1940-02-15 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 15, 1940

40,000 Soviet Casualties In 10 Days No Nearer Break-Through On The Mannerheim Line

FINNS CAN HOLD INDEFINITELY IC GIVEN AID

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Haparanda (Finnish-Swedish Border), To-day. PROVIDING THE FINNS get speedy assistance the Mannerheim Line is capable of resisting for weeks, even months, Swedish military observers stated last night.

BLIZZARD SWEEPS NEW YORK

New York, To-day.

The first blizzard of the Win- ter is sweeping New York City.

At least 60 were injured in a few hours, while traffic is almost paralysed, in the worst since 1938.

were

storm

to

Pedestrians

forced cling to lamp-posts and горов

were strung across the streets to prevent them being blown over. -Reuter.

No less than 500,000 Soviet troops are estimated to be engaged in the operations against the Man- nerheim Line, while enormous quantities of war material have been sent to the front from Lenin-fervour, which grad.

The relatively short front of 100 kilometres has caused the Russian command to hurl all their troops which are attacking continuously regard- less of human losses.

In Helsinki, Finnish military quar- ters admit that the situation is serious, although they say the Finns have ac- tually lost little ground in the Man- nerheim Line battle.

•

It is reported that on the Karelian front the Russians threw into battle all available reserves of troops and tanks, including 70-ton monsters.

Everywhere else the enemy's at. tacks were

heavy repulsed with losses for the attackers. Thousands of killed and dozens of destroyed tanks were left in front of our lines. The fighting is continuing.

BATTALION MOWN DOWN North-east of Lake Ladoga our troops dispersed all enemy attempts to thrust forward and a few tanks were destroyed.

40.000 CASUALTIES Forty thousand Russians have been

In the direction of Kuhmo (central killed and 200 tanks disabled in the past 10 days in the desperate offensive | Finland) one Russian battalion

troyed.

was

in Karelia, in which the main pres-mown down and several "nests" des- sure was directed against Summa. Proclamations were posted in streets of Helsinki yesterday afternoon calling up the 1897 Class to the Co- lours.

At daybreak the

the On other sectors there was lively

patrol activity.

places

were

The communique also mentions that the Finnish air defences were in- Finns succeeded | volved. There were a number of air in recapturing all the first line posl-battles and Finnish planes continued of the the successful bombing of enemy con- tions in the central sector Karelian Isthmus between Summa centrations and encampments.

The Russians after two days of

among other and Muolaajervi

bombed Viborg. terrible fighting.

It is estimated that during the day BATTLING BRAVELY

several hundred enemy planes moat Both sides are battling bravely, and there are frequent encounters, the hand-to-hand combatants using hand-grenades, while in some instances the Finna have used their famous daggers. The Russians have succeeded in maintaining the newly captured post- tions south of the Talpale, River which

terrific under they crossed artillery fire.

Finnish In action over the country. fighters and air defences shot down 17 enemy planes, according to firmed reports.-Reuter.

con.

Mannerheim Line Intact Helsinki, To-day. The latest Finnish communique states that some outposts of the Man- nerheim Line were captured by the The Russians, throwing another Russians on Tuesday. The Line it- 250,000 troops into battle, scored self is intact. some successes but towards evening the Finns started a counter-attack,

The Russian losses in men material are enormous.

Havas.

and

Supporting Positions Lost In Summa Sector ́

Helsinki, To-doy.

divisions are now concentrated in the Summa sector, and at times Soviet artillery pours 3.000 shells an hour into the Finnish defences.

Some five or six Soviet

There is bitter hand-to-hand fight- ing in the Summa sector, but it is only at one point in the eastern part of the Line that the Russians have taken some advanced outposts. The

seems to be lending

them strength beyond ordinary powers

of endurance.

A Finnish officer who has returned

BRITONS MAY FIGHT FOR FINLAND

London, To-day.

A general license has been granted to British subjects to enlist in the Finnish forces and a license has been grant- ed to a recruiting organisa- tion established in London, declared Capt. O. Peake, Under-Secretary for Home Affairs, in a written reply to a question on the subject in the House of Commons yes- terday.

His Ma- Capt. Peake added that jesty's Government had carefully con- sidered the matter in the light of the resolution passed by the Assembly of the League of Nations on December 14 on the subject of provision of as- sistance to Finland.

from the front says the army has un- of spirit dergone a striking change since the beginning of the war.

The heavier the fighting the greater the unity.

Attempts by the Russians to ad- towards the vance over the ice

Line flanks of the Mannerhelm

with have

met apparently disaster. The Finna put up shells, throwing men and tanks through,

It would, in their view, be incon- the ice into the water.

now sistent with the spirit of that resolu~ Although the Russians

Finland installed in advanced posts on the tlon that British subjects who wished Summa front they are still faced with to volunteer for service in about 10 miles of continuous block- should be hindered by the provisions houses, tank traps and other formid-of the Foreign Enlistment Act, sec- ing that the Act contains the power able defences.-Reuter.

to grant dispensations.

are

SEMI-COMPULSORY

M. Ivan Malsky, the Soviet Ambas. Diplomatic aador, was seated in the

LOAN IN NETHERLANDS Gallery in anticipation of Capt. Peake's

The Hague, To-day. The Second Chamber of Parliament authorising yesterday passed a Bill the issue shortly of a semi-compul- sory loan of 300,000,000 guilders.

The Communists voted against the Bill-Reuter.

SENTENCED TO DEATH: ONE MAN ACQUITTED

statement-Reuter,

·ROAD - DEATHS IN BRITISH ISLES

London, To-day.

The Ministry of Transport returns of road deaths in Britain for January show an increase of 134, or some 28%.

their The Salkung Village murder case over the figures for January, 1939.

A total of 619 persons lost ended this morning when the jury

in found Lau Tin-yeung guilty of mur-lives on the roads In Britain in Jan-

uary, of whom 461, were killed der and Lau Tau not guilty.

Lau Tin-yeung was sentenced to the hours of darkness.-British Wire-

less. death.

MAY LIKELY TO BE CRITICAL MONTH

London, To-day.

FINLAND'S STRUGGLE FOR Independence and with It. the Allied cause will reach the most critical period in May, states a military authority In Lon- don.

Last night's Finnish communique assault was held when these outposts In an interview, he said that the Russians will make no

admitted for the first time that the Russians have ́occupied, advanced points in the Mannerheim Line.

..:

were reached.

On other fronts. the Russians have been renulsed with heavy losses-be- An earlier official announcement tween 30.000 and 40,000 men and at said that successful "Finnish caun, least 100 tanks. ter-attacka were carried out yester- The Finnish air force has been busy day on the Karellan Jathmus, and | bombing troop

concentrations and

more than small gains during the winter. At the end of April, the thaw will set in, and when May's warm weather dries up the sogginess the Soviets will make a great drive, “and without help the Finns are lost." Reinforcements in the shape of 10,- mate will not be ended in May, but

the fighting is said to have bean Finnish Aphters and anti-aircraft mins 000 experienced men, he states posl- there may be fighting on other fronts -particularly sanguinary.

have shot down 17 more Soviet bom- | tively, will enable the Finns to drivewhere, he could not say. hers-Reuter.

The Russians Bercely bombarded the Mannerheim Line, it was added.

Last night's communique said the enemy continued their heavy attacks

in the Isthmus on Tuesday...

Fighting Almost With Religious Fervour.

Stockholm, To-day:

The victory or defeat of the Finns the Russians back into Soviet terri- tory. All now depends on whether will have a very grave bearing on the Allied-German position. If Russia or not this help is sent.

He states that this estimate of 10, conquers Finland, Norway, Sweden 000 men, and the prophesying of a and Denmark will be directly men May Super Offensive have been cal-aced by Russia and Germany," Eco- qutataki as exactly as military science nomic and political concessions will

be demanded, backed up by force, are allows.

Reuter.

Only on the Summa sector, it con-

At the opening of the third week tinues, has the enemy succeeded in oc- of the Ruslan offensive: cupring some of our foremost sup- Mannerheim Line, the porting points, which lay behind them."' fighting with something like

On the Western Front, the stale... | a show of force. ----