January 5, 1940; SKI PATROLS CUT DEEPLY INTO RUSSIA:

THIS WAS REPORTEDD TODAY, JANUARY 5, 1940:

Railroad to

Murmansk
Severed

Copenhagen Reports

Second Russian Division
Surrounded

By Associated Press

WITH FINNISH FORCES
ON THE LAKE KIANTA

FRONT, Jan. 4. — Speedy Finnish ski patrols have cut deeply into Russia at several points to encircle forces of the Red Army fleeing from

the defeat administered to them six days ago on the shores of this Finnish lake.
Unconfirmed 'reports in Copenhagen, said the Finns had surrounded a second Russian division in Central Finland between Lake Kianta and the border. The division was en route to the aid of the Red army's 163rd Division, trapped and wiped out by the Finns in the greatest battle of the war.
Railway Cut
The cutting of Russia's vital Murmansk .Railroad not once, but several times by flying ski raiders was reported reliably.
Hand-to-hand guerrilla fighting between opposing ski soldiers is occurring frequently. Small numbers of Russian ski troops are in action—mostly on the Russian side of the border—in attempting a stem the advance of elusive Finnish patrols.
The main Finnish force in Central Finland, meantime, has strengthened and consolidated its positions within five miles of the border and is continuing mopping up operations against fleeing Russians of the routed 163rd Division.

 NEXT 12 Months to Show Size

Of Job of Subduing Germany

Early Accomplishment May Permit Survival of

Weakened Europe; May Drag
Whole World Down

By W1TTHE WILLIAMS

GREENWICH, Conn, Jan. 4.—The real task, now begins. The next twelve months, or possibly less, will reveal the size of the job, that of overthrowing Nazi Germany, plus the crushing of Red Russia. If the accomplishment can be secured within this period, a weakened Europe may survive. If not, then-Hitler and Stalin, in their all, may drag the entire world down with them. We 'do not contemplate the possibility of their victory, and consequent subjugation of a planet under the iron heel of totalitarianism. The picture is gloomy enough as it is—for the morning after the morning after.

From Paris, via Clipper, dated 3ec. 24. "As you know the situation is absolutely in status quo. Anastasie (French for the cenor) is in blooming health. Consequently no real news is obtainable.

Judging from present temperature, the winter will be cold.
As yet not a single bomb has fallen on Paris, although-we have had many ‘alertes’, but this situation, like any other, takes get-use to.

 

 

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