Evening star., 1939-12-17
Reds Hurled Back
In kureIiu Drive,
Finland Claims
BY LYNN HEINZERLING,
Press Foreign Correspondent

=
HELSINKI, Dec. 16-Soviet Rus
sian troops, attacking in force after
a Today barrage which raked for
ests on the Taipale River, today
were hurled back by Finnish troops
after furious battle, the Finnish
Army reported tonight.
The Finnish communique declared
Russia lost hundreds" of men and
IA of so Russian tanks were de-
stroyed. The Firms also said four
Russian tanks drove up to our po-
sitions and surrendered.
The attack was aimed at outposts
of the Mannerheim Line on the
Karelian Isthmus, which Russia has
failed to penetrate since the war be-
gan II days ago.
A few battalions of hardy, khaki
clad Firms near Lake Ladoga, who
have endured artillery shells from
two sides day and night for more
than a week, still were holding the
north bank of the Taipale River.
Around them trees have been splin-
tered and the earth torn by the
steady pounding Of Soviet shells.
Tank Attack Launched.
Farther down the river, toward
Lake Suvanto, where the Firms VOL
unfairly withdrew week ago and
permitted the Russians to cross the
Soviet command launched so tanks.
Only 80 returned to the Russian
linaS offnr kaf In
said.
Two days ago. as I watched from
trench above the Taipale, Russian
batteries poured 10 to Is shells every
minute into small woods on the
Finnish side of the stream, appar-
emily the prelude TO today's attack.
The Firms did not waste ammuni-
ton to reply, claiming the Russians
were shelling without an objective.
The Ladoea sector has been par
ticularly hot. as the Russians can
shell Finnish positions from flank
ing points on the lake, where heavy
guns have been mounted on boats.
There are craters 10 feet in diameter
in the forest-results of shells from
the lake guns
The Finnish communique gave no
estimate of Finnish losses in todays
fighting.
The Russians preceded their Ka-
relian attack yesterday with severe
artillery fire" and then sent their
legions across the frozen isthmus.
They were met by devastating FIRE,
which ripped through the armor of
the tanks and broke up the attacks,
the Firms declared.
Patrol Ship Reported Sunk.
Finnish shore batteries also sank
a Russian patrol ship attacking off
Kotka, the communique declared.
Yesterday the Firms reported sink
ing a Russian destroyer in a similar
action.
Russian troops were repulsed
everywhere except in the far north,
where Finnish soldiers were retreat
ing near Salmijarvi, the Finnish
high command reported. and enemy
casualties on several fronts reached
into the hundreds" The COM
munioue covered Yesterdays action.
A decisive battle appeared near
at Pitkaiarvi about IL miles south
Of Salmijarvi, where DISPATCHES via
Norway said the retreating Firms
were digging in and waiting the on
slaught of the invading Red Army.
Russian tanks, trucks and bombing
planes were seen moving into the
Salmijarvi sector.
Lakes and a river form natural
barrier near Pitkajarvi which would
help the defenders.
Counterattacks Launched.
Russian troops were reported flee
ing before counterattacking Firms in
the middle of Finland at Tolva jarvi.
near the frontier. The Firms said
the "spoils of war continue to mount
in the Tolvajarvi sector and a bat
tie in the Suomussalmi district is
proceeding toWardFa conclusion"
A Russian column has been at
tempting to move across the narrow
middle of Finland and cut the coun-
try in two since the start of the war,
Concerning sea warfare, the COM
munique said:
Enemy naval detachments operat-
ed with particular ferocity in the
eastern gulf of Finland launching
destroyer and motorboat attacks in
the vicinity of the Haapasaari Is
lands. where one enemy patrol YES
sci was destroyed"
Finnish anti = aircraft batteries
shot down one enemy plane during
the day, the communique reported,