Evening star., 1940-02-24

6ELGlANS COMPROMISE neu-
trality by buying ships, Nazi
charge: serious view is taken of
transfer of eight United States
vessels. Page AS
By the Associated Press.
HELSINKI, Feb. 24.-The Red
Army has driven to within about
seven and one-half miles of strategic
viipuri, Finnish reports indicated for
the first time today, and, without a
pause, is pressing to widen the wedge
despite heavy losses.
The Finnish high command ad-
mitted Russian conquest of the
coastal regions of Kaislahti, which is
7i2 miles due south of Viipuri, and
of Koivisto, 17ll2 miles further south,
in a commmique which said the
Russians had made those places the
starting points for attacks to clean
up Finnish resistance on islands in
the Bay of Viipuri.
Concurrertly, the Finnish high
command reported, the Russians at
tackled heavily yesterday in other
sectors aEng the Mannerheim Line
but suffered severe losses more than
1850 dead being listed in addition
to annihilation Of two detachments
of unstated size. Specified Russian
losses on the previous day were in
the neighborhood of $500.
Enemy Losses Heavy.
Today's communique did not give
the result of the attacks from the
Kaislahti and Koivisto regions ex-
cept to say that enemy losses were
heavy"
The Koivisto region has been the
western anchor of the Mannerheim
system of defenses across the Ka-
relian Isthmus, Notifications and
batteries on the mainland at the
town of Koivisto being augmented
by coast artillery on the nearby is
land of Koivisto.
Guns in the region have been es-
pecially effective in raking Russian
concentrations further inland.
To the east, almost in the center
Of the isthmus front, the high COM
mand said two Russian detachments
(which had penetrated our positions
were wholly annihililated" and at
Salmenkaita the attacking enemy
was hurled back and compelled to
leave on the field over thousand
killed ="
The Firms said about thousand"
Russians were killed on the Eastern
front in one sector northeast of
Lake Ladoga and $50 others in the
Kuhmo sector, just below Finland's
narrow waist.
Planes Over Petsamo.
Russian activity yesterday was re-
ported to have extended over Fin
lands entire length. Invading Rus
sian warplanes ranged over the
Petsamo area in the Far North
where, the communique said. "Ka-
jaani and a few other localities and
q hospital train was bombed by
small formations"
On the land fronts, the army said
that in addition to heavy losses in
men the Russians lost altogether %
tanks, six batteries and a large num-
ber of machine guns and other arms.
In the air, Finnish flyers were re-
ported active in scouting and bomb
ing flights and the Russians lost
two planes.
Mannerheim Greets Volunteers.
Finland's commander in chief,
Field Marshal Baron Carl Gustaf
Mannerheim, today welcomed Swed-
ish and Norwegian volunteers into
the Finnish Army In an order Of the
day interpreted to mean a large
number of these volunteers are now
or the firing line.
"To you who have left your homes
and loved ones to share with us the
dangers and trials of war, I offer
the thanks of the Finnish nation"
said the gray-haired field marshal.
Marshal Mannerheim, after whom
the Firms have named their fortifica-
tions on the isthmus, said the arrival
of Swedish and Norwegian volun-
teers indicated that these countries
realize that Finland is fighting for
(See FINLAND, Page A-6)