Evening star., 1940-02-07
$500 Russians
Slain. in North,
Films Report
Red Ski Battalion
Reported RepeIIed,
With 300 Dead

OBLIGATION TO AID Russia Is
denied by Nal sources: no mill
tary agreement exists, Berlin au-
thorities declare. Page AZ
FRANCE EXECUTES DR.. KARL
ROOS, Alsatian autonomist leader,
as Nazi spy; faces firing squad
after clemency plea to Lebrun
fails Page A
IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN re-
ported mobilizing partially; allies
in strong position to repulse any
Russian advance. Page A
LEAGUE PREPARING to widen
sphere of non-political activity;
U. S. expected to get bid to join
economic and humanitarian pro-
gram. Page A
BY the Associated Press.
HELSINKI, Feb. 7.-Today's Fin
nish Army communique stated that
the Russians have lost 1,500 dead
in the last few days in fighting at
Kuhmo in North Finland, where the
invaders have been making re-
peated efforts to advance.
Northeast of Lake Ladoga, the
Firms said, the defenders dispersed
an entire Russian ski battalion, kill
ing 300 men.
It was estimated unofficially in
Helsinki that the Red Army has
suffered well over 10000 casualties
on all fronts during the past week,
with at least 5000 killed and
wounded in the Summa sector of
the Karelian Isthmus alone. where
the Russians launched new offen-
sive a week ago.
On the Karelian Isthmus, said
the communique, the Russians failed
yesterday in attempts to carry in
fantry troops into battle on sleds
drawn by tanks. The Firms said
they destroyed or put out of action
20 tanks during the day.
The Russians were reported to
have attacked between Hatjalahti
and Summa, with all attempts un-
successful.
1.-THE enemy launced four attacks
during the day, supported by tanks,
but was beaten back each time with
heavy losses" the communique said.
In air fighting the Firms said they
shot down six Red planes and one
barrage balloon.
Parachute Attacks Feared.
The nightmare possibility of at
tacks by parachuting machine gun
ners, loosed far behind the lines, was
advanced today as the Firms noted
mysterious scouting activities by
Soviet Russian planes over territory
suitable to such maneuver.
The Firms have reported the
scotching of previous attempts on
small scale by marksmen who killed
the parachutists in the air.
If great numbers should be drop
ped, however, it was said they might
prove troublesome to the rear lines
of the Karelian Isthmus defenses
and divert Finnish troops from the
southeastern fronts, where they
have been holding the Russians at
bay since the invasion began No.
vember 80.
The Soviet aerial scouts were
sighted yesterday over the vast
Saimaa Lake system, sparsely set
tied island dotted area north Of
Viipuri.
May Drop Forces on Ice.
Some military observers believed
the Russians might try to drop siz-
able detachments on the stretches
Of ice in this wild countryside, where
the chances of landing alive would
be enhanced.
The Finnish Army communique
yesterday reported:
I'm North Finland the enemy
dropped few parachute jumpers.
Their landing places are known"
1t reported also that the Firms
themselves were bombarding Red
Army infantry encampments at
night by the light of the Russian
camp fires.
Couriers from the Karelian Isthmus
front said Russian infantry was
massed heavily in the Summa sector
20 miles southeast of Viipuri, and
that, due to inadequate shelter, the
troops were forced to build open
fires which served as beacons for
the night-fying Firms.
Russian bombardment of Finnish
cities eased off yesterday as fog
made flying difficult. However, the
701-ton Swedish steamer Virgo was
sunk by bombs in the Gulf of
Bothnia and power lines at the
northern city of Rovaniemi were