Evening star., 1939-12-23
Finland
Continued From First Page.)

vance of troops on Finland's terri
tory"
Jibe ut British, French.
The Firms Mannerheim Line
across the Karelian Isthmus Just
north of Leningrad was described
as equal to Germany's Siegfried
Line on the French frontier, but
the Russians said they had broken
the Mannerheim Line at several
places, and jibed that the British
and French were not doing as well
against the Siegfried Line.
Finland was building these forti-
f1cations for four years." said the
communique, with the aid of three
foreign states which fought among
themselves for influence in Fin
land as base for attack on Lenin-
grad and later on Moscow"
1t was on the ground Of protecting
Leningrad, the Soviet Unions Sec
ond largest city, that Russia origi-
naly made territorial demands on
Finland that led to the war.
I'm its defense power, this system
Of artificial Notifications, as, for in
stance, on the Karelian Isthmus,
reinforced by natural conditions, is
in no way inferior to the defense
power of the fortified Siegfried Line
on the western frontier of Germany,
against which British and French
troops have been fumbling already
for four months without making the
slightest progress" the army as
serted.
"The Red Army knew of these
difficulties in Finland and therefore
never expected to annihilate the
Finnish troops by one lightning
blow.
"Only ignorance or overt hostility
toward the Red Army could ascribe
to Red Army leaders the wish to
do away with the Finnish troops in
one week."
Called on Kremlin Carpet.
Reports regarding Gen. Metets-
koff, however, said he had been
called on the Kremlin carpet two
days ago to explain lack of success
against the Films, and it was said
he was blamed for insufficient prep
aration for a quick victory.
Observers also professed to see
significance in the absence Of Andre
zhdanoff, Communist party secretary
in Leningrad, from among the Soviet
leaders whose names were appended
to published birthday greetings to
Joseph Stain Thursday.
zhdanof has been largely respon-
sible for the recent policy toward
Finland, and had been regarded
generally as Stalin's probable even-
tual successor as Communist party
leader.
Otto Kuusinen, chairman of the
Russian-sponsored peoples govern
ment" for Finland at Teritoki, was
listed by Tass News Agency today
as sending congratulations to Stain.
Observers previously had not noted
his name.
The Red Army reported that since
the, wars start it had advanced
about 81 miles from Finland's Arctic
coast, about 80 miles "in the direc-
ton Of" Uleaborg, so miles in the
vicinity Of Serdobol and about 40
miles on the karelian Isthmus.
Uleaborg, known in Finland as
Oulu, is Gulf Of Bothnia port at
Finland's wasp waist; Serdobol,
the Finnish Sortavala, is on the
eastern front just north Of Lake
Ladoga.
On these four fronts the Russian
advances were listed as averaging
312, ~, ~ and 2 miles 4 day,
respectively.
Admits 1928 Killed.
OF recent developments, q COM
munique from the Leningrad mill
tary district today said, Nothing of
Importance took place on the front
December o."
Since the war began, the Red
Army said Soviet casualties were
1928 killed and 1000 wounded.
The Firms, it said, lost 1900 killed,
more than 10000 wounded, 1902
privates, los non-commissioned
officers and 18 officers captured.
Capture of IS cannon, 800 machine
guns, 5000 rifles and other equip
ment from the Firms also was re-
ported.
The Firms have reported "annihi-
lation" Of entire Russian battalions
and regiments. As long ago as De-
cember IL, Copenhagen newspapers
estimated Russian casualties on the
Karelian 1sthmus alone totaled
$4,000.
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