Evening star., 1940-02-17
Army Withdrawal
To New Positions
Is Admitted

k1CsbE COu C4N1ANO TeSLS on re-
versal of Swedish stand; convic-
ton growing that nation must
hight on against Reds alone.
Page A-3
BRITISH EXPECTED to receive
help Of additional allies; cabinet
members assure nation of victory
IN war for worlds good"
Page A-3
ANTT-PLANE DEFENSES ordered
for all British ships; protection
for crews must be provided before
leaving ports. Page A-3
ARMAMENT STOCKS opened to
Firms, French declare; big NUM-
tions supplies have reached Fin
land. army sources say Page A
SPIRITUAL NEUTRALITY de-
manded by Hitler's newspaper:
Belgium and Switzerland are par
ticularly criticized. Page Ala
BY the Associated Press.
HELSINKI, Feb. 17.-The Finnish
high command today balanced an
announcement that its forces on the
karelian Isthmus had withdrawn
to new positions" with a claim of a
great victory at Kuhmo, on the
eastern front. in which 1900 Rus
slams were killed.
The great battle on the isthmus
in its nth day, continued unabated.
tonlght's communique said, admit
ting that "our forces Withdrew in
some places to new positions fur.
ther back" between the Gulf of
Finland and the Vuoksi River.
The battle in the Kuhmo sector
lasted several days. the Firms de-
clsred. and ended in complete de-
struction of Russian special skiing
groups" consisting of three bat
taiions and reconnaissance detach.
mentS.
Sled Columns Dispersed.
another Finnish success was re-
ported in the dispersal of several
columns consisting of about l8O sleds
altogether" attempting to advance
across the ice of Lake Ladoga.
A Russian attack on the north
east shore OF the lake was reported
repulsed with heavy loss"
Only remnants of the Russian
force at Kuhmo succeeded in as
Gaping over the frontier" the COM
munique declared, adding that 4
Russian colonel was killed.
The Finnish army ordered re-
moyAl Of the few retnaininR women
ana children from viipuri today, 1t
vas reported, as the Firms lost some
positions less than a score OF miles
from the city.
Posting Of notices In Helsinki for
the class Of 1898 to come to the COL
ors indicated the Finnish plight,
meanwhile. This call ior men Al
and ~ years of age followed calls
within the past three days for those
Of a to A.
Battle Fury Near Peak.
As more than 100 Russian bomb
ers were sighted over Southern Fin
land, flying toward the important
industrial city Of Tampere, foreign
military observers said the big bat
tie of the Karelian Isthmus was
nearing the peak of fury
One observer said the Finnish
Army should be able to Withstand
smashes even harder than those for
the past II days without giving way
suddenly. After that, he predicted,
there should be lull in the costly
Russian offensive. This should pro-
vide time for consolidating positions
before another drive started.
One woman reaching here today
said she and others who had special
permission to remain in Viipuri
after the general removal of several
weeks ago had to leave now as q
precautfon because Viipuri was so
close to the fighting lines it was sub
ject to frequent air raids.
Only one shop Of each sort is to
remain open in Viipuri, all others
being closed.
No Let Up in Assault.
There was no let up in the
titanic assault of the Russian forces
against the Mannerheim Lines sys-
tenn of staggered fortifications.
Stress was placed upon the refer
ence in yesterdays communique to
the Finns' bombing of enemy en-
campments and communication
lines. A break In communication
lines would be near-disaster for
(See FINLAND, Page A-3.)