.

|

reported to have pushed the Red Army across the frontier at a now point some miles north.

Fighting is continuing in the bor der region of Kivivaara.

Reports received here suggest that the Soviet command is pre- paring a determined attempt to *`ratriave - the situation near Suomussalmi, where they recent. ly suffered a severe reveres,

ANOTHER ATTEMPT The Russians are attacking north of ob- Suomussalmi with the evident ject of making another attempt break through the "wasp waist" Oulu, at the head of the Gulf of Fin- land.

to to

SUGAR RATIONING IN BRITAIN

་

London, To-day. Official sugar rationing begins in Britain on January 8, together with bacon and butter. The sugar ration will be 12 ounces per per- son per week.

All those in Britain must re- gister for meat-rationing by Mon- day week, and the control of live- stock begins a week later.-Reu- ter.

WANGHAI INCIDENT

Hugh Denman Kesaler, 21, of the U.S.S. Mindanao, was charged be- fore Mr. R. A. D. Forrest this morn- ing, with assault of John Mutto, pro- prietor of Malaya Motors, No. 100, Gloucester Road.

4

Acting Sub-Inspector Clarke said that at about 1 o'clock this morning, Mr. Mutto was standing outside his shop, when defendant passed with a girl. Defendant later came up and struck Mutto in the face.

Defendant thought complainant had made an insulting remark as he passed.

Defendant was fined $10.

SOVIET - CHANGING MANNERHEIM LINE TACTICS

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Berne, To-day.

THE HELSINKI correspondent of the “Basler Nach- richten" reports that the Red Army command has abandoned its tactics of mass attack against the Mannerheim Line in the Karelian Isthmus and is now trying to filter in between the forti- fications and surprise the defenders.

The Soviet troops which had been The change is due not only to the heavy losses in men

dispersed at Suomussalmi have been

reconcentrated against the Finnish centre for a new drive. Reuter.

DRIVE FOR RAILWAY

Helsinki, To-day. It is officially confirmed that Finnish forces have invaded Soviet territory Snow fell in Helsinki yesterday and in pursuit of Red Army contingents storm seems to be general,ut two points, but there is as yet no little air activity is likely. Reuter. confirmation of reports that the Mur- mensk-Leningrad Railway has been FRONTIER CROSSED

reached and cut. AT ANOTHER POINT

us the

Helsinkλ To-day. While fighting continues on Rus- sian soll east of Lieksa the Finns are

OFF THE RECORD

ED REED

10-5 * tinder juneca)

No bombs were dropped when Soviet planes soared over the capital in large numbers yester- day, but it la feared that this may have been a preliminary recon.

By Ed Reed

“There you are, my boy-a perfect 'black out' In case of an air raid."

Here's Luck

EWO BEER

Tel. 30311

and material experienced in frontal attacks, but also to the bitter cold which makes the provision- ing and concentration of troops extremely dif ficult.

A shortage of food, due to dis- Front, and the damage to the line ruption of railway traffle caused by has caused a great deal of congestion. the war, is being felt inTM Murmansk, The Finns have"now" penetrated where dissatisfaction is growing Soviet territory at three places, in the among the population and soldiers.

north, centre and south. The latter Many arrests are reported.

is their deepest advance, and they are Notices have been posted through- | said advanced north of Lake Ladoga out the city warning the population to some 30 miles from the Soviet against spreading alarming rumours.— Havas,

RAILWAY BOMBED (SPECIAL TO. “CHINA MAIL")}

́ ́ Helsinki, · To-day, Finnish aeroplanes flew deep into Soviet territory, yesterday,, bombing.. and damaging the Leningrad/Mur- mansk railway line, while three Finnish army columns moved forward towards the railway by land.

The railway was packed with So- viet troops bound for the Petsamo

naissance for a mass air raid. TWO COMPANIES ANNIHILATED

In fighting on the Karelian front, the official communique states that two Soviet companies, consisting of 800 men, were annihilated yesterday, while Soviet attacks' immediately to the north of Lake Ladoga were repulsed with heavy loss.

Nine Soviet aircraft were shot down during the day.-Reuter.

LOOK

AT

THIS

VALUE

town of Latala.

The Finnish troops, however, are now moving more slowly, as a result of the heavy snow-fall, which in one case forced them to withdraw from a

Havas. town they were attacking.

TRAFFIC OFFENCE

Mr. M. Talan, of American Lloyd, was summoned before Mr. R. A. D. Forrest this morning for parking over- time in Pedder Street. A fine of $5 was imposed.

Mr. C. N. Dunn was fined $5 for a similar offence.

MOSCOW SILENT

眼

Moscow, To-day.

An official war communique states: "There is no event of importance to report from the front.” Reuter.

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