1940-03-04 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 4, 1940

Finns Fighting Every Inch Of The Way VIBORG STILL HOLDS

FINNS LOSE

17,000 MEN IN DEFENCE OF CITY

Stockholm, To-day.

STRATEGIC

TURKISH RAILWAYS

Istanbul, To-day.

A message from Ankara states that orders placed in Britain for 58 locomotives and 300 trucks, valued at approximately £2,- 000,000, will be completed by the end of the war.

Part of the equipment has al- ready arrived and the whole will be used on now lines now being speedily completed linking Tur- key with Iran, via Erzerum, and with Iraq, via Dirberkir.—Rou- tor.

AS SOON AS THE RUSSIANS complete the occupa- tion of Viborg the Finns will have to fall back to new lines behind the city which were recently constructed and the strength of which is a mat- ter for considerable speculation. The speed of the Russian advance on the west side of the Karelian Isthmus recently has come as a Finnish losses in the defence of surprise. Viborg have been heavier than at any other time during the war, one estimate being 17,000, WAYS

which is far more than the small Finnish army can afford.

These losses were undoubtedly partly due to the need to hold parts of the Mannerheim Line at

NO TWO

ABOUT IT

PICTURE OF BRITAIN

UNDER NAZIS

London, To-day.

Speaking at a Labour Party demonstration yester- day afternoon, Mr. Herbert Morrison gave a picture of Britain if Hitler had been left to acquire further territories and military power which would enable him successful- ly to become master of Europe.

a

Had that happened, Mr. Morrison said, liberties would have disappear- ed and Britain would probably have 'been doomed to the same enslavement which the German people had suf- fered for the past seven years, which he described as "a lying Government, controlled press, steadily faked broadcasting, suppression of all politi- cal parties other than Fascism, secret- police, private spying even to the ex- tent of children spying against their ΤΟ FORMAL CON- own parents, corruption of the mind NERHEIM, COLONEL KERMIT of trade unions, confiscation of "pro- ROOSEVELT HAS BEEN APPOINT-perties and the savings of co-opera- ED COLONEL OF THE BRITISH tors." CONTINGENT OF THE INTERNA- This, he said, was a picture of life TIONAL EXPEDITIONARY FORCE for the neutrals unless Germany was WHICH IS SHORTLY LEAVING FOR defeated, and he concluded: "Let it FINLAND.

not be forgotten that victory is es- sential."

LONDON, TO-DAY.

any cost while other.defences were being quick-FIRMATION BY GENERAL MAN-of childhood and youth, destruction

ly constructed in the rear.

The Finns are reported to have held one shell-wrecked position. while concrete positions to the rear were given time to harden.

ly to the fact that the defences in some parts of the Mannerheim Line have had to be held at all costs while others were being built.

. In one case, Finnish soldiers held onta shell-wrecked positions while

The Finnish communique says that in the west of the Isthmus

enemy strong concrete dug-outs behinds pressure continued. The Soviet at-were given time to harden.-Reuter, tacks generally were repulsed but at some points the Finnish troops retired to new positions according to plan.

SEVERE LOSSES

In the east of the Isthmus the Fin- nish artillery dispersed enemy forces which were concentrating for an at-

tack and inflicted severe losses on them. At least nine tanks and several guns were destroyed. Fighting con- tinues.

North-east of Lake Ladoga there was lively artillery and patrol activity; the enemy's attempts to ad- vance were checked.

Enemy attacks at Kollanjoki and Altojoki were repulsed. The enemy lost about 1,000 killed at Kolianjoki. An enemy infantry attack in the direction of Kuhmo was repulsed and some fortified points taken.

AIR ACTIVITY

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")

FINN VICTORY

Helsinki, To-day.

Col. Roosevelt, although an Amer- ican citizen, held a commission in the British Army, both in this and the last war, which he has now resigned to take up his new appointment.

"

He appealed to "men and women of good outlook" to see that in the peace settlement justice is done and aggression made impossible.-British Wireless.

NAVAL ACTIVITY IN THE WHITE SEA

Stockholm, To-day.

He said yesterday he came to Eng- land again because the cause is still the same as in the last war. "The issue is so clear that there can be no While the Finns continue to strug-two ways about it. We have got to gle herolcally around and In Viborg, put down once for all the rule of force news comes of another striking Fin-and tyranny in Europe.'

Saying how much he appreciated the nish victory... north-east of Lake Ladoga,

to head the British Activity by Allied and Russian where the Finns are now appointment mopping up the 34th Soviet Tank volunteer force in Finland, Col, Roose-naval unite in the White Sea is re- Brigade, which had been sent to the velt continued that the Finns have ported by the "Aftonbladet" corres-

second topondent in the Lofoten Islands. assistance of the 18th Soviet Division. shown themselves to be

the part of The correspondent, however, says no Over 2,000 Russians have been none in ability to play

against Goliath. British details of the strangth of the units are killed, including the commander of David

available. Router. the Brigade and the leader of the Wireless. Division. The latter took refuge with the Brigade, but met death all the

same.

The Finnish booty includes 105 tanks and 200 motor lorries.

The 34th Brigade and the 18th Division had planned to operate to- gether. The Finns, however, separ- Finnish aircraft bombed

ated them by cutting all communica- enemy columns and railway lines. Enemy

tions and then proceeded to annihilate aircraft were active on the Isthmus them separately. Neither knew what, and north-east of Lake Ladoga and was happening, or had happened, to also bombed several places in the in-the other. terior, including Lahti, Tampere and Turku. Eight civilians were killed and about 10 wounded. It is confirmed that 17 Soviet planes were brought down during the day besides six doubtful cases. Reuter.

FIGHTING EVERY INCH

Helsinki, To-day.

AIR ACTIVITY

Meanwhile, both air forces were active over a wide area.

Finnish 'planes bombed reserve troops and stocks of munitions being moved up to the front, while Soviet 'planes bombed the Finnish lines and several villages in the interior,

TRIALS OF BLACKOUT NOW JUST A MEMORY

London, To-day.

SIX MONTHS AGO LONDONERS were having their first experience of the blackout and groping their way about unlighted streets amid traffic reduced to a crawl by the darkness in which the hastily covered lights of motor cars and omnibuses gave little aid to drivers.

The Russians are still in the pro: The Finns claim to have brought | with unexpected traps and pitfalls.

'cess of occupying Viborg. They claim to have taken the main station and the southern part of the town and to be closing in on it from the north.

eight of down 16 Soviet planes them for certain, and a “probable" seven, others. Hayes,

Many a pedestrian found well-pressions of the blackout are already The authorities have known streets and squares had be- dim memories.

and relaxed the restrictions to the fur- come strange and unfamiliar pavements over which he had strode thest point consistent with defence confidently for. years suddenly beset requirements after exhaustive tests in

which the R.A.F. co-operated:*

Places of entertainment are again Some householders moved about in darkened homes having made no pro- open. Devices providing subdued but vision for screening their house lights, effective lighting have been fitted to a Theatres and cinemas were closed. At large number and are being fitted to Batteries for The Finns are fighting every inch of

omnibus halts in the streets crowds all public conveyances. KERMIT:"ROOSEVELT APPOINTED the way, and according to the latest

clamoured to be told the number or torches are once again readily obtain- reports from that sector, have not yet

London, To-day. destination of vehicles as their ghost-able. The dark exterior of "houses abandoned the city. They are, how The Finnish Air Bureau announces ly forms drew up by the kerbs, while conceals normal illumination within.

The average Londoner has gót used ever, withdrawing deliberately, to that Major Kermit Roosevelt has tube railway passengers. Joining trains strong positions behind the town and been granted permission by the War at stations outakie, tunnels had the to the blackout and suffers little in- He finds that by are making the Russians pay heavily Office to resign his commission in the eerie sensation of entering dark com convenience from it. for the smoking ruini; there is hand- British Army and has been appoint-partments and stumbling, guided only the reduction of street lighting he has to hand fighting in the suburbs. fed officer commanding the British.con-by the voices of fellow travellers, to not lost very much, and he has gained tingent of the international yolun seats which not always proved un new awareness of the night sky and teer force to fight in Finland,...

the unexpected revelations of beauty of many of his buildings in the moon

British Wireless, im-light.

The Fims have lost a great number of men in the defence of Viborg, more possibly than at any other time dur- ing the whole war. This is due part,

He will have the rank of colonel-

Router

occupied.

JUST A MEMORY Aftor six months these early