1940-02-23 — Page 4

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 23, 1940

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18 MILES FROM VIBORG Finnish Statement On Red Army Progress

DEEPEST POINT OF ADVANCE TEN MILES

Stockholm, To-day.

SOVIET TROOPS PUSHING along the main railway in the Karelian Isthmus have reached a point within 18 miles of Viborg, according to last night's Finnish communique.

This is the first indication of the extent of the recent Finnish withdrawal to their new positions in the Mannerheim Line.

Deepest point of the Soviet advance is some distance

west of the village of Summo.

Since the start of their offensive in this sector the Soviets appear to have gained between five and ten miles at the cost of great losses in men material.

and

While the Finns claim to be firmly entrenched in their new positions they are evidently being hard pressed.

but

Taipale,

The Russian drive has now wid ened across the whole Isthmus at the eastern side, near where Its main force is being pended the Red Army seems to be meeting little auccess.

ex-

The Finns claim that Russian losses

WHAT SOVIET DEMANDED

OF FINLAND

London, To-day.

The Soviet demands on Finland before the Red

in this sector included 4,500 killed in Army invaded the country

the past week.--Reuter.

Within Shelling Range

Of Viborg

Helsinki, To-day.

The Soviets are within shelling

included a demand for the the destruction of the Man-

THE KING VISITS THE CANADIAN8-Picture taken at a fam ous army barracks "somewhere in England” during a visit by His Ma- jesty the King. (Copyright, Fox).

CHANGES IN IRAQ CABINET

Baghdad, To-day. Nuri Said has reformed the Iraq Government by reshuffling the portfolios and by Introducing two new Ministers.

Nurl Said himself has taken temporarily the portfolio of For- eign Affairs-Reuter.

nerheim Line, according to FRENCH AIR

the Finnish Minister in Lon-

range of Viborg on the right flank don, speaking at the lun- CHIEF TO

and on the left flank,

despite the

snow, are continuing their attacks in cheon of the English-Speak-

in the Taipale sector.

sector is Although the Koivisto now more or less in Soviet hands, the Koivisto fortress is still held by the Finns. It is on an island command- ing the Gulf of Finland and is only

12 miles from Viborg.-Reuter,

"NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE"

Moscow, To-day.

ing Union yesterday.

STAY

The Minister said Finland had

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") agreed to far-reaching demands but it Soviet was not enough because the

PARIS. TO-DAY. Government insisted on Finland des- GENARAL MAURICE VUILLEMIN. OF THE troying its main line of defence, the | COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

FRENCH AIR FORCE, WILL RETAIN Mannerheim Line, on getting posses-

HIS COMMAND FOR ANOTHER sion of Finland's principal port, on

YEAR DESPITE THE FACT "Nothing of Importance to report" dominating Finland's only ice-free REACHED THE AGE LIMIT A FEW states yesterday's Moscow que, which, however, claims that be-port thousands of miles from Lenin-DAYS AGO. tween Monday and Wednesday, So-grad and on the right to maintain two viet troops captured 176 Finnish de- naval bases and to keep troops in Fin- fences in the Mannerheim Line, in-

land. cluding 37 iron and concrete artillery fortifications.-Reuter.

communi-

Voroshilov Directing

Operations

Helsinki, To-day. Marshal Voroshiloff is reported to be on

the Karelian Isthmus front, personally directing the new offensive with the capture of Viborg as its Immediate objective.

A

The new battle, which la being fought in steady unrelenting blizzard, began yesterday morning the and is stil in progress, with Finns claiming to have repulsed all attacks.

The Soviet forces are experiencing terrible difficulties in the attack un- der the weather conditions, but the High Command is apparently declin- ing to give the least opportunity for respite, in the hope of taking Viborg to-day (Friday), the Army anniver- sary.

Over 2,000 are reported to have been killed in action during yester day's engagements. Thirteen Soviet planes were shot down.

North-East of Lake Ladoga, where the Soviet 18th Division was annihil- ated last week, the Finns are counter- attacking and claim the capture of 17 Soviet positions and 200 : prisoners.--. Router.

HE

FOE "ALL GERMANS"

"If

all

Ichders

were

the Nazi 'bumped off' now it would be wrong to make peace," declared Sir Herbert Williams, M.P.

"The Prime Minister and others the Hitler have told us that enemy," he said. "I think that is a delusion. It is the German people that are the enemy.

"I don't say all of them, but the

slave German people are

minded, and the problem is to bring about a peace in which these prople would not do the same again."

Talking of Mr. Roosevelt's desire to have a place at the peace conference. Sir Herbert said: "I hope.he won't be there. His predecessor made rotten mess of the last job."

3

Sir Herbert was speaking in a dis- cussion on the future of Europe held at Maccabi House. West Hampstead, N.W.

Mr. Vyvyan Adams, M.P., caused a gasp of astonishment when, after re- minding his audience that our first alm must be the total defeat of Ger- many," he said:

"It is going to be a terrific task. Although the majority of us are young in this room we may not all be still alive to see that victory." Mr. Wickham Steed, expressing the President Lebrun signed a decree hope that Germany would take to this effect yesterday following the share in releasing herself from Nazi- to go Council of Ministers.

ism, sald: "Germany has Other important but undisclosed de- through a process of self-purification Finland could not accept that, for cisions were taken by Council such as no foreign Government would It would have meant surrendering | following Premier Daladier's expose dare to impose upon her.” their freedom, the Minister declared.of the latest diplomatie and military

developments.-Havas. --Reuter.

the

Robert Cummings and Cigrid Gurls in Univerzal's “Rio” show

Ing to-day at the King'a Theatre.

Czecho-

Mr. Jan Masaryk, former slovakian Minister in London, de- clared: "We have got to have an ab- solute victory over the powers of darkness. There is no compromise.”

NEW DALAI LAMA ENTHRONED AT LHASSA

Lhassa, To-day. The new Dalai Lama was formally proclaimed yesterday, and enthroned in colourful ceremonies.

A procession more than a mile long passed through the streets of Lhassa from the Summer Palace, and immense crowds witnessed the ceremonials. Reuter.

MEN OF 46 CALLED TO COLOURS

(8PECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")

A new

S

Helsinki, To-day. proclamation, Issued bere calls under arms all men born be-- tween' 1894' and '1885 who must re- part -next: Wednesd

Havas.