THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 2, 1940.
HAPPY FOR
NEW YEAR THE FINNS
Red Army Forced Back To Russia For Third Time
FINN SUCCESSES ON ALL FRONTS
Helsinki, To-day.
ONE OF THE MOST sanguinary battles of the war is stated to be raging on the Salla front, where the Russians are now almost surrounded. The last two days, it is claimed, were good days for the Finns. At no point did they retreat, while in at least two places they have driven the enemy back, the latest success being at Kuhmo, south- east of Suomussalmi.
This is the third time within a week that the Russians
have been forced back into their own territory.
There has also been heavy fighting| north of Lake Ladoga, where the Russians were driven back several kilometres.
The capital was without an air raid alarm on Sunday, but several other towns were raided; 50 bombs were dropped on Hango alone.
The booty includes 27 guns, 11 tanks, numerous automatic weapons and a transport unit of 150 horses.
The Reds had thousands of dead,
SALLA FRONT
On the Salla front enemy attacks The hospital was badly damaged were repulsed and 12 tanks destroy- and ten persons injured.
MANNERHEIM LINE OFFENSIVE
The tempo of the Red artillery fire against the Mannerheim Line has noticeably Increased, though it has not reached the proportion of a full scale barrage. Isolated infantry attacks are pro- -ceeding continually but no co-ordin-
ated action has yet started.
Finnish northern headquarters at Rovaniemi report sharp fighting neur Salla, where the Finns are expected to launch a thrust against the weaken- ing Russian lines.
REDS ISOLATED
Soviet
North of Lake Ladoga a force of 75,000, including large me. chanised forces, is in imminent dan- ger of finding itself stranded as skilful Finnish patrols have cut all means of transport and communication.
The Russians here are reported to be running short of food, and it is stated that within a few days they "will be forced to surrender through starvation or fight their way back to their own country.
have
The Finns claim they now the initiative on the whole 800-mile eastern front except in the Petsamo sector.
WORST DAY
Sunday was one of the worst air raid days since the war started.
ed.
An attack on the Karelian Isthmus across the ice was repulsed, Six tanks were destroyed.
At Kaljavuosula the Finns captur- ed 51 machine-guns, 50 other guns and 450 rifles and destroyed 16 tanks.
At Lake Ladoga coastal batteries took part in the fighting and destroy ed, inter alia, one of the Red trans- port units.-Reuter.
PETSAMO REOCCUPIED
London, To-day. Reports from the Norweglan fron. tier_state that the Finna have reoccu- pled Petsamo.
The Reds still occupy positions to the south.-Reuter,
FINNISH AIR SUCCESSES
Helsinki, To-day.
A communique says that north of Suomussalmi the Finnish troops con- tinue to pursue the enemy and have taken considerable booty.
Finnish aircraft carried out num- erous reconnaissance flights and bombed the enemy rearguard.
AIR FORCE UPHOLDS TRADITION
General
(8PECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Paris, To-day. Edmond Vuillemin, French air force chief, in a mes sage to his men, stressed the fact that four months of war had am- ply proved that the air force's courage, discipline and honour had upheld the glorious tradition of the Great War.
He added: "Do your duty, to- gother with your vallant com. rades of the Royal Air Force, who are also fighting to protect the world against barbarity.”—Havas.
R.A.F.'S FINE SPIRIT
London, To-day. Captain Balfour, Under-Secretary for Air, is making a whirlwind tour of R.A.F. stations, says Reuter's spe- clal correspondent in France.
Since his arrival Captain Balfour has inspected a number of aerodromes, aircraft and crews, and met repre sentative groups of officers, N.C.O's and aircraftmen.
Captain Balfour, who was a pilot himself in the last war, told Reuter he wanted to see things first-hand. He was greatly impressed with the fine spirit of the R.A.F. personnel.
NEW YEAR MAY BRING SURPRISES
Pretoria, To-day. General Smuts, the South African Premier, broadcast- ing a New Year message, said the war, after four months, had been full of surprises and hitherto no great battle had been fought on land, sea or air.
"Who knows whether 1940 may not witness some unexpected turning of the corner, some fruitful peace effort backed by Heaven's high bless- ing?
"The age of miracles is never past, although it would be unwise to build hopes on miracles."
General Smuts remarked that South Africa hitherto had hardly felt the effects of war, and affairs in the Union continued "curiously nor- mal," including party and political strife.
188UE DECIDED
He added that the question was no longer whether they were rightly or wrongly at war, since that issue had been decided and closed, and every patriotic South African, whatever his politics, could now only put the in- Like many other visitors he was terests of his country first in •his struck by the happy relations exist-thoughts and actions. ing between the local French civilians "Right nobly has the young man- and the British fighting men living hood of South Africa risen to its among them.-Reuter.
duty."-Reuter..
LONG LIST OF AWARDS FOR ROYAL NAVY AND R.A.F. OFFICERS
London, To-day.
It has been definitely established ALL BRANCHES OF THE Royal Navy were honour-
that four Red planes were brought down by A.A. fire, and two others probably destroyed. Reuter.
NIGHT PATROLS ACTIVE
Towns throughout southern Finland report bombings. At least 10 towns were attacked and hun- `dreds of -bombs' dropped, though detalls regarding the damage and casualties are hitherto lacking. So far no confirmation is available | WESTERN` FRONT, regarding the cutting of the Mur mansk-Leningrad railway by Finnish "suicide troops." In fact a denial has been published in Stockholm.
PARIS, TO-DAY DESPITE THE BITTER COLD THERE HAS BEEN GREAT ACTIVITY ATMTMTM NIGHT ON THE
Eleven Soviet bombers flew over Helsinki. Anti-aircraft guns opened fire but no bombs were dropped.
IN THE WILDERNESS
Reconnaissance parties have been particularly energetic west of the Vos- ges foothills, where several German patrols crept up to the French posts, attacking them with hand- grenades.
ed by the King for deeds of courage, bravery and heroism in the war in a supplement in the Lon- don Gazette, which contains the names of over 200 men decorated or promoted.
Most awards are for skill and gal- Captains A. R. Halfhide, G. H. Fray- lantry in life-saving, mine-laying and berg, and J. N. Tait receive the C.. sweeping, and anti-submarine work. Commanders C. E. Hamond, St. Decorations to men in the submar- | John Alrich: Micklethwait, G. F. ine Ursula, which sank a German Stevens Guille, and L. A. K. Boswell, cruiser, are also announced and men- and Lieutenant-Commander Bernard tion is made of the submarine's "skil-Moloney are all awarded the D.S.0. ful attack." Convoyers of foodstuffs for conspicuous service. and capturers of German ships are also rewarded.
Over 100 names figure in the New Year list of promotions announced by the Admiralty.
لرحم
JELLICOE'S NEPHEW The French replied with bombs, and Twenty commanders are promoted. the fighting attracted artillery fire, to the rank of Captain, while 38 which lit up the snow-covered coun- lieutenant-commanders, become Com- tryside with brilliant flashes.
manders.
Among the latter la Bir Charles Madden, son of the noted, Admiral and a nephew of Earl-Jaiticos:
Seven promotions are announced in the Commonwealth Navy.
Among the naval honours gazetted
anithe name
Rear-Admiral
French patrols were active near the A Finnish communique 'says that Luxembourg frontier, attacking the fighting at Suomussalmi has end- German posts with bombs and rifle ed and the enemy divisjons there com- | fire. pletely dispersed - The Finns cup- At one point a French "groupe tured much material.
franc" (picked "raiding party) pene- The remainder of the Red divi-trated the German lines and brought ap sions are Wandering in the wilderness back a wounded prisoner. 6 and are being: pursued in the direc Air activity on both sides has been tlön
"light"==Reuter.
In addition, many officers receive the O.B.E. and a long list of officers and ratings are honoure M.B.E, D.S.M. and DB
With the
are mentioned in
R.A.F. PROMOTIONS
Two hundred RAF promotions are gazetted, including man new Air Commodores, 30 Group Captains and 82 Wing-Commanders.
Squadron-Leader Bar cently won the D.F.C. f in the fight over the 1 six Nax planes promoted.
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