H.M.S. Achilles was given a tumultuous welcome on arriving at Auckland, N.Z., yesterday and officers and crew are being feted today. H.M.S. Achilles, one of the three British warships instrumental in forcing the Admiral Graf Spee to the bottom, is shown in the top picture, while some of her crew, most of whom are New Zealanders, may be seen standing against the railing in the lower picture, which was taken when the cruiser arrived at Buenos Aires last month. Judging by the expressions on their faces, they do not appear to think anything unusual of their display of seamanship which will go down in the annuals of the present war as an outstanding feat of the British navy.
Helsinki, Feb. 23.
Soviet troops are still some miles from Viipuri, the key city in the Mannerheim Line, where the: Red Army promised to plant the Red flag in celebration of the Red Army's 22nd anniversary today.
The Russians are bombarding the city, while considerable forces of new troops and a large number of tanks have been flung into battle in a big "birthday effort" to batter a breach in the Mannerheim Line.
The Finns continue to counterattack strongly and claim to have driven back the Russians on both flanks and in the centre of the Mannerheim Line.
All the strength of the Red Army offensive appears to be aimed at the Finnish right frank, where the fortress of Koivisto still holds out to harass the advance of the invaders.
Two more classes, comprising men between the ages of 45 and 46, are being called up for service, They must report on February 25.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.