Evening star., 1941-08-22
Earlier Story on Page A-1.)

tEarller Story on Page AID
By the Associated Press.
The Finnish drive down the
Karelian Isthmus has smashed
the Soviet defenses built atop
what once was Finland'S own
Mannerheim Line and the Firms
now are within so miles of Len
ingrad, the Helsinki high COM
mand reported tonight.
The Firms have occupied the en-
tire upper shore of the river Vuoksi
on the Karelian Isthmus and have
crushed or routed five Soviet di-
visions. it was claimed, in addition
to capturing Kakisalmi, important
former Finnish port on the north
west shore of Lake Ladoga.
On the Isthmus. capture of XVII
niemi was announced, recalling to
Firms the three month battering
that place took as strategic
stronghold of the Mannerheim Line
in the winter war of l939-40 before
Russia finally won. The town is
so miles by rail from Leningrad.
Reds Stand OFF Nazis.
While the Films reported these
successes from the north, indications
appeared that the Communists had
succeeded to some extent in slow
ing the German drive on Lenin-
grad from the west and south.
In Berlin it was ninted the Nazis
were encountering difficulties with
the statement that the Soviets were
throwing fresh reserves into the
battle in an attempt to stem the
German attack.
1t was also acknowledged that
islands of opposition both in the
Dnieper bend of the Ukraine and
on the central front existed behind
the advanced German lines. Eor
several days it had been contended
in Berlin that the Western Ukraine
was entirely in German hands.
No Progress Indicated.
While the German high command
claimed the battle for Leningrad
our forces are fighting their way
steadily forward observers in Mos
COW said that this was the fourth
successive day that fighting has been
reported in the areas of KingiSepp
and Novgorod. and they added it
indicated the Germans had made
no significant progress.
Leningrad itself was described as
having been transformed into a
formidable military camp" as the
male populace thronged to swell the
growing peoples army" and tens
of thousands toiled to build fortifi-
cations not only along the ap-
proaches to the city, but in the
streets of Russia's second largest city
| itself
The Finnish high command said
Red Army troops had been encir-
cled at two point northwest of Lake
Ladoga and that the 142d, l98th,
265th and 115th Divisions had been
thrown back with heavy losses.
This would represent about $4,000
men for the five divisions.
Firms Claim Big Booty.
A great deal of booty was OBJ
tanned, the Firms claimed. in the
destruction of the 168th, including
300 automobiles. several hundred
horses, dozens of guns and vast
amounts of ammunition.
AT the same time" it went on,
"the Russian 142d and 198th Divis-
ions were pushed back with great
losses to Kilpelansaari, east of
Hiitola. where the fighting is con-
tinuing. The Russians are attempt
ing to eVacuate remnants of these
divisions but embarkation points are
under constant fire from our artil-
lery which is causing great loss to
the enemy
In resulting engagements. the
265th Division, which had been sent
from the Moscow district in REIN
forcement, was totally dispersed and
the 1l5th Division was thrown back
with heavy losses to the western
shore of the River Vuoksi.
Many smaller detachments sent
in assistance by the enemy also
nave been encircled and destroyed.
In broadening the wedge, the shore
of the Vuoksi has been occupied by
our troops from Enso to Kiviniemi.
Kakisalmi was taken from the south
August 81"