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THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 1 1940
SOVIET HAMMERING AT GATES OF VIBORG Fighting In Depths Of Mannerheim Line
SLOW RETREAT BY DETERMINED DEFENDERS
Helsinki, To-day.
THE FIERCEST ATTACKS of the war have brought the Soviet troops to within four miles of Viborg, Finland's second largest city. There is now intense fighting in the depths of the Manner- heim Line by the city and the Russians are pressing the attack with thousands of fresh troops and supplies. Despite this, the Soviet advance is slow. The plucky, deter- mined Finns are resisting with great tenacity and the Russians must suffer heavy losses before they can reach the gates of Viborg. The country the Russians must Neither the hoped for thaw nor the advance across is rugged and heavily usual February snowstorms have come fortified and the Finns are. setting up to the rescue of the Finns, who fresh defences, in front of the city desperately resisting almost incessant attacks by vastly superior forces.- Reuter.
More foreign 'planes have arrived in Finland, and these are being used for intensive bombing of Soviet Unes. They are also bombing Soviet columns trying to cross the ice on the Gulf of Finland, where many tanks and sol- diers have been flung 'into the freez- ing waters.
Helsinki had two air raid alarms yesterday morning, when Soviet 'planes flew over the city. Anti- aircraft batteries, went into and the Soviet 'planes "dropped, no bombs. Reuter.
Not Yet Through:
are
SUCCESS NEAR KUHMO
(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")
Kuhmo, To-day. Finnish forces have taken a number their encircling movement.-Havas, of strategic points and are continuing
Severe Soviet Lösses action
Stockholm, To-day.. The Russians still have not suc
ceeded in penetrating the Finnish defences around Viborg, according to yesterday afternoon's reports from Helsinki.
The "Aftonbladet" says, that long-range one of the
batteries which the Russians set up-south- of Summa obtained a direct hit on a church tower In Viborg. Finnish machinegun posts yester- day continued to sweep the ice with their fire.
Helsinki, To-day. Attacking across the five miles of Ice of the Bay of Viborg, the Russians suffered severe losses yesterday, t
Along the railway, on the shores of the Bay, the Finns are gradually giving way under the colossal weight of mass attacks,
of
Latest reports indicate that the Red Army is now within three miles Viborg at this point, and almost with in sight of the suburbs-Reuter.
Viborg In Ruins
Helsinki, To-day. With the Russian campaign in Fin- land entering on its fourth month and FINNISH COMMUNIQUE
the violent offensive on its second, In Helsinki yesterday a communi- the Finns to-day were holding their que said that on the Karelian Isthmus own against the Soviet hordes. the enemy continued the pressure Viborg is still under the Finnish between the Bay of Viborg and flag, although most of it is in ruins- Vuoksen, where our troops with-partly burning, partly smouldering. drew in some places to new posi-Twelve Soviet divisions are pitted
The enemy suffered losses and tanks were destroyed.
tions.
4
against the Finns in this sector, but 14 the Russians are still some miles away. More and more Soviet troops, with material, are being massed for the attack. Havas...
The Flans at Talpale repulsed three heavy attacks and also re- pulsed an attack north-east "of Lake Ladoga. Four tanks and an armoured : car were destroyed.
At Petsamo fighting continued the Nautsi River.—Reuter.
by
"Extreme Gravity”
Stockholm, To-day.
The position revealed by last night's Finnish communique" is one of ex- treme gravity.
SOVIET CLAIM.
BELGIAN AIR FORCE INCREASE
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL").
Brussels, To-day.
Strengthening of the Belgian air force is being carried out· simultaneously, with strengthen- ing of the army.
Negotiations have just been completed with America ·for "the purchase of ~150 warplanes, all bombers or observation planes- Накав.
COLONEL ROOSEVELT
IN COMMAND
London, To-day.
SWEDISH APPEAL TO AMERICA
STOCKHOLM, TO-DAY. PRINCE, OSCAR, ELDEST BRO- THER OF THE KING OF SWEDEN, LEADS A GROUP OF PROMINENT REPRESENTATIVES OF SWEDISH CULTURE WHO HAVE APPEALED TO INTELLECTUAL - LEADERS IN THE UNITED STATES "TO. COME- TO THE ASSISTANCE OF FINLAND | SOON BY EVERY MEANS POS-
SIBLE.
The appeal says there is great dan ger in delay and speedy help is im- perative.
Other singatories include Arch- bishop of Upsala, Primate of Sweden, the novelists Selma Lagerlof and Carl Heidenstam, the scientists Professora - Karl Siegbann and Theodor Svedberg (all Nobel prize winners) and the world-famous economist, Professor Cassel. Reuter.
300,000
SOVIET DEAD
ROME, TO-DAY.
Commenting on the news that Co- lonel Kermit Roosevelt is to resign his commission, that of a Major, in
A REPORT ON SOVIET LOSSES the British Army and to volunteer to lead Britain's International Brigade DURING THE FIRST THREE in Finland, the Finnish Aid Bureau MONTHS OF THE RUSSO-FINNISH states that he is the ideal man for WAR IS GIVEN BY THE HELSINKI commanding the Brigade, which is CORRESPONDENT OF “IL MESSAG- made up of men from all over the GERO." - Empire.
Colonel Roosevelt, son of Theodore Roosevelt and cousin of President Roosevelt, fought with the British and is a naturalised British subject. ·· American armies in the last war, He
Meanwhile, the first British volun- where they are to be trained. All teers are on their way to Finland,
paid two shillings a day. They sign who enlist in the Brigade will be
an agreement to fight in the Brigade for the duration of the war, but will be released if called on for military service by their own countries.- Reuter:
“H.K. FRIENDS OF
FINLAND FUND”
Sir, I have been instructed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at Helsinki to thank all donors to the above fund for their liberal contribu- tions, and to express the Finnish Gov ernment's appreciation of the support given by Hong Kong in spite of the many other calls on the purses for relief of distress, caused by war both in Europe and China.
Moscow, To-day... It is felt in Finland that the whole The latest Soviet communique civilised world is with them in their claims that the Russian troops are struggle, and the whole Finnish Na- [ now only two kilomatras
south
ofition has made up its mind to fight to Viborg-Reuter..
a finish for their independence, but to stem the tide much is needed both in manpower and money, and it is, therefore, hoped that their cause for the defence of not only their own
F. BENSON PASSES
London, To-day.
The Finns defending Viborg on the sea flank of the Mannerheim: Line were forced to retreat before the ter- E. F. Benson, 73-year-old author, rific Soviet pressure. While disputing | playwright and novelist, died yester- every inch of ground and Inflicting day,
heavy, losses on the enemy, the Finns The third son of the late Archbishop had to withdraw along a line stretch- of Canterbury, Mr. Benson" wrote ing from the Gulf of Finland to Vuok“ | more than 50 historical books and sen, half way across the Karellan novels.-Reuter.
pimus.
Around. Talpals they are standing fem, but military experts here point
BUG
out that this sector may be serious- MINERS VOTE FOR THE
ly threatened from the rear if the.
Russians 'break through at Viborg,
The Soviet forces advancing". wards Viborg dow control three way lines and four main roads ing into the city.
FINLAND FUND
X
Bullets, cold and pneumonia took the lives of 300,000 Russians, of whom one-thiru fell in the Karelian Isthmus, he says.
With regard to Soviet losses of war material, he quotes Finnish sources which he considers reliable to the February 26 the Russians lost 1,288 effect that between November 31 and
brought down in combat and by Fin- tanks, while over 500 'planes were
nish anti-aircraft batteries..
Reuter.
U.S. LOAN TO FINLAND
WASHINGTON, TO-DAY. THE BILL INCREASING THE CAPITAL OF THE EXPORT AND IMPORT BANK WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR SIGNATURE YESTERDAY.
several days ago, accepted the House The Senate, which passed the Bill of Representatives' amendments per- mitting the use of loan funds for financing the purchase of commercial planes and forbidding loans to nations defaulting on their war debts.
The increase in the Bank's capital will enable a loan to be made to Finland. Reuter.
FINNISH
country but the whole western civil- NOTE
isation will not be lost sight of.
ours faithfully,
W. J. HANSEN, Consul for Finland.
AIR RAID ALARMS
Helsinki, To-day Three times, yesterday the alarm was sounded, in although Soviet planes på
centre of the capital no dropped."
Federation of Finnish aircraft enge
London, To-day-
han voted - £1,000,
|
the
planes and three were shots
(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")
Geneva, To-day.
The Finnish representativa to th League of Nations has sent n. No to the League Secretariat denouncing the war methods of the U.S8 Raithe methods used against civilian popula- tions
It
hoped
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