Evening star., 1940-03-01
Reds Close In
Upon viiipuri
Over Bay Ice
Big Air Offensive
Supports Drive
On Three Sides
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HELSINKI, March Russia q
Red Army closed in on shell-bat-
tered, deserted Viipuri from three
sides today, locking the city tighter
in pincer-like land grip while
swarms of warplanes supported it
with the greatest aerial offensive
IN days.
The Finnish commands own COM
munique showed the Russians NOV
ing in from the southwest over the
islands and ice of Viipuri Bay and
from the south and east along three
railway lines, forcing the Firms to
make their stands ever closer to
the city.
GA Red Army communique to-
day said the Russians were only
little more than a mile from
Viipuri and were closing in from
the south and east in develop
ing offensive. ~
Gn its advance, the commu-
nique said. the Russian Army
captured 270 more Finnish forti-
Notwithstanding 66 iron and
concrete forts-and occupied Pero,
a railroad station about S miles
from Viipuri, Heinjoki and
Ayrapaa, both on the Viipuri-
Valkjarvi Railroad. Heinjoki is
about IA miles east of Viipuri and
Ayrapaa about II miles further
east.)
The Russians and Firms, accord
ing to today's high command COM
munique. fought fierce air battles"
in which the defenders shot down
IA Russian planes and lost four
themselves.
The Firms said the Russians sent
Several hundred" planes over the
home area in extensive bombing
raids in which IA civilians were
killed and 16 wounded.
Drive Extends to Taipale.
The Russian land drive against
the Mannerheim Line extended all
the way to Taipale, at the eastern
extremity. At some points the Rus
SLAMS dropped "a few parachute
patro o. which were "all destroyed, y
the communique said.
The Films said their air force car
ried out several reconnaissance
flights "and bombed q certain air
base, traffic junction, and enemy
trains"
Both In the home area and the
war zone there we're numerous
fierce air battles" The Firms said
that several hundred enemy planes
were estimated to have flown" over
the home area.
According to information avail
able so far" said the communique
IAN aggregate of IA civilians were
killed and is wounded" The great
est loss Of life was said to have oc-
CURED at Savonlinna.
As the Russians approached Vii
puri the city was deserted, bomb
shattered ghost port.
A reinforced Red Army stepped UP
the pace Of its onslaughts in an at
tempt to strike the knockout blow
Of its month-long drive against Fin
lands key city on the Karelian
Isthmus. Some sources said the
Russians had sent fully 10 fresh di-
visions, nearly 100000 men into the
isthmus fighting.
The Firms fell back to stronger
positions. mined Viipuri Bay and
massed artillery in an attempt to
stave of encirclement by preventing
the Russians from crossing the ice
from north of the Koivisto fortified
area to the west and rear Of Viipuri
Raids Hit Many Cities.
While the Firms struggled to stem
the Russian tide on the western
side of the Karelian Isthmus, they
coped with flames and casualties
from air raids which struck many
cities.
Fleets of Russian bombing planes
which raided some cities in waves
and appeared to have left almost
(see FINLAND, Page A-4.)