Evening star., 1940-01-19
Can Hold Russians
For Winter, Films
Commander Says
New Red Offensive Is
Expected on Roods
Around SuomussaImi
BY JAMES ALDRIDGE.


HELS1NKI, Finland, Jan. 10
(N.AN.A.-By Radio). Travelling
from the Arctic front through the
middle front to Southern Finland,
covering all the most strategic points
en- route, your correspondent was
able to see the points along the line
which are likely to experience explo-
sions \ in the late winter or early
spring.
When 1 left the headquarters of
the Finnish Arctic Army a few days
ago, Gen. Wallenius, commanding
officer, told me, I'VE can hold the
Russians for the winter now"
But even as I departed there was
tension in Rovaniemi and the viii
lage Of Kemijarvi, as Russian patrols
came closer to the latter place. The
Firms have fought hard to keep the
Bolsheviks out of Kemijarvi since
the war began, as it is the terminus
of the railroad running through
Rovaniemi to TOrnea and Kemi, at
the head of the Gulf of Bothnia.
i The area between Kemijarvi and
Salla, to the east, has been the most
active sector of the northern front.
The Russians brought up artillery to
advanced positions there. A few
weeks ago I was dodging shrapnel
from Russian shells in the Salla re-
gion, and just before I left the Rus
sian guns were within shelling range
of Kemijarvi. The Finnish artillery
in turn was pounding the Russian
lines.
Civilians Trek Westward.
From Rovaniemi travelled through
the tall trees of the sub-Arctic to
the headquarters of the Finnish
northeastern army in the Sumous-
salmi area. passed a steady vest
ward trek of the civilian population
that had remained in that region,
as the Finnish forces are preparing
for increased Russian activity in
early spring.
Soviet troops were recently put to
rOut in the Suomussalmi sector, but
Russian planes continue to bomb the
Firms supply bases and other mil
itary objectives there. The planes
activities caused a lot OF exercise
for your correspondent in evacuat-
ing at frequent intervals the car
in which I was riding.
The Bolsheviks do not seem
content with one battle between
Suomussalmi and Raate They ap-
pear to be preparing for another
battle between Suomussalmi and
Kajaani Village by bombing the
roads in the hope Of hitting or de-
laying Finnish supply trains. But
the Firms just take to the woods,
using horse-drawn sleds which
don't need roads.
A Russian drive is expected on
the road between Suomussalmi and
Kajaani and the two roads skirting
Lake Kianti, on which two battalions
of Russians were wiped out few
weeks ago. 1t is a question whether
the Russians will try another ad-
vance now or wait for early spring.
In the spring they have more chance
Of getting away from the roads,
which to date have been their down.
fall.
- Many Towns Bombed. 57"f
AS continued my journey through
the southern half of Finland, the
towns appeared more normal, al
though many of them had been
bombed by Soviet aviation. / made
this part Of the journey by train.
Every few miles the train would stop
as the whistle blew and the pas
sengers would tumble out into the
snow and run to nearby woods to
wait for the Russian bombers to
pass over them.
In the south. on the Karelian
[sthmus, the war is more like that on
the western front, with much artil-
lery action and skirmishes, and dig
ging in by both sides. At the Taipale
River sector. the Soviet forces on a
hill overlooking the river are still
pounding the Firms with artillery.
Here may come the next big battle
Of Karelia, for it is the spearhead of
big Russian forces.
The Russians learned here that
digging in is important, so, after
futile frontal assaults, they are now
establishing their positions with
more care and have learned from
their patrols lot Of pointers about
fighting in this terrain.