December 29, 1939; RUSSIANS LAUNCH BIG PUSH AGAINST FINNS{

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, DECEMBER 29, 1939:

 

HURL 100,000 MEN AGAINST FINN’ KEY DEFENSES

HELSINKI, Dec. 29. (U. P.)— Finnish troops killed 600 Russians in the battle of Kelja, which raged from 8 p. m. Tuesday night to noon Wednesday, an official communique announced tonight

HELSINKI, Finland, Dec. 29. — Russia threw an army estimated at 100,000 men at the western end of the Finnish Mannerheim Line today in a new attempt to break through and crush resistance.

Appearance of big squadrons of Russian planes over the front put the Finns on the alert for a possible Russian attempt to land suicide squads by parachute to blow up vital bridges and cut communications.

For three weeks the Russians had driven vainly at the eastern, end of the Mannerheim Line, on Lake Ladoga, to turn the Finnish left wing. Today, after a long bombardment of points all along the60-mile Karelian isthmus front, the Russians struck at the Finns' right wing. It seemed possible that this fight would develop into a crucial one. Shock troops were supported by reserves, estimated in all in excess of 100,000. The reserves were astride the main Leningrad-Viipur! road.

Everything pointed to a surge by massed Russian troops, the spearhead directed toward Viipuri.

Use Finn Railroad

The Russians had succeeded in repairing the Leningrad-Viipuri railroad, which the Finns tore up when they voluntarily retired to the Mannerheim defense line during the first few days of the war. Now the Russians were using it to concentrate their troops.

 

WAR SHIP UNSUNK BUT THREEE KILLED SAYS LONDON

(United Press Leased Wire)

LONDON, Dec. 29.-.Naval circles confirmed today that a German submarine had attacked a British battleship of the Queen Elizabet class, killing three persons and causing "some damage." The vessel, however, is "safe and proceeding on her course," it was said.

In Berlin the German high command in a communique said that a German U-boat had torpedoed a British battleship of the Queen Elizabeth class off the west coast of Scotland. ... .

"A torpedo attack has been made on a British battleship by a U-boat. Some damage was caused," the admiralty announced.

"Three men were killed. The next of kin of the casualties will be informed as soon as possible."

Earlier the admiralty and other British naval circles had said that they had no knowledge regarding the German submarine attack. After issuing its brief communique later the admiralty said that it 'represented the only information on the attack available for the present.

 

Truce Urged

Peace AppealSent Finnsby Russ

(Associated Press Leased Wire)

LONDON, Dec. 29. — Peace proposals to the Finnish people were reported by London listeners to have been broadcast today by a Russian

station over the wave length of the Finnish Lahti station which temporarily went out of action during an air raid.

The announcer said Russians wanted to end the hostilities as much as the Finns and that if a truce were reached the Karelian area would be returned to Finland, all Finnish workers would be given holidays with pay and large estates would be liquidated.

(In the negotiations which preceded the war Moscow offered to cede Karelian territory in return for Finnish concessions.

Finnish circles in London said the proposals were ridiculous, that Finns already had holidays and that the most of the land was owned by peasants.