Evening star., 1940-02-14
Posts
Taken by Reds,
Films Admit
New Aid PIeu Made
As Men of 43 Are
Called to CoIors
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HELSINKI, Feb. 14.-Finland to-
day acknowledged that "a few fore
most positions" of the Mannerheim
Line have fallen to the Red Army in
the laundering 14-day battle on the
war-scarred Karelian Isthmus which
Films have likened to the siege Of
Verdun.
On the heels of a fresh appeal for
foreign aid against the Soviet mill
tary machine, Finnish communique
declared, however, that the Russians
mad been repulsed before penetrating
beyond Finland's advance posts.
Russian tanks crawling across ice
coated Lake Ladoga were smashed
by artillery fire and II planes, part
of many hundreds" which flew over
Finland, were downed, the Firms
said.
The Firms, admittedly fighting
with their backs to the wall, today
posted conscription posters calling
to the colors men born in 1897. Some
Of this class-42 and 43 years old
already are in service as officers.
Finland's plight, turned graver
after the ceaseless Russian on
slaught against the main defense
lines, was made plain by Finnish
spokesman last night.
Army Must Have Help.
Thus far" he said, "the Finnish
Army is able to hold its own, but
we really rely on civilized nations
Of the world to relieve us in this
situation
Todays Russian advance was in
the eastern portion of the Summa
sector.
(Reuters, British news agency,
dispatches declared successful
Finnish counterattacks had been
carried out on the isthmus 'front.'
CThe Russian command early
today announced capture yes
terday of % more forts of the
Mannerheim Line, making total
of "a such positions seized within
a week.
|. cThe Karelian Isthnus &C
tions of Soviet troops are develop
ing successfully" said the Rus
sian communique. Large enemy
forces attempted counterattacks
but were repulsed. suffering heavy
losses.
Gas a result of the successful
actions, Soviet troops captured
% Of the enemy's defensive forti-
fications Soviet aviation made
accommodating flights and bombed
enemy troops and military objec-
tives."
Even this restricted advance cost
the Red Army thousands of dead
and dozens OF tanks and other equip
ment, the Firms declared in de-
scribing the fighting which they
have likened to great World War
battles.
Northeast of Lake Ladoga all
Soviet thrusts were reported re-
pulsed and farther north on the
Kuhmo sector one Soviet battalion
was said to have been annihilated
and several Soviet positions cap
tured.
Advance Finally Halted.
The Russian advance, which took
some Finnish front positions, was
repulsed before it reached "our po-
sitions farther back" the COM
munique said.
Thousands of enemy fallen and
dozens of wrecked tanks were strewr
before our lines"
The communique asserted that
numerous Russian tanks attempting
to advance over the ice of the Gull
of Finland were sunk by Finnish
coast defensce guns which shelled
and smashed the ice around them
It declared that II more Rus.
sian war planes were downed ir
| yesterdays operations.
New Plea for Help.
This, the 14th day of Finland's s
Verdun-like struggle against a ter
rifle Red Army drive on the Man
nerheim Line, was marked by a
proclamation of unbroken resistance
and a renewed plea for help from
abroad.
THUS far, the Finnish Army is
(See FINNS, Page A-4O